For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to take a trip to the Peach State and highlight The S.O.S. Band and their fourth album, “On the Rise,” released in 1983. This album marked a reunion with rising producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. “On the Rise” hit stores on July 1, 1983.
The album’s lead single, “Just Be Good to Me,” is often described as a “barnstorming electro-soul anthem.” Mary Davis provides the lead vocals for the song, in which she portrays a woman in love with a man whom her friends caution is a player or a user. Despite their warnings, she decides to take a chance on him, hoping he will treat her well. She is not concerned about his reputation or relationships with other women as long as he is good to her. A show-stopping live number that still holds up today, “Just Be Good to “Me is nine minutes of funk bliss.
The album’s second single, and easily my favorite song in their catalogue, was the lush ballad “Tell Me If You Still Care”. A duet between Mary Davis and their multi-instrumentalist Abdul Ra’oof, the iconic ballad explores the uncertainty and emotional vulnerability in a romantic relationship. Jam and Lewis’s lyrics convey a sense of doubt and insecurity, with the singers questioning the endurance of their partner’s love and seeking reassurance.
The repeated line “Tell me if you still care” in the chorus reflects the desire for open communication and emotional honesty within the relationship. The singers must confirm that their partner’s feelings for them remain strong. Undoubtedly, this song alone put most modern R&B to shame.
The album’s final single and last Jam & Lewis contribution was the dance floor anthem “For Your Love”. A passionate love song about a person desperately waiting for their lover’s affection: Jam and Lewis’s lyrics are perfect for Mary Lewis to convey longing for her lover’s love and desire to please them in every way possible. Even though she croons about her body is burning with passion, and the only thing that can stop the fire is the love of their significant other, the songs never come off as crass or corny.
The rest of the album is pure 80s funk, including a cover of the Johnny Taylor classic “Who’s Making Love.” Often seen as the album that broke them out of their creative rut, “On the Rise” is 80s funk and soul at its best.
Final Grade: B+
“On The Ride” is available on all streaming platforms.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.