The S.O.S. Band had scarcely left the clubs of Atlanta when their first single, “Take Your Time (Do It Right),” became a huge hit and shot the group to stardom at the outset of the '80s. While the band was composed of pickup musicians whose paths had crossed in Atlanta, S.O.S. were a collaboration among several industry talents. There was also executive producer Clarence Avant (who helped guide Bill Withers' career), freelance arranger and former Motown employee Sigidi Abdullah, and James Brown veteran Fred Wesley, who provided horn charts. In addition to “Take Your Time,” songs like “S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dat Dat Dat Dit Dit Dit)” and “Love Won’t Wait for Love” helped bridge the sunny disco-funk of Earth, Wind & Fire to the harder, bass-oriented R&B of the early '80s. For all the band’s industry grooming, it’s easy to see that they cut their teeth on the club circuit. The performances contain an inclusive chemistry that's often missing from the overly manicured R&B of the post-disco years.