Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)

"Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)" by Edwin Starr

Step into early 1966, when soul music was full of energy and Edwin Starr delivered a driving, urgent soul track that showcased his powerful voice. With "Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)," Starr offered an energetic, propulsive plea about a lover who has left, using the urgent distress signal of its title to convey the desperation of the situation. The song became a notable hit, an early showcase for the powerful, energetic soul style that would later make Starr a star.

A Powerful Soul Voice

Edwin Starr was a soul singer with a powerful, commanding voice and an energetic delivery that made him a distinctive talent. Starr would later become famous for his number-one anti-war anthem "War," one of the most powerful protest songs ever recorded. "Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)" came earlier in his career, an energetic soul track that showcased the driving power and commanding vocal style that distinguished him. The song was an early hit that demonstrated the potent, energetic soul that would define Starr's work and eventually make him a major star.

A Driving Soul Plea

The recording is built on a driving, urgent groove and Starr's powerful, commanding vocal. The mood is energetic and desperate, using the distress signal S.O.S. to convey the urgency of a lover who has left and the plea to stop her. The arrangement is propulsive and energetic, matching the urgency of the lyric. There is a powerful, driving quality throughout, the sound of a commanding soul singer pouring energy and feeling into an urgent plea. It captures the energetic, potent soul style that distinguished Edwin Starr from the start of his career.

A Strong Run on the Hot 100

The single performed well during its chart run. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 19, 1966, at number 88, then climbed steadily through 78, then 70, then 61, reaching its peak of number 48 during the week of March 26, 1966. Across its life the record spent eight weeks on the Hot 100, a solid showing that confirmed Starr's appeal and the power of his driving, energetic soul. The song established him as a distinctive talent and pointed toward the major success that would follow later in his career.

Part of a Powerful Catalog

"Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)" belongs to the catalog of a powerful soul singer who would go on to record one of the great protest anthems of all time, an energetic example of his driving soul style. It captures the commanding voice and potent energy that distinguished Edwin Starr. The song endures as an example of his early work, a driving soul plea delivered with power and urgency. It reflects the energetic, commanding style that made Starr a distinctive talent and pointed toward his later triumphs.

The Energy of Edwin Starr

Edwin Starr possessed one of the most powerful and energetic voices in soul music, a commanding instrument that he would later use to deliver one of the most forceful protest anthems ever recorded. That driving energy and vocal power were evident from early in his career, in songs like "Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)." There is a particular intensity to Starr's delivery, the way he could pour urgency and feeling into a soul track and command the listener's attention. His later anti-war anthem would demonstrate that power on a grand scale, channeling his commanding voice into a forceful statement that became a number-one hit and a defining protest song. But the energy that made that anthem so powerful was present all along, in driving soul tracks like this one. There is real significance in a singer with such a potent, commanding voice, an instrument capable of both passionate romantic plea and forceful social statement. Starr's energetic soul style distinguished him from his peers, giving his recordings a driving intensity that was uniquely his own. An urgent, energetic plea about a lost love captures that early power, the driving soul that would eventually carry him to major success. The song reflects the commanding energy and vocal power that made Edwin Starr a distinctive and ultimately important figure in soul music, a singer whose intensity set him apart.

Press play and let Edwin Starr's commanding voice and driving energy power an urgent soul plea.

"Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)" — Edwin Starr's singular moment on the 1960s charts.