The S.O.S. Band

The S.O.S. Band
The SOS Band, 1991. L-R: Bruno Speight, Jason Bryant, Chandra Currelley and Abdul Ra-oof.
Background information
Also known as	Santa Monica
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Disco R&B boogie urban
Years active	1977–1991
Labels	Tabu
Members	Mary Davis Abdul Ra'oof
Past members	Jason Bryant Billy Ellis (Deceased) James Earl Jones III Willie "Sonny" Killebrew John Simpson Bruno Speight Chandra Currelley

The S.O.S. Band (sometimes written SOS 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," "Tell Me If You Still Care," and "The Finest."

History

The S.O.S. Band hit with a two-million-selling single, “Take Your Time (Do It Right),” their first time out, before having several hit singles written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The Atlanta, GA-borne band was started in 1977, when keyboardist/vocalist Jason Bryant, saxophonists Billy Ellis and Willie “Sonny” Killebrew, guitarist Bruno Speight, bassist John Alexander Simpson, drummerJames Earl Jones III, and lead vocalist Mary Davis formed a group called Santa Monica that played at Atlanta nightclub the Regal Room.

Their manager, Bunny 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, CA. Abdullah then came up with a new band name, The S.O.S. Band, with S.O.S. standing for “Sounds of Success.

 Abdullah produced and co-wrote “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” with Harold Clayton, which went platinum, parking at number one R&B for five weeks and peaking at number three pop on Billboard’s charts in spring 1980. The debut LP,S.O.S., 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 summer 1981. On the band’s third LP,S.O.S. Band III, they worked with producer Leon Sylvers III and writers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The 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.

On their fourth LP, On the Rise, Jam and Lewis took over the production chores. Scoring with the slammin’ number two hit “Just Be Good to Me” and the number five beatbox ballad “Tell Me if You Still Care,” On the Rise became their second gold album hitting number seven R&B in summer 1983. The formula continued working: 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 fall 1984 and Sands of Time(including the number two R&B hit “The Finest”) went gold and hit number four R&B in spring 1986. Many of these releases as well as the sound of early releases helped to popularize the now-classic sound of Roland drum machine the TR-808.

 In 1987, vocalist Mary Davis left The S.O.S. Band to pursue a solo career. The band recorded two more albums:Diamonds in the Raw with lead vocalist Chandra Currelley and  Fredi Grace (number 43 R&B in fall 1989), produced by Eban Kelly and Jimi Randolph, and One of Many Nights with lead vocalist Chandra Currelley produced by Curtis Williams. In August 1994, former lead vocalist Mary Davis reunited with Abdul Ra’oof and together they reconstructed a new band with the same funky S.O.S. sound, appearing on comedian Sinbad’s HBO concert specials and Rhino’s various-artists set United We Funk issued October 5,1999. 

Discography

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

Studio albums

Year	Title	Peak chart positions								Certifications (sales thresholds)
		US	US R&B	GER	NLD	NZ	NOR	SWE	UK
1980	S.O.S.	12	2	—	—	—	34	—	—	US: Gold
1981	Too	117	30	—	—	—	—	—	—
1982	III	172	27	—	—	—	—	—	—
1983	On the Rise	47	7	—	30	36	—	—	—	US: Gold
1984	Just the Way You Like It	60	6	44	33	—	—	—	29
1986	Sands of Time	44	4	20	38	36	—	35	15	US: Gold
1989	Diamonds in the Raw	194	43	—	—	—	—	—	—
1991	One of Many Nights	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Year	Title	Peak chart positions
		US	US R&B	NLD
1987	1980–1987: The Hit Mixes	—	—	—
1990	The Very Best Of (1980–1990: A Decade of Dance Hits)	—	—	26
1995	The Best of the S.O.S. Band	185	27	—
2004	Greatest Hits	—	62	—
2011	Icon	—	—	—
2015	Greatest	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions
		US	US R&B	US Dan	AUS	BEL	CAN	GER	IRE	NLD	NZ	NOR	SWE	UK
1980	"Take Your Time (Do It Right) (Part 1)"	3	1	1	40	19	27	40	—	26	3	10	20	51
	"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	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"You"	—	64	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1982	"High Hopes"	—	25	49	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1983	"Have It Your Way"	—	57	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Groovin' (That's What We're Doin')"	—	—	47	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	72
	"Just Be Good to Me"	55	2	3	17	29	—	—	21	22	10	—	—	13
	"Tell Me If You Still Care"	65	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	39	—	—	—	81
1984	"For Your Love"	—	34	26	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Just the Way You Like It"	64	6	26	—	—	—	34	—	42	50	—	—	32
	"No One's Gonna Love You"	102	15	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1985	"Weekend Girl"	—	40	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	51
	"Break Up"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1986	"The Finest"	44	2	8	—	20	—	26	28	34	13	—	—	17
	"Borrowed Love"	—	14	26	—	25	—	37	—	22	—	—	—	50
	"Even When You Sleep"	—	34	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"No Lies"	—	43	2	83	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	64
1988	"The Official Bootleg Mega-Mix"	—	—	—	—	—	—	33	—	—	—	—	—	—
1989	"I'm Still Missing Your Love"	—	7	—	—	—	—	—	—	25	—	—	—	—
1990	"Secret Wish"	—	38	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Do You Love Me?"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1991	"Sometimes I Wonder"	—	12	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Broken Promises"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2014	"Just Get Ready"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

External links

• The S.O.S. Band at AllMusic