Doug's Little Tribute to:

Swing Out Sister, based in the UK, is a group that arrived on the scene back in 1985. Its influences include 1960's Burt Bacharach sophisticated yet breezy pop and late 70's early 80's Manchester (UK) sound. The band started off as a synth pop dance band and in its 20 plus years has matured into a cool jazz style that was labeled "Motown-Lounge" in a recent radio interview.

Although their record company gave them little to no support over the years, except in Japan, they have kept at it and issued albums on a regular basis. Thanks to the Internet, it is much easier to obtain their studio albums, even the ones never released in the US or UK.

Here in the US, the band has a "cult" following and you never know who likes them (unless you join some fan discussion on the Internet). Recently, the track "Am I the Same Girl" from "Get In Touch With Yourself (1992)" is being used as the theme music for the new Martha Stewart daytime program. If the maven of entertaining likes them then how can we not?

This page is my feeble attempt to express my fandom and hopefully enlighten those who may not know the band or its music.

Who is Swing Out Sister (SOS)?

Corinne Drewery is the lead vocalist and icon for the band. Before SOS she worked in fashion design. Her voice invokes Dusty Springfield and her image during the early years invoked silent film star Louise Brooks with her lanky frame and helmet hair.

Andy Connell composes and arranges the music. He also writes the songs along with Corinne. His face is seen in all the videos and on the album covers yet he has only sang backing vocals on one album that I know of.

Other contributors:

Paul Staveley O'Duffy does the computer programming, producing, engineering, and mixing the band's albums as well as helping write, compose, and arrange many of the band's songs. He even sang backup on at least one album.

Martin Jackson is a former member who formed the band with Andy but left after work on the second album "Kaleidoscope World (1989)".

Why I like them:

Almost any music that use strings and horns - even synthesized - blows my mind and that is pretty much SOS' staple since day one. Some SOS fans mention that they like film music and many tunes have the feel of songs written for the silver screen. Even though the band's product is the result of heavy producing, their live show is an excellent version of the album songs.

That's important to me. Many bands and singers that are heavily produced sound awful live unless they use a backing track to mask their inadequacies but SOS don't need such masks. They may not duplicate an album in concert but that is the point. If you go to a live show you have to expect the unexpected. They care about the music and not just making a buck.

How I got hooked:

When I first heard their smash hit "Breakout" in 1987 on the radio, I instantly liked them. The music, lyrics, and style all seemed fresh - even though it really isn't new. It was totally different than what you heard then in TOP 40 radio at the time.

I was also just getting interested in dance music to go along with my interest in New Wave and SOS seemed to fit both. I was a fan of other Manchester products like New Order and The Smiths - but SOS seemed sugary in comparison.

Their music puts a smile on my face and I can listen to them all the time if I wanted - and sometimes I do.

My Favorite Songs

There are so many good tunes over the 20 years SOS has been around that it is hard to pick out a favorite but the ones I listen to the most are posted below:

Notgonnachange from The Millennium Collection: The Best of Swing Out Sister (2001)

I like this version of Notgonnachange rather than the 1992 version on "Get in Touch With Yourself". The bass line is so cool

Am I the same girl from Get In Touch With Yourself (1992)

I have always loved the instrumental version of this song and until the SOS cover, I didn't know it had lyrics. This video shows the band playing the song "live" in 2001.

Albums:

These are just the albums that were released in the US. These and most of the other albums are available via Amazon, iTunes, and ebay.com, or if you have a really great record shop.

It's Better to Travel (1987) - smash debut that includes the single that started it all for them "Breakout". My favorites include the Breakout, Fooled by a Smile, Twilight World, Surrender

Kaleidoscope World (1989) - a good 2nd album that didn't try to duplicate the sound of the 1st as the record company wanted. My favorites include You On My Mind, Where In The World, Waiting Game, and Tainted.

Get In Touch With Yourself (1992) - This album got them back in touch with US audiences. Their sound had evolved from dance beats to more of a jazzy sound. My favorites Am I The Same Girl?, Notgonnachange, Circulate, Love Child, and Incomplete Without You.

The Living Return (1994) - the change to a cool jazz/funk sound is completed on this album. It is also one album that Producer Paul Staveley O'Duffy was not involved with. My favorites include Better Make It Better, That's The Way It Goes, and La La (Means I Love You).

Shapes And Patterns (1997) - SOS return to a mesh of the last two albums to form an excellent single unit. O'Duffy also returns to produce. My favorites include Somewhere In The World, Here And Now, We Could Make It Happen, Stone Soul Picnic, Now You're Not Here, Better Make It Better.

20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Swing Out Sister (2001) - Now normally I wouldn't mention a Greatest Hits album since I want to highlight proper studio albums, but this one is a must have if only for an excellent remix of "Notgonnachange" and the only album to offer Who's Been Sleeping in the US. For a completist like me, you have to have this one and if you are new to the group, it is a good intro.

Somewhere Deep In The Night (2001) - This album had a deeper 60's Burt Bacharach/Hal David feel to it. My favorite cuts on this album are Where The Hell Did I Go Wrong? and Where Do I Go?

Where Our Love Grows (2004) - Waited a long time for this disc and the wait was worth it. The sound invokes a smoky jazz club. The band continues their jazz combo style. My favorites Where Our Love Grows, Let The Stars Shine, and Happy Ending.

Live In Tokyo (2005) - a great example of their live performances now available through iTunes and Amazon.com

Beautiful Mess (2008) - Another long wait for an album but it was worth it. Back to a jazzy tone. My favorites on this one are Something Every Day and Beautiful Mess

Some Links:

swingoutsister.com - the officially endorsed unofficial website run by Kun Kim. Excellent info on the band, discography, and fan discussion forum. The band also leaves notes from time to time.

My Links:

Doug World!
Doug's Views