Sade Releases Highly Anticipated New Body of Work SOLDIER OF LOVE

Heralded as one of this year's most highly anticipated albums, Sade is back after nearly a decade with SOLDIER OF LOVE (Epic Records), in stores Tuesday, February 9th. The wait is finally over as SOLDIER OF LOVE, the first official album release from Sade since 2000's multi-platinum Lovers Rock, takes its rightful place among the collection of iconic Sade albums. The new album was recorded in England and features the stunning and powerful hit single of the same title "Soldier of Love" which has already garnered much critical acclaim from both the press as well as her loyal fans.

Entertainment Weekly featured SOLDIER OF LOVE in their "Must List," Rolling Stone wrote, "it's unimpeachably excellent," and The Boston Globe calls it, "a rich and rewarding album." But the accolades don't stop there. Associated Press raved, "like a long-ago lover not quite forgotten, Sade has returned to steal our hearts with more beautiful, uncategorizable music," Billboard was quoted as saying, "it's been 10 years since Sade released an album, but be forewarned - the giant has awoken," while People Magazine reminds us that "Sade remains the voice of comfort to the wounded heart."

The accomplishments of SOLDIER OF LOVE so far are astounding. The single, "Soldier of Love" - which Sade co-produced with Mike Pela, and was written by Sade along with longtime collaborators Andrew Hale, Stuart Matthew man and Paul Spencer Denman continues to make radio history. In less than four weeks "Soldier of Love" propelled into the top five at both Urban Hot AC and Smooth Jazz radio charts, making it one of the fastest moving records of the year. The track reached the top of the Urban AC chart three weeks ago and remains the # 1 song at both Urban AC and Smooth Jazz today. Sade is now the first group since the Isley Brothers in 2001 to earn a #1 spot as a lead act on the R&B Chart. The intriguing and seductive video, which Sophie Muller directed is currently the # 1 most played video on both VH1 Soul, and BET Centric and this past week became the # 4 most played video on VH1 proper.

Tomorrow, Sade will kick things off with a performance on BET's 106 & Park, followed by a phenomenal TV campaign which includes appearances on The Today Show, Letterman, The View, Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen Degeneres.

Upon pre-order release at iTunes, the album immediately entered the Top 5 on the overall album chart. SOLDIER OF LOVE is currently the # 1 album pre-order at Amazon as well.

Known for their one of a kind timeless sound, Sade has enjoyed phenomenal success both internationally and stateside throughout the span of their twenty-five year career. Since the release of their debut album, Diamond Life in 1984 the band has seen all five of their studio albums land in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart selling a total of more than 50 million albums worldwide to date. They've been nominated for American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and have won three Grammy Awards - first in 1986 for Best New Artist, then in 1994 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group for "No Ordinary Love", and again in 2002 for Best Pop Vocal Album with Lovers Rock.

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SOURCE: Epic Records

CONTACT: Michele Schweitzer, +1-917-400-3939, ms@m-relations.com; Lauren
Ceradini, Epic Records, +1-212-833-7965, Lauren.Ceradini@sonymusic.com

Web Site: http://www.sade.com/