The S.O.S. Band

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 band was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1977. The original group members included Willie "Sonny" Killebrew (saxophone), Billy Ellis (flute), Jason "T.C." Bryant (keyboards), Bruno Speight (guitar), John Simpson (bass), James Earl Jones III (drums), and Mary Davis (lead vocals, keyboards). It was originally known as Santa Monica, but later changed its name to The S.O.S. Band- an acronym for Sounds of Success. After listening to its demo and being impressed with their sound, Tabu Records founder Clarence Avant signed the group to its first recording contract.

In 1980, the group released its first hit single, "Take Your Time (Do It Right)", which was certified platinum and sold over 2 million copies. Its debut album, S.O.S., went gold and sold over 800,000 copies. Trumpeter, vocalist, and percussionist Abdul Ra'oof joined the band while it was on a world tour.

In 1983, the band 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, which included "Just Be Good to Me," "High Hopes," "Tell Me If You Still Care," "Borrowed Love," "No One's Gonna Love You," "Just the Way You Like It," and "The Finest."

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. They recorded another album with Currelley - 1991's One of Many Nights, which featured a few songs with a guest appearance from a then-unknown Kurupt.

More recently, Currelley has been active as an actress and vocalist in Tyler Perry plays and movies. When Davis’s solo career was not as successful as she hoped, she reunited with the band in 1994. Since then, Davis spilt from the remaining members of The S.O.S. Band, with Davis and Speight both touring using the band's name with their versions of the current lineup.

In 2013, The S.O.S. Band's entire Tabu Records catalog was reissued, as Tabu licensed their brand and trademark to British-based record label Demon Music Group.

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

Studio albums
 Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications(sales thresholds) US USR&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 USR&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 — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles
 Year Title Peak chart positions US USR&B USDan AUS BEL CAN GER IRE NLD NZ NOR SWE UK1980 "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 — — — 811984 "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 — — — — — — — — — — —1987 "No Lies" — 43 2 83 — — — — — — — — 641988 "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.

References

Other websites


Category:1977 establishments in the United States
Category:American R&B bands
Category:Musical groups established in 1977