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 DooWopDJ's 
R&B and DooWop CD Reviews
 
The

JAYHAWKS

"Stranded In The Jungle"

(The Original Version)

Flash #109
Barcode: None

Review first published: 04.08.2002

Formed in Los Angeles, Ca by a Brooklyn, NY transplant, James Johnson. The Jayhawks began their long career in 1955. This CD offers you twenty-five (25) tracks covering the group, with all it’s names, up until their big change in 1960. From ’55 to ’59 the group were the Jayhawks, Vibes (not to be confused with ’54 Vibes of Bobby Thomas) and the Cleeshays. In 1960 they went on to their longest stint of recording well into the 70’s, as the Vibrations. This later segment of their career will be covered in the next scheduled CD review.

Right now let’s see what Carlton Fisher - lead, James Johnson - 1st Tenor, Rene Beard - 2nd Tenor, Dave Govan - Baritone & Carver Bunkern - Bass have to offer us!

1. Stranded In The Jungle - Jayhawks ’56 Flash (The original made so popular by the Cadets)

2. Counting My Teardrops - Jayhawks ’55 Flash $300 (Mournful ballad!)

3. Everyone Should Know - Jayhawks ’57 Aladdin $125 (Good Rockin’ here!)

4. My Only Darling - flipside of #1 (Very nice ballad!)

5. Don’t Mind Dying - Jayhawks ’56 Flash (Nother good Mover!)

6. The Devil’s Cousin - flipside of #2 (These guys know how to Rock!)

7. Love Train - flipside of #5 (Still workin’ up a thirst!)

play

8. New Love - Jayhawks ’59 Eastman $200 (Pretty Ballad)

9. Start The Fire - Jayhawks ’59 Eastman $150 (Off the couch and cut that rug!)

10. The Creature (From Outer Space) - flipside of #3 (Good Halloween Novelty Rocker!)

11. Betty Brown - flipside of #8 (Spoof on the Coasters’ 2Charlie Brown")

12. Misunderstanding (s/b Misunderstood) - Vibes ’58 Allied (Very good ballad!) play

13. I Wish The World Owed Me A Living - flipside ot #9 (Killer Ballad!)

14. Let’s Walk, Let’s Talk - Danny Tyrell & Cleeshays ’59 Eastman (Boys as the Cleeshays backing (whoever he was) Danny Tyrell on this Rock & Roll effort)

15. Lipstick Kisses - Sonny Knight & Cleeshays ’59 Eastman (Even got Sonny Knight Rockin’ & Rollin’. Not what you expect from Sonny. The guys sound like a girl group on this one??)  play

16. What’s Her Name - Vibes ’58 Aladdin (Very nice ballad)

17. Your Only Seventeen - flipside of #14 (Ballad!)

18. Eat Your Mush And Hush - flipside of #15 (Like this UPTEMPO! LOL)

19. Let The Old Folks Talk - flipside of #12 (Gonna get a work out on this CD. Yep! Another Rocker! Quick time too!)

20. You Are - flipside of #16 (Little Latin steppin’! Cha Cha)

21. Johnny’s House Party Pt 1 - Earl Palmer & Jayhawks ’57 Aladdin (Instrumental with the Boy’s chattering in the background. Good swing!)

22. Johnny’s House Party Pt 2 - flipside (Continuation!)

23. Counting My Teardrops - unreleased take

24. The Devil’s Cousin - unreleased take

25. Stranded In The Jungle - a small snippet of a rehearsal take.

There are your Jayhawks, Vibes & Cleeshays. A CD well worth enjoying. Another brand new release. Your favorite outlets should have it in stock now or shortly. If you need help finding it, let me know. Always glas to steer you in the right direction.

In Harmony:

Bruce (DooWop DJ)

ellupo@comcast.net