The Finest (song)

"The Finest" is a song by American band the S.O.S. Band. It is the fifth track on their sixth studio album, Sands of Time, and is one of the group's last songs to feature the vocals of original lead singer Mary Davis. Labelmate and fellow R&B singer Alexander O'Neal shares vocals with Mary Davis during the bridge. "The Finest" was released as a single in 1986.

"The Finest"
Single by the S.O.S. Band
from the album Sands of Time
B-side"I Don't Want Nobody Else"
Released1986
Length6:06
LabelTabu
Songwriter(s)Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Producer(s)Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
The S.O.S. Band singles chronology
"Even When You Sleep"
(1986)		 "The Finest"
(1986)		 "No Lies"
(1987)

Chart performance

"The Finest" was a success on the US Hot Black Singles chart, reaching number two and was their last entry on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 44. On the US dance chart, "The Finest" peaked at number eight, and was also their second top-20 hit on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 17.

Track listings

7-inch single

  1. "The Finest" – 4:35
  2. "I Don't Want Nobody Else" – 4:19

12-inch single

  1. "The Finest" (extended version) – 6:38
  2. "The Finest" (instrumental) – 6:17
  3. "The Finest" (a cappella) – 2:05

Charts
Chart (1986) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[1] 32
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[2] 19
Ireland (IRMA)[3] 28
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[4] 26
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[5] 34
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] 13
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 17
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 44
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[8] 8
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[8] 1
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[8] 2
West Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 26

"Finest Dreams"
"Finest Dreams"
Single by Richard X featuring Kelis
from the album Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1
B-side"Music for an Imaginary Mobile Phone Commercial"
ReleasedAugust 11, 2003 (2003-08-11)
Length4:14
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Richard X
Richard X singles chronology
"Being Nobody"
(2002)		 "Finest Dreams"
(2003)
Kelis singles chronology
"Young, Fresh n' New"
(2001)		 "Finest Dreams"
(2003)		 "Milkshake"
(2003)

In 2003, English mashup producer Richard X covered "The Finest" as "Finest Dreams", featuring vocals from American R&B singer-songwriter Kelis. This version is a mash-up with backing based upon an instrumental remix of the Human League track "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of".

The song was released on August 11, 2003, in the United Kingdom as the third single from Richard X's debut album, Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1. The single peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart the week ending August 23, 2003, and also reached number 35 in Ireland. The music video was directed by Oli Goldsmith.

Track listings

UK CD and 12-inch single, Australian CD single[10][11][12]

  1. "Finest Dreams" (featuring Kelis) – 4:14
  2. "Finest Dreams" (Part Two featuring Kelis) – 5:15
  3. "Music for an Imaginary Mobile Phone Commercial" – 3:05

European CD single[13]

  1. "Finest Dreams" (featuring Kelis) – 4:14
  2. "Finest Dreams" (Part Two featuring Kelis) – 5:15

Charts
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australia Hitseekers (ARIA)[14] 14
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[15] 6
Belgium Dance (Ultratop Flanders)[16] 10
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 35
Ireland Dance (IRMA)[18] 6
Scotland (OCC)[19] 15
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 8
UK Dance (OCC)[21] 3

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom August 11, 2003
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Virgin [22]
Australia September 29, 2003 CD [23]

Other cover versions

Italian producer Roberto Surace's 2019 track "Joys" sampled a re-recorded version of "The Finest". "Joys", released on Defected Records, reached number 90 on the UK Singles Chart in November 2019.

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 90
UK Dance (OCC)[25] 14

References
  1. "S.O.S. Band – The Finest" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  2. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 19. May 17, 1986. p. 13. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  3. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Finest". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  4. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  5. "S.O.S. Band – The Finest" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  6. "S.O.S. Band – The Finest". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  8. "The S.O.S. Band Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  9. "Offiziellecharts.de – S.O.S. Band – The Finest" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  10. Finest Dreams (UK CD single liner notes). Richard X. Virgin Records. 2003. RXCD2, 7243 5 47175 2 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Finest Dreams (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Richard X. Virgin Records. 2003. RXT2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Finest Dreams (Australian CD single liner notes). Richard X. Virgin Records. 2003. 724355269423.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Finest Dreams (European CD single liner notes). Richard X. Virgin Records. 2003. 7243 5 52752 2 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. "The ARIA Report: ARIA Hitseekers – Week Commencing 6th October 2003" (PDF). ARIA. October 6, 2003. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 6, 2003. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  15. "Richard X feat. Kelis – Finest Dreams" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  16. "Richard X feat. Kelis – Finest Dreams" (in Dutch). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  17. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Richard X". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  18. "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 14 August 2003". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  19. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  21. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  22. "Key Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 9, 2003. p. 19. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  23. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 29th September 2003" (PDF). ARIA. September 29, 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2003. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  25. "Official Dance Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
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