# The Vibrations

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"The Jay Hawks" redirects here. For the alternative rock band, see [The Jayhawks](/source/The_Jayhawks).

**The Vibrations** were an American [soul](/source/Soul_music) [vocal group](/source/Vocal_group) from [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), [California](/source/California), active from the mid-1950s to 1976.[2] Most notable among the group's [hit](/source/Chart-topper) [singles](/source/Single_(music)) were "[My Girl Sloopy](/source/Hang_On_Sloopy)" (1964) and "Love in Them There Hills" (1968). They also had a hit with the up-tempo song "Surprise Party for Baby" (1971) in the UK, popular on the [Northern soul](/source/Northern_soul) scene. The quintet's members included Don Bradley, Carl Fisher, Dave Govan, James Johnson and Ricky Owens.[3]

## History

The group initially began recording as **The Jay Hawks**, and had a hit in 1956 with "[Stranded in the Jungle](/source/Stranded_in_the_Jungle)" (US No. 18).[2] After a few lineup changes, the group had another hit with the song "The Watusi" in 1961 (US No. 25); concurrently, they had a hit under the name **The Marathons** with "Peanut Butter", a rewritten version of [the Olympics](/source/The_Olympics_(band))' "[Hully Gully](/source/Hully_Gully_(song))" with new lyrics by [Hidle Brown Barnum](/source/Hidle_Brown_Barnum) and [Martin Cooper](/source/Marty_Cooper_(musician)) (No. 20).[4]

The group [recorded](/source/Sound_recording_and_reproduction) a couple of [Northern soul](/source/Northern_soul) classics since their initial hit on [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records) in 1963. A cover version of their song "My Girl Sloopy", retitled "[Hang On Sloopy](/source/Hang_On_Sloopy)", was a hit for [the McCoys](/source/The_McCoys) in 1965.[2]

Their 1968 track "Cause You're Mine" ([Epic Records](/source/Epic_Records) 5-10418, although originally on [Okeh Records](/source/Okeh_Records)) is listed at number 48 in *The Northern Soul Top 500* by Kev Roberts. Roberts stated: "This track knocks you sideways by the 4th bar and continues to race against time, leaving you collapsed in a heap of delight!".[5]

A later single, "Surprise Party for Baby" attributed to **The Vibrating Vibrations** ([Neptune Records](/source/Neptune_Records) N-28) is listed at number 188 in *The Northern Soul Top 500*, and was practically a new single when used in the Northern soul scene at [Blackpool Mecca](/source/Blackpool_Mecca) in 1971. Roberts added: "The intro and subsequent 'Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey' harmony works a treat into dragging you onto the dance floor. A further hook, 'Hope She's Going to Show Up' is typical [Gamble and Huff](/source/Gamble_and_Huff), being reminiscent of [the Intruders](/source/The_Intruders_(music_group)) cuts a couple of years later".[5]

The Vibrations briefly broke up in 1971. At this time, Owens became a member of [the Temptations](/source/The_Temptations), although he was let go after his first few engagements. Owens and the other Vibrations regrouped and continued, eventually becoming a [nightclub](/source/Nightclub) act in the mid-1970s, before officially dissolving the group in 1976.[1][3] Ricky Owens died in 1995.[6]

## Discography

### Albums

- *Watusi!* (Checker Records, 1961)
- *Peanut Butter* (Arvee Records, 1961) (as the Marathons)
- *Misty* (Okeh Records, 1964)
- *Shout!* (Okeh Records, 1965)
- *New Vibrations* (Okeh Records, 1966)
- *Taking a New Step* (Mandala Records, 1972)

### Singles

Year Song Peak chart positions US Pop [7] US R&B [7] Canada CHUM/RPM [8][9] 1956 "Stranded in the Jungle" 18 9 ― 1960 "So Blue" 110 ― ― 1961 "The Watusi" 25 13 17 "Peanut Butter" 20 25 ― "The Junkernoo" 112 — ― 1964 "My Girl Sloopy" 26 10 ― "Sloop Dance" 109 — ― 1965 "Keep On Keeping On" 118 ― ― "End Up Crying" 130 ― ― "Misty" 63 26 27 1966 "And I Love Her" 118 47 ― 1967 "Pick Me" ― 39 ― 1968 "Love in Them There Hills" 93 38 ― "Cause You're Mine" — ― ― 1971 "Surprise Party for Baby" — ― ― "—" denotes releases that did not chart.

## References

1. Thomas, Bryan. ["The Jayhawks - Biography"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-jayhawks-mn0001010877/biography). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved 25 November 2021.

1. [Colin Larkin](/source/Colin_Larkin_(writer)) (ed.) (1997). *[The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Popular_Music)*. First ed. [Virgin Books](/source/Virgin_Books). p. 253. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.

1. Wynn, Ron. ["Artist Biography"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-vibrations-mn0000922013/biography). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved 25 November 2021.

1. Andrew Hamilton. ["The Marathons - Biography"](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-marathons-mn0000051118/biography). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved 2016-09-26.

1. Roberts, Kev (2000). *The Northern Soul Top 500*. Goldmine / Soul Supply Limited. ISBN 9780953929108.

1. ["The Vibrations Page"](http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Vibrations.html). *Soulwalking.co.uk*. Retrieved 25 November 2021.

1. ["The Vibrations Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography"](https://www.musicvf.com/The+Vibrations.art). *Musicvf.com*. Retrieved 25 November 2021.

1. ["CHUM Hit Parade - April 3, 1961"](http://chumtribute.com/61-04-03-chart.jpg). *Chumtribute.com*

1. ["RPM Play Sheet - December 13, 1965"](http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5581.pdf). *Collectionscanada.gc.ca*

## External links

- [Discography](http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/vibrations.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Vibrations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vibrations) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vibrations?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.