Friday Flashback :: S.O.S. Band's "Just Be Good To Me"
The Atlanta-based group S.O.S. Band was one of the biggest R&B acts of the mid- to late-80's, with a string of hits that became part of the continuing lexicon of "black" music.
After a smashing introduction to the world with two of their first three releases, by that third album, they were losing their edge, and drifting towards the oblivion of musical irrelevance. But now aligned with and groomed by the awesome Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (like the Minneapolis Sound tie-in?) a completely revitalized S.O.S. Band found themselves firmly on the top of the charts and in the public eye with this fourth effort.
And of the two cuts that would become part of their signature (the other being "Tell Me If You Still Care"), "Just Be Good To Me" is in my opinion, the best by a smidge.
As standard of music touched by Jam and Lewis, chunky basslines, interesting if not particularly lush synths, and good lyrical content are integral to this song. And of course, charting success followed, with the song entering the then-Black Singles chart at number Two, and the club charts at number three, while being popular enough in the mainstream to crack the Top 100.
"Just Be Good To Me" is one of the many songs of 1983-85 that found incredible success in formulaic, but still fresh-sounding music. Damn, I miss those days...
S.O.S. Band :: "Just Be Good To Me"
Album: On The Rise
Released: 1983
Billboard peak: #2 Black Singles, #3 Club Play Singles, #81 The Billboard Hot 100
Play the Track: Just Be Good To Me (to download, Mac users, Control-click, and choose 'Save Link As...' Windows users right-click the link and choose 'Save Target As...').
After a smashing introduction to the world with two of their first three releases, by that third album, they were losing their edge, and drifting towards the oblivion of musical irrelevance. But now aligned with and groomed by the awesome Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (like the Minneapolis Sound tie-in?) a completely revitalized S.O.S. Band found themselves firmly on the top of the charts and in the public eye with this fourth effort.
And of the two cuts that would become part of their signature (the other being "Tell Me If You Still Care"), "Just Be Good To Me" is in my opinion, the best by a smidge.
As standard of music touched by Jam and Lewis, chunky basslines, interesting if not particularly lush synths, and good lyrical content are integral to this song. And of course, charting success followed, with the song entering the then-Black Singles chart at number Two, and the club charts at number three, while being popular enough in the mainstream to crack the Top 100.
"Just Be Good To Me" is one of the many songs of 1983-85 that found incredible success in formulaic, but still fresh-sounding music. Damn, I miss those days...
S.O.S. Band :: "Just Be Good To Me"Album: On The Rise
Released: 1983
Billboard peak: #2 Black Singles, #3 Club Play Singles, #81 The Billboard Hot 100
Play the Track: Just Be Good To Me (to download, Mac users, Control-click, and choose 'Save Link As...' Windows users right-click the link and choose 'Save Target As...').
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Jimmy & Terry changed music, y'all better recognize!
BTW, there's a part toward the end that has the microphone feedback, that's my favorite part!