On the Rise

by The S.O.S. Band

Overview

After a strong start at the beginning of the 1980s, the S.O.S. Band quickly hit that rut which is so sadly common among young bands needing a second shot of gold and, by 1983, they were teetering on the edge of an oncoming oblivion. It is to their ever-lasting credit that not only were they able to pull out of the nosedive, they did it with such aplomb that On the Rise could easily have been retitled Back on Top. Teaming with hot writing/production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, a completely revitalized S.O.S. Band found themselves firmly on the top of the charts and in the public eye. Hip, slick, and full of dance tricks, the band infused On the Rise with enough '80s synth sounds to break through in the clubs, while keeping their funk roots intact. Energized throughout, the set hardly slows down for a moment. From "For Your Love" and the stellar second side opener, "I'm Not Runnin'," to the Motown soul stylings of "Who's Making Love," the S.O.S. Band proved they still had their moves. The album spun two songs into the top of the R&B charts -- "Tell Me if You Still Care" reached number five, while the showstopping "Just Be Good to Me" dropped in at number two, not only becoming one of 1983's defining songs, but also returning the band to the spotlight in 1991, when the English house band Beats International revisited the grooves across their smash "Dub Be Good to Me." On the Rise is the sound of a band finding their feet again -- and knowing what to do with them once they'd found them. ~ Amy Hanson

Product Details

Release Date:	09/30/2022
Label:	Universal
UPC:	4988031522103
Rank:	23512

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The S.O.S. Band   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
Crystal McCarey   Vocals (Background)
Billy Ellis   Saxophone
Myrna Matthews   Vocals (Background)
Joyce "Fenderella" Irby   Vocals (Background)
Mary Davis   Vocals
Monte Moir   Vocals (Background)
Phyllis Saint James   Vocals (Background)
Abdul Ra'oof   Vocals,Trumpet,Flugelhorn,Percussion
Bruno Speight   Guitar
Terry Lewis   Vocals (Background)
Phyllis Battle   Vocals (Background)
Willie "Sonny" Killebrew   Flute,Saxophone
Jerome Thomas   Drums,Percussion
Jason Bryant   Vocals,Keyboards
Janelle Hayman   Vocals (Background)
John A. Simpson III   Bass

Technical Credits

Val Jennings   Project Manager
Vincent Jerome Thomas   Composer
Crystal McCarey   Composer
Connie Scotto   Composer
Stephen Manderson   Composer
Phil Kinrade   Mastering
Tina Stephens   A&R
Bob Brown   Engineer
Steven Hodge   Engineer
Gene Dozier   Composer,Producer,Arranger
Ed Townsend   Composer
Billy Ellis   Group Member
Homer Banks   Composer
Sabrina Buchanek   Engineer
Ron Christopher   Engineer
Sam Cooke   Composer
Rick Nielsen   Composer
Mary Davis   Composer,Group Member
The S.O.S. Band   Arranger,Producer
Travis Biggs   Composer
Stevie Wonder   Composer
James Harris III   Composer
Steve Hodge   Mixing
Bettye Crutcher   Composer
Bruno Speight   Group Member
Terry Lewis   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Don Davis   Composer
Graham Gouldman   Composer
Abdul Ra'oof   Group Member
Judi Clapp   Engineer
Jimmy Jam   Arranger,Producer
Raymond Jackson   Composer
Willie "Sonny" Killebrew   Group Member
Jerome Thomas   Composer,Group Member
Clarence Avant   Executive Producer
Jason Bryant   Group Member
Taavi Mote   Engineer
Andrew Hughes   Composer
Ezra Tucker   Cover Illustration
John A. Simpson III   Composer,Group Member
Justin Kantor   Liner Notes