The Jayhawks - Stranded In The Jungle (BSN Stereo Mix)

The Jayhawks (or sometimes, Jay Hawks) were an R&B vocal group from Los Angeles. They went through personnel changes and even name changes over the years, but they were best known as The Vibrations/The Marathons. “Stranded In The Jungle” was their first hit, under the name Jayhawks. It was written by the group’s first tenor, James Johnson along with Ernestine Smith. The Jayhawks were James Johnson, Carlton Fisher, Dave Govan and Carver Bunkam. By the time they evolved into the Vibrations in 1961, Richard Owens and Don Bradley replaced Bunkam. There were three competing versions of ”Stranded In The Jungle.” The Jayhawks original version was released in May, 1956, and reached #9 R&B and #18 pop on Billboard. It also made #16 on Cashbox and #10 on Music Vendor charts. In Chicago, it went to #1 on WJJD and #4 on WIND. In mid-June, a competing version was released by Los Angeles R&B vocal group The Cadets (who also recorded as The Jacks of "Why Don't You Write Me?" fame). It made #4 R&B and #15 pop on Billboard, #10 on Cashbox and #16 on Music Vendor. And in late June, a version by The Gadabouts was released. Both The Jayhawks and the Cadets versions were primarily aimed at the R&B market, although they crossed over to pop. The Gadabouts version was a true “cover record,” aimed at the pop audience. It made #39 on Billboard’s pop chart and #18 on Music Vendor.