EPIC · ES 12123

1 pressing £165+ Choose →

1. A1 Smooth Operator
2. A2 Red Eye
3. B Spirit

Running order of the main release. Pressings may split it differently.

• 4:18 Sade - Smooth Operator - Official - 1984
• 5:48 Sade - Spirit (45rpm vinyl: Schick DasMM, Graham Slee Accession, Kenwood KD7010)
• 8:30 Sade - Smooth Operator (12” Version) – Official – 1984
• 8:54 Sade - Smooth Operator / Red Eye (Long 12" with 'Red Eye') [Audio]
• 5:30 SADE - SPIRIT ( BEST AUDIO )
• 8:49 Sade - Smooth Operator/Red Eye (1984) (Audio)

Two different recordings exist of "Smooth Operator." The first was released on the 12" of Sade's first single "[m=110926]" in Feb 1984, as a medley with the instrumental "Snake Bite". Six months later (8/84), "Smooth Operator" was released as an A-side but the recording is all new. Again, on 12" the track is a medley, but now with another instrumental, "Red Eye". The single and extended 'standalone' versions of "Smooth Operator" are shortened from this second medley. A month before "Smooth Operator" single release, the track had already appeared on the "[m=43936]" album. There the most common version is yet another edit of the second recording. On the cassette versions with bonus tracks, however, the version is the first one (with "Snake Bite"). Some initial North American copies feature an edit of the first recording of "Smooth Operator." The two versions can be told apart by saxophone appearing right before the first verse ("Diamond life, lover boy...") on the second version, whereas the first version has no saxophone there. The track "Spirit" is exclusive to this single.