THE VIBRATIONS
The Vibrations were formed as the Jayhawks in 1955, when the members were still in high school. The original line-up comprised lead singer James Johnson, tenor Carlton “Carl” Fisher, baritone Dave Govan, and bass man Carver Bunkum. They recorded for the independent Flash label.
The group’s first release, 1955’s “Counting My Teardrops,” sold approximately 900 copies. The following year, the Jayhawks made the national R&B top ten with the novelty number, “Stranded in the Jungle.” The song also produced hit cover versions by the Cadets and the Gadabouts.
After some personnel changes, the Jayhawks morphed into the Vibrations. The group now comprised Johnson, Fisher, Govan, and two new members, tenor Richard “Ricky” Owens and bass singer Don Bradley. By 1960, the Vibrations were on Checker Records, for whom they released the haunting ballad, “So Blue.” Their biggest hit for the label, a dance number called “The Watusi,” came in 1961. That same year, on the Arvee label, they had a second hit, “Peanut Butter,” as the Marathons.
By 1964, the Vibrations were on Atlantic, for whom their biggest hit was “My Girl Sloopy.” The following year, a more frantic version by the McCoys became a #1 record as “Hang On Sloopy.” Also in 1965, the Vibrations did well with a gorgeous version of the jazz standard, “Misty.”
After Atlantic, the group turned up on two Columbia subsidiaries, Okeh and Epic. By now, the Vibrations had adopted a harder, funkier sound that produced a pair of top 40 R&B hits: “Pick Me” (1967) and “Love in Them There Hills” (1968). Another Epic single, “Cause You’re Mine,” became highly popular on the British Northern Soul scene. As disc jockey/promoter Kev Roberts wrote, “This track knocks you sideways by the 4th bar and continues to race against time, leaving you collapsed in a heap of delight!”
Another Vibrations record, “Surprise Party for Baby,” also took the Northern Soul scene by storm upon its 1971 release on Leon Huff’s Neptune label. Per Kev Roberts, “The intro and subsequent ‘Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey’ harmony works a treat into dragging you onto the dance floor.”
The Vibrations broke up in 1971, at which time Ricky Owens temporarily joined the Temptations. The group eventually reunited, releasing commercially unsuccessful singles on labels like Mandala, North Baby, RCA Victor, Blue Elephant, and Chess. The Vibrations became a nightclub act before they disbanded for good in 1976. James Johnson and Dave Govan are now deceased.
Charted singles:
“Stranded in the Jungle” (The Jayhawks, 1956) R&B #9, Pop #18
“So Blue” (1960) Pop #110
“The Watusi” (1961) R&B #12, Pop #25
“Peanut Butter” (The Marathons, 1961) R&B #25, Pop #20
“The Junkeroo” (1961) Pop #112
“My Girl Sloopy” (1964) R&B #10, Pop #26
“Sloop Dance” (1964) Pop #109
“Keep On Keeping On” (1965) Pop #118
“End Up Crying” (1965) Pop #130
“Misty” (1965) R&B #26 Pop #63
“And I Love Her” (1966) R&B #47, Pop #118
“Pick Me” (1967) R&B #39
“Love in Them There Hills” (1968) R&B #38, Pop #93
Other notable Vibrations recordings include “Counting My Teardrops” (The Jayhawks, 1955), “Continental With Me Baby” (1961), “Forgive and Forget” (1965), “Soul A Go Go” (1966), “Cause You’re Mine” (1968), and “Surprise Party for Baby” (The Vibrating Vibrations, 1971).
