Collectables
2000
The Very Best Of The Vibrations
About This Album
The Vibrations first recorded as the Jayhawks in 1956 and hit anonymously with "Peanut Butter" as the Marathons on Argo Records in 1959; so 20 songs may seem like a lot, but is hardly definitive of an 18 year recording career. Still, it's a good compilation for what it is. The CD is chock full of tracks from a lengthy stint with Checkers Records, starting with their debut there, "So Blue" (1961), which first dropped on Bet Records. Their Okeh years (1964-1967) are represented well and "My Girl Sloopy," from an Atlantic stint, adds variety to the set. Depending on the genre, a different sound emanated from these guys. When rocking and souling, a raspy lead took the spotlight, excelling on the novelty/dancers but flattening out on mid-tempo and up-tempo soul tunes that needed blasting a la Levi Stubbs and Dennis Edwards. On the modern harmony arrangements, falsetto Ricky Owens takes over and they exude a smooth, bathing sound that washes you away in harmony. Nothing they recorded after an obscure Epic tune -- "Cause You're Mine" (1968), produced and written by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff -- is included; they recorded until 1974. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 and 15)

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