The S.O.S. Band

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The S.O.S. Band
The SOS Band.jpg
The SOS Band, 1991. L–R: Bruno Speight, Jason Bryant, Chandra Currelley and Abdul Ra-oof.
Background information
Also known asSanta Monica
Origin Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Years active1977–present
Labels Tabu
MembersMary Davis
Abdul Ra'oof
Past membersJason Bryant
Billy Ellis
James Earl Jones III
Willie "Sonny" Killebrew
John Simpson
Bruno Speight
Chandra Currelley

The S.O.S. Band (sometimes written as S.O.S. Band; abbreviation for Sounds of Success) is an American R&B and electro-funk group who gained fame in the 1980s. They are best known for the songs "Take Your Time (Do It Right)", "Just Be Good to Me", and "The Finest". [1]

Contents

History

The Atlanta, Georgia, band was started in 1977, when keyboardist / vocalist Jason Bryant, saxophonists Billy Ellis and Willie "Sonny" Killebrew, guitarist Bruno Speight, bassist John Alexander Simpson, drummer James Earl Jones III, and lead vocalist Mary Davis formed a group called Sounds of Santa Monica that played at Atlanta nightclub the Regal Room. [1] [2]

Their manager (Bunnie Jackson-Ransom) sent a demo to Clarence Avant, head of Tabu Records. After signing the band to Tabu, Avant suggested that the band work with songwriter/producer Sigidi Abdullah. Abdullah was curious as to why an Atlanta-based band named itself Santa Monica. Keyboardist Jason Bryant replied that the band had an enjoyable concert in Santa Monica, California. Abdullah then came up with a new band name, The S.O.S. Band, with S.O.S. standing for "Sounds of Success". [3]

Abdullah produced and co-wrote "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" – which went platinum – with Harold Clayton, the song parking at number one R&B for five weeks and peaking at number three pop on Billboard's charts in spring 1980. [1] Their eponymous debut album, S.O.S. , [1] went gold, selling over 800,000 copies and holding the number two R&B spot for three weeks. While the band was on its world tour, trumpeter/vocalist/percussionist Abdul Ra'oof joined them. Their second album, Too , went to number 30 R&B in the summer of 1981. [3]

On the band's third album, III , they worked with producer Leon Sylvers III and writers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Their breaking single, "High Hopes", hit number 25 R&B in the fall of 1982 while the album went to number 27 R&B in late 1982. [3]

Jam and Lewis took over the production duties on their fourth album, On the Rise , scoring with the number two hit "Just Be Good to Me" (A song that would later be featured as the theme to Richard Pryor's stand-up film, "Here and Now", and again in Grand Theft Auto IV's in-game radio, The Vibe 98.8) and the number five ballad "Tell Me If You Still Care". [4] On the Rise became their second gold album, hitting number seven R&B in the summer of 1983. [3]

The formula continued to work: Just the Way You Like It (including the number six R&B single "Just the Way You Like It") went to number six R&B in the fall of 1984 and Sands of Time (including the number two R&B hit "The Finest") went gold and hit number four R&B in the spring of 1986. Many of these releases, as well as the sound of early releases, helped to popularize the now-classic sound of the TR-808 Roland drum machine. [3]

In late 1986, vocalist Mary Davis left the S.O.S. Band to pursue a solo career. [1] In 1987, the band contributed a song called "It's Time to Move" to the Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol soundtrack. The band released their seventh album in 1989. For Diamonds in the Raw the lead vocalists were Chandra Currelley and Fredi Grace, and three producers were used (Curtis Williams, Eban Kelly & Jimi Randolph, Jason Bryant, and Sigidi). Saxophonist Billy Ellis, also one of the founder members, died during the recording of Diamonds in the Raw. The album reached number 43 on the R&B chart. [3]

One of Many Nights, with lead vocalist Chandra Currelley and produced by Curtis Williams, followed in 1991. [1] It failed to chart. Davis subsequently rejoined the band, performing on tours.

In 2021 Mary Davis took a leave of absence from the group after suffering a stroke. [5] However, she has since returned to perform on select dates. [6] In October 2021, she joined original members of the group, along with more recent members, for a performance at a Birthday celebration for original drummer James Earl Jones III. [7]

Discography

All albums and singles listed below were issued on Tabu Records.

Studio albums

YearTitleLabelPeak chart positions Certifications
US
[8]
US
R&B

[9]
GER
[10]
NLD
[11]
NZ
[12]
UK
[13]
1980 S.O.S. Tabu/Epic122
1981 Too Tabu/Epic11730
1982 III Tabu/Epic17227
1983 On the Rise Tabu/Epic4773036
1984 Just the Way You Like It Tabu/Epic606443329
1986 Sands of Time Tabu/Epic44420383615
1989 Diamonds in the Raw Tabu/Epic19443
1991 One of Many Nights Tabu/A&M
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

YearTitlePeak chart positions
US
[8]
US
R&B

[9]
NLD
[11]
1986The 12" Tape (Five 12" Mixes On One Cassette)
19871980–1987: The Hit Mixes
1989In One Go
1990The Very Best Of (1980–1990: A Decade of Dance Hits)26
1995The Best of the S.O.S. Band18527
2004Greatest Hits62
2011Icon
2013Very Best Of
2014The Tabu Anthology
2015Greatest
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[15]
US
R&B

[16]
US
Dan

[17]
AUS
[18]
CAN
[19]
GER
[10]
IRE
[20]
NLD
[11]
NZ
[12]
UK
[13]
1980"Take Your Time (Do It Right)"31140274026351
  • RIAA: Platinum [14]
S.O.S.
"S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dash Dash Dash Dit Dit Dit)"2054
1981"What's Wrong with Our Love Affair?"87
"Do It Now"15Too
"You"64
1982"High Hopes"2549III
1983"Have It Your Way"57
"Groovin' (That's What We're Doin')"4772
"Just Be Good to Me"55231721221013On the Rise
"Tell Me If You Still Care"6553981
1984"For Your Love"3426
"Just the Way You Like It"6462634425032Just the Way You Like It
"No One's Gonna Love You"10215
1985"Weekend Girl"4051
"Break Up"
1986"The Finest"44282628341317Sands of Time
"Borrowed Love"1426372250
"Even When You Sleep"34
"No Lies"4328364
1988"The Official Bootleg Mega-Mix"33
1989"I'm Still Missing Your Love"725Diamonds in the Raw
1990"Secret Wish"38
"Do You Love Me?"
1991"Sometimes I Wonder"12One of Many Nights
"Broken Promises"
2017"Just Get Ready"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

See also

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<i>S.O.S.</i> (The S.O.S. Band album) 1980 studio album by The S.O.S. Band

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<i>Too</i> (S.O.S. Band album) 1981 studio album by The S.O.S. Band

Too is the second album by the R&B band the S.O.S. Band, released on the Tabu label in July 1981. It was produced by Sigidi Abdullah.

<i>On the Rise</i> 1983 studio album by The S.O.S. Band

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<i>III</i> (S.O.S. Band album) 1982 studio album by The S.O.S. Band

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<i>Diamonds in the Raw</i> 1989 studio album by The S.O.S. Band

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References

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