- The SOS Band
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The S.O.S. Band Also known as Santa Monica Origin Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Genres R&B, disco Years active 1977–present Labels Tabu Records Members Mary Davis
Abdul Ra'oof
Jason BryantPast members Billy Ellis
James Earl Jones III
Willie "Sonny" Killebrew
John Simpson
Bruno Speight
Chandra CurrelleyNotable instruments Roland TR-808 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.
Contents
History
The band, fronted by Mary Davis, was initially famous for the hit "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 films. When Davis’s solo career was not as successful as she hoped, she eventually reunited with the band in 1994.
Discography
All albums and singles listed below were issued on Tabu Records.
Studio albums
Year Album Chart positions[1][2] U.S.
certifications[3]US US
R&BUK[4] 1980 S.O.S. 12 2 — Gold 1981 Too 117 30 — — 1982 III 172 27 — — 1983 On the Rise 47 7 — Gold 1984 Just the Way You Like It 60 6 29 — 1986 Sands of Time 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[1][2] U.S.
certificationsUS US
R&BUK 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[2][5] Album US US
R&BUS
DanceUK[4] 1980 "Take Your Time (Do It Right) (Part 1)" 3 1 1 51 S.O.S. "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 "You" — 64 — — 1982 "High Hopes" — 25 49 — III 1983 "Have It My Way" — 57 — — "Groovin' (That's What We're Doin')" — — 47 72 "Just Be Good to Me" 55 2 3 13 On the Rise "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" 44 2 8 17 Sands of Time "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
References
- ^ a b "The SOS Band U.S. albums chart history". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p121296. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- ^ a b c "The SOS Band U.S. chart history". billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/the-s-o-s-band/chart-history/100885. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- ^ "The SOS Band U.S. certification history". riaa.com. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=S.O.S.%20Band&format=Album&go=Search&perPage=25. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- ^ a b "The SOS Band UK chart history". chartstats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=3336. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
- ^ "The SOS Band U.S. singles chart history". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p121296. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
External links
Studio albums S.O.S. · Too · S.O.S. Band III · On The Rise · Just The Way You Like It · Sands of Time · Diamonds in The Raw · One of Many Nights · The Best Of The S.O.S. Band · Greatest HitsCategories:- The SOS Band
- American dance music groups
- American rhythm and blues musical groups
- American soul musical groups
- American funk musical groups
- Boogie musicians
- Musical groups established in 1977
- Musical groups from Georgia (U.S. state)
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