SoS BAND - Full DiscographY

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, drummer James 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 (who later managed Cameo), 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 the Time's 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 of Chicago-borne house music 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 (number 43 R&B in fall 1989), produced by Eban Kelly and Jimi Randolph, and One of Many Nights, produced by Curtis Williams. In August 1994, former lead vocalist Mary Davis reunited with Abdul Ra'oof and Jason Bryant, 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.

the S.O.S. Band. Discography

'Take Your Time (Do It Right) Part 1' rose to number 1 on the R & B chart and number 3 on the national pop chart.

That first 1980 set included the self titled title dance track, popular on the U.K. dancefloors.

'S.O.S. Band II' followed in 1981.

'III' followed in 1982, and included the popular tracks 'High Hopes' and 'Groovin (That's What We're Doing')'.

On the R & B chart, they reached the Top 10 four more times.

1983 saw 'Just be Good To Me' (reaching number 2) and 'Tell Me If You Still Care' (reaching number 5).

Both songs were taken from their 'On The Rise' album.

The same year the group provided the instrumentation for the Eddie Kendricks vehicle 'I Got My Eyes On You'.

1984 saw 'Just The Way You Like It' (reaching number 6), taken from the album of the same name.

The album also contained the popular songs 'No One's Gonna Love You' and 'Weekend Girl', featuring Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis as producers.

In 1986, 'The Finest' reached number 2, and was taken from their 'Sands of Time' album (which also contained the popular 'Even When You Sleep').

Five S.O.S. Band albums also charted in the U.S.A., the debut, 'S.O.S.', reaching number 12.

There were a number of personnel changes throughout the decade, with vocalist Mary Davis leaving for a solo career in 1987, and releasing the album 'Seperate Ways'.

1989 saw the penultimate release of 'Diamond In The Raw', with Chandra Currelly taking over from Mary Davis on lead vocals.

The band released a final album ('One Of Many Nights') on Arista in 1991.

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