The SOS Band

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The SOS Band
The cover of the SOS Band's debut album, S.O.S..
The cover of the SOS Band's debut album, S.O.S..
Background information
Also known as Santa Monica
Origin Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Genre(s) R&B
Years active 1977 - present
Label(s) Tabu
Members
Mary Davis
Abdul Ra'oof
Jason Bryant
Former members
Billy Ellis
James Earl Jones III
Willie "Sonny" Killebrew
John Simpson
Bruno Speight

The SOS Band is an American musical ensemble, founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1977. Originally known as "Santa Monica", the "SOS" acronym in the band's name stands not for "Save Our Souls", but for Sounds of Success.

The band, fronted by Mary Davis, was initially famous for the post-disco hit "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" in 1979. In 1982, they joined forces with then-new production team Jimmy Jam & 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", 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 remixed by Beats International (Aka Norman Cook or Fatboy Slim) the song made its way to UK number one single as "Dub Be Good To Me". The song was reworked with the bassline to the Clash's "Guns of Brixton".

Contents

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

All of the following LPs were issued on Tabu Records.

  • 1980: S.O.S.
  • 1981: Two
  • 1982: S.O.S. Band III
  • 1983: On the Rise
  • 1984: Just the Way You Like It
  • 1986: Sands of Time
  • 1989: Diamonds in the Raw
  • 1991: One of Many Nights
  • 2003: Too

[edit] Singles

All of the following singles were issued on Tabu Records

  • 1980: "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" [Part 1] (R&B #1, US #3)
  • 1980: "S.O.S (Dit Dit Dit Dat Dat Dit Dit) (R&B #20)
  • 1980 "What's Wrong With Our Love Affair?" (R&B #87)
  • 1981: "Do It Now" [Part 1] (R&B #12)
  • 1981: "You" (R&B #64)
  • 1982: "High Hopes" (R&B #25)
  • 1983: "Have It Your Way" (R&B # 49)
  • 1983: "Groovin' (That's What We're Doin')" (R&B #47)
  • 1983: "Just Be Good to Me" (R&B #2, US #55)
  • 1983: "Tell Me If You Still Care" (R&B #5, US #65)
  • 1984: "For Your Love" (R&B # 34)
  • 1984: "Just the Way You Like It" (R&B #6, US #64)
  • 1984: "No One's Gonna Love You" (R&B #15)
  • 1985: "Weekend Girl" (R&B #40)
  • 1986: "Borrowed Love" (R&B #14)
  • 1986: "Even When You Sleep" (R&B #34)
  • 1986: "The Finest" (with Alexander O'Neal, R&B #2, US #44)
  • 1987: "No Lies" (R&B #41)

[edit] See also

This article on a United States R&B/soul music band, group, or collective is a stub. You can help by expanding it.

[edit] External Links

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