The Vibrations

The group initially began recording as The Jay Hawks, and had a hit in 1956 with “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’ “Hully Gully” with new lyrics by Hidle Brown Barnum and Martin Cooper (No. 20).[4]

The group recorded a couple of Northern soul classics since their initial hit on Atlantic Records in 1963. A cover version of their song “My Girl Sloopy”, retitled “Hang On Sloopy”, was a hit for the McCoys in 1965.[2]

Their 1968 track “Cause You’re Mine” (Epic Records 5-10418, although originally on 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 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 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, being reminiscent of the Intruders cuts a couple of years later”