III (S.O.S. Band album)
# III (S.O.S. Band album)

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |

III is the third album by the R&B band the S.O.S. Band, released on the Tabu label in October 1982. It was produced by Ricky Sylvers and Gene Dozier.

## History

The album peaked at #27 on the R&B albums chart. It also reached #172 on the Billboard 200. The album yielded two Billboard R&B chart singles, "High Hopes" and "Have It Your Way", each peaking at #25 and #57 respectively. "High Hopes" also reached #49 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. The third single, "Groovin' (That's What We're Doin')", peaked at #47 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart and #72 on the UK Singles Chart.

"High Hopes" is notable for being the first collaboration between the group and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who would go on to write and produce several hits for the group. The album was digitally remastered and reissued on CD with bonus tracks in 2013 by Demon Music Group.

## Personnel

The S.O.S. Band

* Mary Davis – lead vocals, background vocals
* Jason Bryant – keyboards, vocoder, lead vocals, background vocals
* Abdul Ra'oof – trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion, lead vocals, background vocals
* Billy Ellis – saxophone
* John Simpson – bass, background vocals
* Bruno Speight – rhythm guitar, lead guitar, background vocals
* Jerome "JT" Thomas – drums, percussion
* Willie "Sonny" Killebrew – saxophone

Additional Personnel

* William Shelby, Leon F. Sylvers III, Joey Gallo – keyboards
* Crystal McCarey, Ricky Sylvers, Gene Dozier – background vocals

## Production

* Ricky Sylvers, Gene Dozier – producers
* Leon F. Sylvers – executive producer
* Ron Christopher – recording engineer
* Steve Hodge – recording engineer, mixing engineer
* Wally Traugott – mastering engineer
* Diem Jones – photography
* Jones & Armitage – design

## Charts

### Albums

| Chart (1982) | Peak |
| - | - |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 172 |
| U.S. Billboard Black Albums | 27 |

### Singles

| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Year | Single | US R&B | US Dan | UK |
| 1982 | "High Hopes" | 25 | 49 | — |
| 1983 | "Have It Your Way" | 57 | — | — |
| 1983 | "Groovin' (That's What We're Doin')" | — | 47 | 72 |
