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.
As a longtime music enthusiast, I’ve often wondered how quickly record labels expect lead singers from groups to release solo albums. This question came to mind recently when my iPod played “So You Like What You See” by Samuelle. Listening to the song, I realized he would be a great choice for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
You know the voice. The moment Michael Marshall starts singing the hook in Luniz’s “I Got 5 on It,” anyone who grew up in the nineties knows exactly what time it is. However, nearly a decade before that 1995 hip-hop classic, Marshall was already responsible for another instantly recognizable vocal.
There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.