Biography
Five vocalists from the Vibrations supplied the voices on the R&B novelty hit “Peanut Butter” while performing under the alias the Marathons. With only minor personnel shifts, the same ensemble had earlier cut sides as the Jay Hawks, reaching the charts in 1956 with the novelty number “Stranded in the Jungle.” That track is widely regarded as an early example of sampling, its lyrics punctuated by audio snippets from other hits delivered like radio bulletins. The lineup consisted of Don Bradley on bass, Carl Fisher on second tenor, Dave Govan on baritone, Jimmy Johnson on lead, and Richard Owens on first tenor; as the Vibrations they scored a dance hit with “The Watusi,” which climbed to number 25. Multi-instrumentalist H.B. Barnum recognized their distinctive blend as perfect for “Peanut Butter,” the novelty song he had helped compose, though no one anticipated the record’s eventual scale of success.
When Checker Records uncovered the deception, litigation ensued. Because each member held a separate contract with Checker, the label secured the legal right to issue “Peanut Butter” under its own imprint. Arvee Records quickly claimed ownership of the Marathons name and issued the Sonny Bono–penned “Tight Sweater” as the follow-up single; neither that release nor the subsequent Marathons album on Arvee advanced the group’s profile. To complete the next single and fill out the album, Arvee assembled an entirely new set of singers who continued to tour and record under the Marathons banner.
When Checker Records uncovered the deception, litigation ensued. Because each member held a separate contract with Checker, the label secured the legal right to issue “Peanut Butter” under its own imprint. Arvee Records quickly claimed ownership of the Marathons name and issued the Sonny Bono–penned “Tight Sweater” as the follow-up single; neither that release nor the subsequent Marathons album on Arvee advanced the group’s profile. To complete the next single and fill out the album, Arvee assembled an entirely new set of singers who continued to tour and record under the Marathons banner.
Albums
