The SOS Band
Encyclopedia
The SOS Band is an American
musical ensemble
, founded in Atlanta
, Georgia
in 1977. Originally known as Santa Monica, the 'SOS' initialism in the band's name stands for Sounds of Success.
"Take Your Time (Do It Right)
" in 1980. In 1983, they joined forces with then new production
team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
, who went on to craft a string of R&B
hits for the group, including "Just Be Good to Me
," "Tell Me If You Still Care," "Borrowed Love," "No One's Gonna Love You," "Just the Way You Like It," and "The Finest".
The Jam-Lewis-produced SOS Band hits are notable for popularizing the use of the Roland TR-808
drum machine
(and its distinctive cowbell sound) in popular music
. The group continues to tour and perform to this day.
The song "Just Be Good to Me" was covered by Beats International
(aka Norman Cook or Fatboy Slim
); the resultant song made its way to UK
number one single
as "Dub Be Good to Me
." The song was reworked with the bass line of The Clash
's "Guns of Brixton." It was also covered
by Shayne Ward
on his album
, Breathless. Also, the song "Tell Me If You Still Care" was covered in 1995 by fellow Atlanta native Monica
on her debut album Miss Thang
and sampled by Janet Jackson
in her hit "Call On Me
. The Bingoboys
performed a cover of "Borrowed Love" as the follow-up single to their 1991 dance hit "How to Dance."
Lead vocalist Mary Davis left the group in 1987 to pursue a solo
career, and was replaced by Chandra Currelley beginning with the band's 1989 Diamonds in the Raw album. More recently, Currelley has been active as an actress and vocalist in Tyler Perry
plays
and film
s. When Davis’s solo career was not as successful as she hoped, she eventually reunited with the band in 1994.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, founded in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 1977. Originally known as Santa Monica, the 'SOS' initialism in the band's name stands for Sounds of Success.
History
The band, fronted by Mary Davis, was initially famous for the hitHit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
"Take Your Time (Do It Right)
Take Your Time (Do It Right)
"Take Your Time " is the first single by the SOS Band. In the USA, it reached the number one spot in the Hot R&B Songs charts and number three on the pop charts during the summer of 1980. The single was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of two million copies...
" in 1980. In 1983, they joined forces with then new production
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
, who went on to craft a string of R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
hits for the group, including "Just Be Good to Me
Just Be Good to Me
"Just Be Good to Me" is a 1983 single by The SOS Band, written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The single reached number two on the U.S. R&B chart, number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number three on the dance chart that year...
," "Tell Me If You Still Care," "Borrowed Love," "No One's Gonna Love You," "Just the Way You Like It," and "The Finest".
The Jam-Lewis-produced SOS Band hits are notable for popularizing the use of the Roland TR-808
Roland TR-808
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was one of the first programmable drum machines . Introduced by the Roland Corporation in early 1980, it was originally manufactured for use as a tool for studio musicians to create demos. Like earlier Roland drum machines, it does not sound very much like a real...
drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
(and its distinctive cowbell sound) in popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
. The group continues to tour and perform to this day.
The song "Just Be Good to Me" was covered by Beats International
Beats International
Beats International was a British electronic music band, formed in the late 1980s by Norman Cook , after his departure from The Housemartins.-Career:...
(aka Norman Cook or Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
); the resultant song made its way to UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
number one single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
as "Dub Be Good to Me
Dub Be Good to Me
"Dub Be Good to Me" is a popular single by the club music group Beats International, released in 1990. It is generally considered the band's signature song.-Song information:Written by Norman Cook aka...
." The song was reworked with the bass line of The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
's "Guns of Brixton." It was also covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Shayne Ward
Shayne Ward
Shayne Thomas Ward is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over 3 million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in 9 countries.During The X Factor competition, Ward was mentored by manager Louis Walsh...
on his album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Breathless. Also, the song "Tell Me If You Still Care" was covered in 1995 by fellow Atlanta native Monica
Monica (singer)
Monica Denise Brown , and professionally known as Monica, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, Monica began performing as a child and became part of a traveling gospel choir, by the time she was ten...
on her debut album Miss Thang
Miss Thang
Miss Thang is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Monica Arnold. It was released by Rowdy and Arista Records on July 18, 1995 in the United States, featuring main production by mentor Dallas Austin protégés from his DARP production camp such as Tim & Bob, Darryl Simmons, Colin...
and sampled by Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
in her hit "Call On Me
Call on Me (Janet Jackson song)
"Call on Me" is a song by American R&B singer Janet Jackson and American rapper Nelly from Jackson's ninth studio album, 20 Y.O. . Written by Jermaine Dupri, Johnta Austin, James "LRoc" Phillips, Nelly, James Harris III, and Terry Lewis, it was released as the album's lead single in mid-2006,...
. The Bingoboys
Bingoboys
Bingoboys are a dance music trio from Vienna consisting of DJs Klaus Biedermann, Paul Pfab and Helmut Wolfgruber.They had two chart entries on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1991. Their debut single, "How to Dance", featuring Princessa, hit #1 on the dance chart and climbed to #25...
performed a cover of "Borrowed Love" as the follow-up single to their 1991 dance hit "How to Dance."
Lead vocalist Mary Davis left the group in 1987 to pursue a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career, and was replaced by Chandra Currelley beginning with the band's 1989 Diamonds in the Raw album. More recently, Currelley has been active as an actress and vocalist in Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry is an American actor, director, playwright, entrepreneur, screenwriter, producer, author, and songwriter. Perry wrote and produced many stage plays during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2005, he released his first film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman...
plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
and film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s. When Davis’s solo career was not as successful as she hoped, she eventually reunited with the band in 1994.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | U.S. certifications |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
|||
| 1980 | S.O.S. S.O.S. (S.O.S. Band album) S.O.S. is the debut album by the R&B group The SOS Band, released on Tabu Records in 1980.The albums spawned three singles, including their debut single "Take Your Time ". The song was a crossover success, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the Hot Black Singles chart and the Hot Dance... |
12 | 2 | — | Gold |
| 1981 | Too Too (S.O.S. Band album) Too is the second studio album by the R&B group The SOS Band, released in 1981.The album spawned two R&B chart singles, "Do It Now ", which reached #15, and "You" which peaked at #64-Track listing:#"It's a Long Way to the Top"... |
117 | 30 | — | — |
| 1982 | III III (S.O.S. Band album) The album spawned three singles including "High Hopes", which reached #25 on the R&B Chart, "Have It Your Way" , and "Groovin' " which peaked at #47 on the U.S... |
172 | 27 | — | — |
| 1983 | On the Rise On the Rise The album spawned two hit singles, including "Just Be Good to Me" and "Tell Me If You Still Care" . A third single, "For Your Love" , was also released-Samples:... |
47 | 7 | — | Gold |
| 1984 | Just the Way You Like It | 60 | 6 | 29 | — |
| 1986 | Sands of Time Sands of Time (S.O.S. Band album) Sands of Time is the sixth album by the R&B group The SOS Band, released in 1986.The album spawned four chart singles. Those included the hits "The Finest" and "Borrowed Love"... |
44 | 4 | 15 | Gold |
| 1989 | Diamonds in the Raw | 194 | 43 | — | — |
| 1991 | One of Many Nights | — | — | — | — |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified | |||||
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | U.S. certifications |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
|||
| 1987 | 1980-1987: The Hit Mixes | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | The Best of the S.O.S. Band | 185 | 27 | — | — |
| 2004 | Greatest Hits | — | 62 | — | — |
| 2011 | Icon | — | — | — | — |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified | |||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
US Dance Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|||
| 1980 | "Take Your Time (Do It Right) (Part 1) Take Your Time (Do It Right) "Take Your Time " is the first single by the SOS Band. In the USA, it reached the number one spot in the Hot R&B Songs charts and number three on the pop charts during the summer of 1980. The single was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of two million copies... " |
3 | 1 | 1 | 51 | S.O.S. S.O.S. (S.O.S. Band album) S.O.S. is the debut album by the R&B group The SOS Band, released on Tabu Records in 1980.The albums spawned three singles, including their debut single "Take Your Time ". The song was a crossover success, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the Hot Black Singles chart and the Hot Dance... |
| "S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dash Dash Dash Dit Dit Dit)" | — | 20 | 54 | — | ||
| 1981 | "What's Wrong with Our Love Affair?" | — | 87 | — | — | |
| "Do It Now (Part 1)" | — | 15 | — | — | Too Too (S.O.S. Band album) Too is the second studio album by the R&B group The SOS Band, released in 1981.The album spawned two R&B chart singles, "Do It Now ", which reached #15, and "You" which peaked at #64-Track listing:#"It's a Long Way to the Top"... |
|
| "You" | — | 64 | — | — | ||
| 1982 | "High Hopes High Hopes (SOS Band song) "High Hopes" is the 6th charting single for The SOS Band. It reached number 25 on the R&B chart in 1982. It marked the first collaboration of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis with the group.... " |
— | 25 | 49 | — | III III (S.O.S. Band album) The album spawned three singles including "High Hopes", which reached #25 on the R&B Chart, "Have It Your Way" , and "Groovin' " which peaked at #47 on the U.S... |
| 1983 | "Have It My Way" | — | 57 | — | — | |
| "Groovin' (That's What We're Doin')" | — | — | 47 | 72 | ||
| "Just Be Good to Me Just Be Good to Me "Just Be Good to Me" is a 1983 single by The SOS Band, written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The single reached number two on the U.S. R&B chart, number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number three on the dance chart that year... " |
55 | 2 | 3 | 13 | On the Rise On the Rise The album spawned two hit singles, including "Just Be Good to Me" and "Tell Me If You Still Care" . A third single, "For Your Love" , was also released-Samples:... |
|
| "Tell Me If You Still Care" | 65 | 5 | — | 81 | ||
| 1984 | "For Your Love" | — | 34 | 26 | — | |
| "Just the Way You Like It" | 64 | 6 | 26 | 32 | Just the Way You Like It | |
| "No One's Gonna Love You" | 102 | 15 | — | — | ||
| 1985 | "Weekend Girl" | — | 40 | — | 51 | |
| 1986 | "The Finest The Finest (song) "The Finest" is a 1986 hit single for the American R&B band The SOS Band. It is the 5th track on their 6th studio album Sands of Time and it is one of the groups last songs to feature the vocals of original lead singer Mary Davis. Singing alongside Mary Davis in the song is famous R&B singer... " |
44 | 2 | 8 | 17 | Sands of Time Sands of Time (S.O.S. Band album) Sands of Time is the sixth album by the R&B group The SOS Band, released in 1986.The album spawned four chart singles. Those included the hits "The Finest" and "Borrowed Love"... |
| "Borrowed Love" | — | 14 | 26 | 50 | ||
| "Even When You Sleep" | — | 34 | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "No Lies" | — | 43 | 2 | 64 | |
| 1989 | "I'm Still Missing Your Love" | — | 7 | — | — | Diamonds in the Raw |
| 1990 | "Secret Wish" | — | 38 | — | — | |
| 1991 | "Sometimes I Wonder" | — | 12 | — | — | One of Many Nights |
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | ||||||
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart