Will Hermes of Rolling Stone stated, "Few singers have the consistency of vision to produce a career retrospective that doubles as a seamless 'let's make out on the carpet' mixtape. From 1985's jazzy 'Smooth Operator' to tracks from last year's excellent Soldier of Love , it's all state-of-the-art slow-jams all the time, driven by Sade Adu 's touch-me-now contralto ."[ 4] Lloyd Bradley of BBC Music commented, "The best thing about this set is it'll allow anybody who didn't quite get the band first time around to catch up."[ 7] In a mixed review, Jeff Winbush of All About Jazz wrote, "No such luck. As things stand, a more accurate title would be The Adequate Collection because there's little ultimate about this bare bones piece of product."[ 1]
The Ultimate Collection debuted at number eight on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 15,184 copies, becoming Sade's seventh top-10 album in the United Kingdom.[ 8] In the United States, the album entered the Billboard 200 at number seven with 38,000 copies sold in its first week, earning the band their ninth consecutive top-10 album on the chart.[ 9] As of August 2011, the set had sold 127,000 copies in the United States.[ 10]
Disc two Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Cherish the Day " (from Love Deluxe ) 6:20 2. "Pearls" (from Love Deluxe ) 4:34 3. "By Your Side " (from Lovers Rock , 2000)
Adu
Matthewman
Hale
Denman
4:41 4. "Immigrant" (from Lovers Rock ) 3:50 5. "Flow" (from Lovers Rock )
Adu
Matthewman
Hale
Denman
4:34 6. "King of Sorrow " (from Lovers Rock )
Adu
Matthewman
Hale
Denman
4:47 7. "The Sweetest Gift" (from Lovers Rock ) 2:21 8. "Soldier of Love " (from Soldier of Love , 2010)
Adu
Hale
Matthewman
Denman
5:58 9. "The Moon and the Sky " (from Soldier of Love ) 4:29 10. "Babyfather " (from Soldier of Love )
Adu
Juan Janes
Andrew Nichols
Matthewman
4:40 11. "Still in Love with You " (previously unreleased) 4:26 12. "Love Is Found" (previously unreleased)
Adu
Hale
Matthewman
Denman
4:11 13. "I Would Never Have Guessed" (previously unreleased) 2:57 14. "The Moon and the Sky" (Remix featuring Jay-Z ) (previously unreleased) Noah "40" Shebib 4:27 15. "By Your Side" (Neptunes Remix) (from "By Your Side" single, 2000)
Adu
Matthewman
Hale
Denman
3:59
Box set bonus DVD[ 11] Title Director[ 12] 1. "Hang on to Your Love" Brian Ward 3:59 2. "The Sweetest Taboo" Ward 5:02 3. "Is It a Crime" Ward 7:03 4. "Never as Good as the First Time" Ward 3:55 5. "Love Is Stronger Than Pride" Sophie Muller 4:24 6. "Paradise" Alex McDowell 3:35 7. "Turn My Back on You" Muller 4:05 8. "Nothing Can Come Between Us" Muller 3:52 9. "No Ordinary Love" Muller 4:01 10. "Feel No Pain" Albert Watson 3:48 11. "Kiss of Life" Watson 4:12 12. "Cherish the Day" Watson 4:23 13. "By Your Side" Muller 4:27 14. "King of Sorrow" Muller 4:42 15. "Soldier of Love" Muller 5:01 16. "Babyfather" Muller 4:01 Total length: 70:30
^[a] signifies a co-producer
Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Ultimate Collection .[ 13]
Sade – arrangement (disc 1: tracks 8–14; disc 2: tracks 1–7, 15) ; strings, horns (disc 2: track 14)
Sade Adu – vocals, programming
Andrew Hale – keyboards, programming
Stuart Matthewman – guitars, saxophone, programming
Paul S. Denman – bass
Additional musicians
edit
Dave Early – drums, percussion (disc 1: tracks 1–7)
Martin Ditcham – percussion (disc 1: tracks 1–6, 8–12, 14; disc 2: tracks 8–10) ; drums (disc 1: tracks 8–10, 12; disc 2: track 10)
Paul Cooke – drums (disc 1: tracks 1, 3)
Gordon Matthewman – trumpet (disc 1: track 1; disc 2: track 10)
Terry Bailey – trumpet (disc 1: tracks 4, 5)
Pete Beachill – trombone (disc 1: tracks 4, 5)
Leroy Osbourne – vocals (disc 1: tracks 6, 8–14; disc 2: tracks 1–6, 8–11) ; guitar (disc 2: track 11)
Jake Jacas – vocals (disc 1: track 6)
Gordon Hunte – guitar (disc 1: track 9)
Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader (disc 1: track 12; disc 2: track 2)
Tony Pleeth – solo cello (disc 2: track 2)
Karl Van Den Bossche – percussion (disc 2: tracks 3–6, 11)
Tony Momrelle – vocals (disc 2: tracks 8–11)
Ian Burdge – cello (disc 2: tracks 8, 9)
Noel Langley – trumpet (disc 2: track 8)
Everton Nelson – violin (disc 2: track 9)
Pete Lewinson – drums (disc 2: tracks 10, 11)
Ryan Waters – guitar (disc 2: track 11)
Ben Travers – guitar (disc 2: track 12)
Simon Hale – orchestra arrangement, orchestra conducting (disc 2: track 12)
Jay-Z – featured artist (disc 2: track 14)
40 – all instruments except strings and horns (disc 2: track 14)
Robin Millar – production (disc 1: tracks 1–7)
Mike Pela – production engineering (disc 1: tracks 1–7) ; engineering (disc 1: tracks 8–14; disc two: tracks 1, 2, 8–13) ; production (disc 1: track 6) ; co-production (disc 1: tracks 8–14; disc 2: tracks 1–13, 15) ; recording (disc 2: tracks 3–7, 15) ; mixing (disc 2: tracks 8, 11–13)
Pete Brown – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 1–7)
Simon Driscoll – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 1–7)
Phil Legg – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 4–7)
Ben Rogan – production (disc 1: track 6) ; engineering, co-production (disc 1: tracks 8–10)
Sade – production (disc 1: tracks 8–14; disc 2: tracks 1–13, 15)
Melanie West – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 8–10)
Vince McCartney – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 8–10)
Franck Segarra – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 8–10)
Olivier de Bosson – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 8–10)
Alain Lubrano – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 8–10)
Jean-Christophe Vareille – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 8–10)
Sandro Franchin – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 11–14; disc 2: tracks 1, 2)
Adrian Moore – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 11–14; disc 2: tracks 1, 2)
Marc Williams – engineering assistance (disc 1: tracks 11–14; disc 2: tracks 1, 2)
Andy "Nipper" Davies – engineering assistance (disc 2: tracks 3–6)
Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (disc 2: tracks 9, 10)
Mat Arnold – engineering assistance (disc 2: track 11)
Jamie Brownlow – engineering assistance (disc 2: track 11)
Owen Shiers – engineering assistance (disc 2: track 11)
Nick Poortman – engineering assistance (disc 2: tracks 12, 13)
Brendan Davies – engineering assistance (disc 2: tracks 12, 13)
Mike Nyandoro – engineering assistance (disc 2: tracks 12, 13)
Gary Thomas – engineering (disc 2: track 12)
Isobel Griffiths – contractor (disc 2: track 12)
Noah "40" Shebib – production, engineering (disc 2: track 14)
Noel Cadastre – engineering (disc 2: track 14)
Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton – recording (Jay-Z's verse) (disc 2: track 14)
Noel "Gadget" Campbell – mixing (disc 2: track 14)
David Strickland – mix assistance (disc 2: track 14)
Greg Morrison – mix assistance (disc 2: track 14)
The Neptunes – mixing (disc 2: track 15)
Lynn Jeffrey – band assistance
John Davis – mastering
Adam Brown – tape transfer
Kevin Vanbergen – tape transfer
Richard Bowe – archiving
^ a b Winbush, Jeff (29 May 2011). "Sade: The Ultimate Collection" . All About Jazz . Retrieved 23 June 2019 .
^ Kellman, Andy. "The Ultimate Collection – Sade" . AllMusic . Retrieved 24 June 2012 .
^ Ghoneim, Tareck (22 September 2011). "Sade The Ultimate Collection Album Review" . Contactmusic.com . Retrieved 2 June 2021 .
^ a b Hermes, Will (3 May 2011). "The Ultimate Collection" . Rolling Stone . Retrieved 5 December 2019 .
^ "Sade Embarks on First Global Tour in Ten Years Kicking Off North American Leg on June 16th, 2011 in Baltimore, MD" (Press release). Los Angeles: Live Nation . 30 September 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2011 – via PR Newswire .
^ Kellman, Andy. "The Essential Sade – Sade" . AllMusic . Retrieved 5 December 2019 .
^ Bradley, Lloyd (2011). "Review of Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . BBC Music . Retrieved 23 June 2019 .
^ Jones, Alan (16 May 2011). "Laurie fails to knock Adele from top" . Music Week . Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2014 .
^ Caulfield, Keith (11 May 2011). "Lucky Seventh Week at No. 1 For Adele's '21' " . Billboard . Retrieved 19 January 2014 .
^ Peters, Mitchell (27 August 2011). "The Love Movement" . Billboard . Vol. 123, no. 34. p. 19. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books .
^ "The Ultimate Collection – Tracklisting CD et DVD" . Sade.com (in French). Archived from the original on 1 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ The Ultimate Collection (box set liner notes). Sade . RCA Records . 2011. 88697899392.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ The Ultimate Collection (liner notes). Sade. RCA Records. 2011. 88697899382.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ "Australiancharts.com – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "ARIA Top 40 Urban Albums Chart" . Australian Recording Industry Association . 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2014 .
^ "Austriancharts.at – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Ultratop.be – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Ultratop.be – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Albums : Top 100" . Jam! . 19 May 2011. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2019 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link )
^ "Top Kombiniranih – Tjedan 21. 2011" [Top Combined – Week 21, 2011] (in Hungarian). Top of the Shops . Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2012 .
^ "Czech Albums – Top 100" . ČNS IFPI . Note : On the chart page, select 20.Týden 2011 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100 " to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
^ "Danishcharts.dk – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Sade: The Ultimate Collection" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland . Retrieved 5 December 2019.
^ "Lescharts.com – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts . Retrieved 3 October 2015.
^ "Top 75 Combined Repertoire (Albums) – Εβδομάδα 23/2011" (in Greek). IFPI Greece . Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2012 .
^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2011. 47. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ . Retrieved 3 October 2015.
^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Sade" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
^ "Italiancharts.com – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ アルティメイト・コレクション(初回生産限定盤) | シャーデー [Ultimate Collection (Limited Edition) | Sade] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 3 October 2015 .
^ "Mexicancharts.com – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012 .
^ "Charts.nz – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart" . OLiS . Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 5 December 2019.
^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ Ленинградское время . Lenta.ru (in Russian). 27 May 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2012 .
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 3 October 2015.
^ "Spanishcharts.com – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 5 December 2019.
^ "Sade Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved 5 December 2019.
^ "Sade Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved 5 December 2019.
^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Urban Albums 2011" . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 January 2013 .
^ "Jaaroverzichten 2011 – Albums" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 25 June 2012 .
^ "Rapports annuels 2011 – Albums" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 25 June 2012 .
^ "Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista – eladási darabszám alapján – 2011" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 30 July 2022 .
^ "Top 100 – annual chart: 2011" . Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2012 .
^ "TOP50 АЛЬБОМOB 2011" (PDF) . Lenta.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2012 .
^ "Årslista Album – År 2011" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2015 .
^ "Year End Charts – Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" . Billboard.biz . 2011. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012 .
^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Urban Albums 2012" . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 January 2013 .
^ "W 2016 roku najlepiej sprzedającym się albumem było "Życie po śmierci" O.S.T.R." (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019 .
^ "Danish album certifications – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . IFPI Danmark . 6 November 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2022 .
^ "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2011" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ . Retrieved 24 June 2012 .
^ "Italian album certifications – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 30 December 2014 . Select "2014" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "The Ultimate Collection" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2011 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . 7 December 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2019 .
^ "British album certifications – Sade – The Ultimate Collection" . British Phonographic Industry . 17 May 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2022 .
^ "Ultimate Collection by Sade" . Sanity . Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection (Remastered) by Sade" . iTunes Store . Australia. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection" . Amazon (in German). Germany. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection [Box-Set, CD+DVD]" . Amazon (in German). Germany. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection [+Video]: Sade: MP3-Downloads" . Amazon (in German). Germany. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "Ultimate collection – Sade – CD album" (in French). Fnac . Retrieved 5 December 2019 .
^ "Ultimate collection – Inclus DVD – Sade – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 5 December 2019 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection [+Video]: Sade: Téléchargements MP3" . Amazon (in French). France. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection" . Amazon . United States. Retrieved 28 April 2011 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection: Sade: MP3 Downloads" . Amazon . United States. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection" . Amazon . United Kingdom. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection [Box set]" . Amazon . United Kingdom. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection [+Video]: Sade: MP3 Downloads" . Amazon . United Kingdom. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection [Vinyl LP]" . Amazon (in German). Germany. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection [VINYL]" . Amazon . United Kingdom. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ "The Ultimate Collection (Vinyl)" . Amazon . United States. Retrieved 1 April 2014 .
^ アルティメイト・コレクション [The Ultimate Collection] (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan . Retrieved 1 April 2014 .