By sea (64.12.96.238) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 09:28 pm:

Does anyone know what happened to Ricky Owens of the Vibrations or any other members of the group?

By ... (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 09:41 pm:

Ricky Owens died a couple of years ago.

By Nosey (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 11:36 am:

I used to love to see them perform at the Uptown in Philly. They were a very physical group; splits, pratfalls, etc. plus they could sing! I especially liked the "pretty boy" schtick they used with Ricky. We girls used to swoon.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 12:39 pm:

Ricky passed away around '95.
I spoke to his son but wouldnt elaborate why.

I believe that Don Bradley, the bass man (and clown) works at L.A.X. airport.
I just got his number so I will ring him up today, hoping that its the right one.

BTW, if no one is aware of it, I was their axe man/conductor from '67- '72.

By Nosey (66.153.113.238) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 10:46 am:

Hi E: I loved the Vibrations act. Probably saw you on stage at the Uptown and didn't know it. E, tell Mr. Bradley he still has fans in Philly!

Back in the 60s whenever I was at a house party and told a guy my name was Cyndy, they always sang, Oh Cindy to me. LOL!

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:05 am:

Hi Nosey,

Although I have been on the road before, my experience with the Vibrations truly was my "soul university" and through them, I was able to meet some of the most amazing names in r&b and soul music, face to face and live and in living color.

They introduced my to fried 'loney sammiches in Richmond, barbecued pig snoots, in East St Louis, some of the most mouth watering BBQ in Chi-Town,banging Tex- mex in Amarillo, not to mention Wienerschnitzel and Bratwurst in Deutchland, bangers and mashed and Stones ginger wine in the UK.

Wait a minute!!! Im supposed to be losing weight, so let me stop talking about them groceries!!!

By Flynny (213.122.190.162) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 06:19 am:

Eli,
Any stories/recollections about their Okeh output...especially, 'Gonna get along without you now'.

TIA

Flynny
raresoulforum.com

By Keith Herschell - London (213.122.59.101) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 11:11 am:

Hi Bobby

A really popular Vibrations track in the UK is 'Cause you're mine'. Were you playing on that, and was that their first collaboration with Gamble & Huff. It's unlike anyhing else that was around at the time,a much harder sound, and seemed to predict the way that G & H would take things into the seventies, initially with Neptune and then with PIR. Also, the Neptune recordings are popular here, especially the O'Jays 'Deeper in Love' and 'Looky looky'
Cheers
Keith

By Nosey (66.153.113.238) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 11:28 am:

Keith Hershall: "Cause Your're Mine" is my buddy's favorite song by the Vibrations. He'll get a kick out of hearing that a Brit loves that song as well. I finally heard it in the last year and it was a little too uptempo for me. But to each his own.

By roger (217.35.87.17) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 11:43 am:

Hello Everyone.

Keith, lets not forget THE VIBRATIONS "Surprise Party For Baby" on NEPTUNE .. another uptempo goodie that I've had on a 7" for over 30 years!!

Anyway, on the subject of THE VIBRATIONS I purchased the C.D. of their 1972 L.P. on the Mandala label a couple of months back .. with "Wind Up Toy", "Ain't No Greens in Harlem" on it etc.

There is a very strange and chilling track on it called "Bolder Green and Jones" about three men who went off to war and were killed. If I'd known about it back in October/November last year I would have posted it on that "Songs about the Vietnam War" thread. I've noticed that in the credits the publishing company is also called "Bolder Green and Jones". Presumably this was THE VIBRATIONS' own publishing company?

Could anyone tell me the story behind this, were "Bolder, Green and Jones" anything to do with the group?

Thanks in advance.

Roger

By Don (68.75.173.33) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 11:52 am:

The early Vibrations we're very much loved here in
Chicago. The earlier group I met. Forgotten they we're still goin' strong and recording till 72? Wow!

Don

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 11:55 am:

Flynny,

My tenure with the group started toward the END of the Okeh years, although I did play on Love in them there hills/Remember the rain, which were recorded at CBS studios in NYC.

Keith,
I did play on all of the groups Neptune stuff as well as the O'jays.

Roger,

That Mandala album was produced and recorded by Bob Gallo, the same engineer who recordee James Brown's Its a man's world.

The groups sessions were recorded at Lou Lofredo's studio out on Long Island.

It was quite a departure for the Vibrations.

Believe it or not, with Gallo being an experimental kind of guy, some of the vocals were recorded OUTSIDE in the rear of the studio(which was eight track)

I wasnt on those sessions, though.
That pub company was the groups thing.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 11:57 am:

BTW,

Ben E King had an album on Mandala as well.
Gallo worked with him on some Atco stuff prior to this including the much under appreciated, Katherine, one of Ben E's faves.

By Flynny (213.122.8.249) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 06:41 am:

Thanks for the reply, Eli...now, Bob Gallo there's a name that crops up on a load of decent 60's NYC discs...which leads me to another question I once asked on here but drew a blank...whatever happened to brilliant producer/arranger Bert DeCoteaux...anyone know?

TIA
Flynny
raresoulforum.com

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 04:37 pm:

The Vibrations were one of the best groups out there in mid to late 60's!!
S.S.

By Nosey (66.153.113.238) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 06:13 pm:

Soul Sister: Didn't they have a killer act! I find it hard to believe that Ricky Owens bombed when he was a Tempt! The man had the voice, the looks and the stage presence. His rendition of Misty is a classic, imho. Be blessed, Sis!

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 07:30 pm:

Hi Nosey;
How ya' doin today?
You got that right! Ricky played me a demo tape of his unique version on "Misty" before it was released. Love it! And many more, but seeing them live was worth your money no matter who else was on the show. Ricky, was too pretty, just like Deon Jackson, beautiful to look at but I preferred my men to be a little more rugged-looking. LOL! LOL!
Take Care Nosey
S.S.

By Sea (205.188.209.48) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 05:14 am:

S.S.
You knew Ricky? What was he like?
Sea

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 08:42 am:

Sea;
I found Ricky to be sweet, kind, & polite during our few breif encounters. Very cute & pleasant, more on the quieter side than alot of entertainers I met.
Bobby Eli can tell you more as he was on the road with him on a daily basis.
S.S.

By Nosey (66.153.113.238) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 10:14 am:

Soul Sister: Pretty Ricky, what them call him!

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 10:18 am:

Hi Nosey;
I can dig it!LOL!!! That can be said for Deon Jackson too!LOL!!!
S.S.

By Nosey (66.153.113.238) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 10:45 am:

SoulSis: I was sent by my high school newspaper to interview Deon Jackson at the Uptown Theatre. Needless to say, the article was too schizoid to print. LOL!

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 10:50 am:

Nosey;
Thats funny stuff girl, did you at least take some photos? What year was that?
S.S.

By Nosey (66.153.113.238) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 11:58 am:

Naw, I didn't think to take a camera and it was in 1966. btw, I plan on borrowing a scanner. How do you scan pictures to this forum? Can you give me step by step instructions?

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 12:06 pm:

Nosey;
I thought it was 66, thats when I was hanging out with him and he was doing all the theaters.
I have to go out shortly to the hospital for another appointment, this time with an internist for a physical, etc...but in the meantime check out get fancy on the sidebar then scroll down to the part where it tells you how to upload pictures. If that doesn't help I'll see if I can help you when I get back later this afternoon or evening. Good luck!
S.S.

By JoeR (170.148.92.52) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 01:14 pm:

Hi Soul Sister,

You said "seeing them live was worth your money no matter who else was on the show."

The current manager of the Chantels just about said everything you said, word for word. He saw them at the Brooklyn Paramount (or Brooklyn Fox) and said they were O-U-T-S-T-A-N-D-I-N-G live ! ! !

JoeR - http://mypages.netopia.com/channels

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 01:38 pm:

here is a pic of Ricky Owens during my tenure with the Vibrations.

By Nosey (66.153.113.238) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 02:20 pm:

I resses my case!

By sea (152.163.253.70) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 03:42 am:

Eli,
What year was the picture od Ricky taken?

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 03:50 am:

Sea,
That picture was taken in 1969.

By sea (205.188.209.9) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 05:31 am:

Eli,
How do you remember Ricky? What was he like? How old is his son?

By melandthensome (81.152.20.71) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 08:05 am:

I like there mid-tempo cut on okeh titled
''finding out the hard way''
great vocals andthensome.


mel-o-delphia

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 11:07 am:

Hi Nosey;
You rest your case!LOL!LOL!LOL!!!

Did you have any success understanding the way uploading is described on 'Get Fancy' on the side bar? It sounds a little complicated at first, so I'll try to break it down step by step in the simplest terms I had success with. Here goes:
1. First, you must scan your photos to your computer, then file them to either your pictures, documents, or a folder as a "jpeg".
2. Open up the pictures in your file and resize them, (each persons computer may be a little different in accessing or the procedure to jpeg and save but I'll tell how mine worked, yours should be able to do it similarly) click onto resize then click on smallest size, mine says "handheld"(fits 240x370 scan).
Once you have your photos saved in your computer, jpeg them, and resized them to the smallest size...then your ready to post them to the SD Forum, here's the steps to do that:
1. Type in what you want to say on your thread the way you normally do, when you finish that, enter a couple spaces down from there and stop.
2. Enter the following exactly, these exact signs on your keyboard, the slash sign,(you must check this out on "Get Fancy" as it won't print here without the rectangular box coming up!)to see what to type in to get this image: , the typed part for this should be typed all together with no spaces. You can put whatever letter or word between { }, it doesn't matter but its better to keep it breif as it won'r be seen anyway, its just part of the process. Once you've done that, do the following:
3. Click on "Preveiw/Message", a box outlined in red will appear, just click on "Post Message", then a empty boxed-line will appear, it will say "Brouse" next to it, ONLY click onto "Brouse", it will automatically go to your files.
4. Pull up the "photo" you want to post by clicking "onto it", you'll automatically be put back on to where it says brouse and under the blank line which will show your photo file name on it, it will say upload.
5. Click "Upload" and your photo and message should be uploaded to the thread.
It sounds more complicated than it is, once you first get the hang of it, its a breeze. Here's hoping you have success, looking foward to seeing your photos Nosey!
Good Luck!
S.S.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 11:08 am:

Sea,
Ricky was basically quiet and reserved nice guy, and did his thing on the "DL".

He loved his women and the women loved him.
He liked to have a "taste" here and there.

I was closest to Ricky and Carl in the group.
Carl and I wrotte a lot of songs together.

Im not quite sure how old his son was when I sopke to him but I believe that he was in his mid twenties.

Ricky also had a beautiful younger sister.
I will post her pic when I find it.
He wouldnt say how his dad died.

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 11:09 am:

Hi Nosey;
You rest your case!LOL!LOL!LOL!!!

Did you have any success understanding the way uploading is described on 'Get Fancy' on the side bar? It sounds a little complicated at first, so I'll try to break it down step by step in the simplest terms I had success with. Here goes:
1. First, you must scan your photos to your computer, then file them to either your pictures, documents, or a folder as a "jpeg".
2. Open up the pictures in your file and resize them, (each persons computer may be a little different in accessing or the procedure to jpeg and save but I'll tell how mine worked, yours should be able to do it similarly) click onto resize then click on smallest size, mine says "handheld"(fits 240x370 scan).
Once you have your photos saved in your computer, jpeg them, and resized them to the smallest size...then your ready to post them to the SD Forum, here's the steps to do that:
1. Type in what you want to say on your thread the way you normally do, when you finish that, enter a couple spaces down from there and stop.
2. Enter the following exactly, these exact signs on your keyboard, the slash sign,(you must check this out on "Get Fancy" as it won't print here without the rectangular box coming up!)to see what to type in to get this image: , all together just like that. You can put whatever letter or word between {}, it doesn't matter but its better to keep it breif as it won'r be seen anyway, its just part of the process. Once you've done that, do the following:
3. Click on "Preveiw/Message", a box outlined in red will appear, just click on "Post Message", then a empty boxed-line will appear, it will say "Brouse" next to it, ONLY click onto "Brouse", it will automatically go to your files.
4. Pull up the "photo" you want to post by clicking "onto it", you'll automatically be put back on to where it says brouse and under the blank line which will show your photo file name on it, it will say upload.
5. Click "Üpload" and your photo and message should be uploaded to the thread.
It sounds more complicated than it is once you first get the hang of it. Here's hoping you have success, looking foward to seeing your photos Nosey!
Good Luck!
S.S.

I just realized in order to print this I have to upload an image, so here are "The Vibrations":

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 11:17 am:

Nosey;
Sorry things got messed up trying to show you what the type in on the slash image part as in "GetFancy", I never meant to have to post Deon's photo too but I couldn't just type in the image instructions exactly as its done withoout "uploading" a photo...ugh... always somethin'LOL!.......You MUST look in "Get Fancy" to know what to type in for the slash and image part of it.
Good Luck, this thing is a trip!!!
S.S.

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 11:19 am:

Sorry for the double post, see how things get screwed-up and somehow Eli got caught in the middle!LOL!LOL!
S.S.

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 12:11 pm:

Felix Hernandez just played "Misty" on his Rhythm Revue Radio Program. Ricky's parts sound SO good! HA-HA-
S.S.

By lennytone (66.241.87.179) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 12:34 pm:

What an underrated, underappreciated group, but one of my top favorites. I almost never sell a CD by them in my shop; people just have no taste anymore. At least the people around here. A few years ago I wrote to Rhino saying that there was still some Atlantic material that hasn't been reissued or leased out. Their attitude was like 'Oh yeah, like what?'. At the top of my list was the Vibrations. They never got back to me. IMO, the greatest Vibrations single of all was "Between Hello & Goodbye" b/w "Lonesome Little Lonely Girl" on Atlantic, but of course I love the Okeh and Chess sides, too. I think I saw them once doing 'Sloopy' but can't remember for sure.
-Lenny

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 12:49 pm:

Lennytone;
"Between Hello And Goodbye" is awesome.
They were one of the best live groups of the 60's but your so right about them being so underrated, its a shame and a loss to people's ears who would have appreciated their music had they had the chance to hear them on CD today. The CD I have is a bootleg I found in the mid-90's.
Yes, they did do "My Girl Sloopy" in their shows, at least in 1966 they did, it was pretty popular around the NY-NJ area as well as a jukebox favorite at the clubs/nightspots/bars.
Wish they were performing today.
Take Care,
S.S.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 01:06 pm:

Sloopy was recorded by the Vibrations first.

IMO, the Tempts "borrowed" the Vibrations Sloop Dance for their Temptation walk and Paul Williams "borrowed" Don Bradley's stage antics as well.

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 01:16 pm:

Hey Bobby;
I second that emotion, people don't realize just how many stage routines and choreography was copped from other or earlier artists. I spot it everytime and just have to shake my head because folks in the audience seeing it for the first time, think its original to that particular group.
S.S.J.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 01:24 pm:

SS,
You know the deal!!

Where J at?? Is he up in "the penthouse"?

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 01:36 pm:

Bobby;
Ha-Ha-Ha--- Yeah he's coolin' out in the love nest and shouts out a big hello to you & Vonnie!!
I'm getting ready to fix him lunch if only Felix would stop playing all that good soulful stuff!LOL! Its hard to pull myself away.
S.S.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 01:39 pm:

Tell him to warm up them vocal chords and check out all them old "love letters", capice??#$%^&*!

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.43.32.117) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 01:47 pm:

Hey Soulsister
how the devil are ya.......

still in virus mode matey.
my mate will have a virus if he dosent move it.....

mel-o-deeeeee

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 01:55 pm:

Wus Up Mel-o-dee!
Good to hear from you and know your doing ok. I hope you get the virus out of your computer system soon. Everyone misses you.
We're hangin'in here man. Chillin out this day for a rare change (smile).
Take Care,
S.S.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 02:06 pm:

Hey SS,

Felix be jammin' today, fo' reel!!!

Where my pimp "awl" at??

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 02:46 pm:

Yeah, now the "Escorts" new CD only available at my friend Stan's Square Records in Jersey City!
Felix is killing me!

WHEW---Felix is now kickin' ass with "The Mighty Dells" singing "Close Your Eyes" Sheeet man I got chills!!!!!!!Shoo-------Heh heh------you go Felix with that Dells set. Now a "House Is Not A Home" by The Dells...OWEEE--------STOP! Between Johnny Carter and Marvin Junior going back and forth the chills won't stop!!!!!!!HUOOO!!!!!!!
I'm too thru, totally blown away!!!!!!!NO NO NO Now he's playing "Wasted Tears" !!!!!!! Of course, now "Stay In My Corner"......Gotta go!
S.S.J.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 02:50 pm:

Yo Sis,

Make sure to grab a thermometer and take your temp right about now!!!

Y'll just may be ready for that ol' Love Jones comin down, capice??#@$%^

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 02:56 pm:

Now Felix is closing the show with Dinah and Fat Marvin doing "Am I Blue", backed by The Dells, beautiful and OH---that great ending!!!!!!! Too Much!!!!!!!
S.S.

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 02:58 pm:

Bobby;
WATCH OUT!!!LOL!LOL!LOL!!! Going upstairs now,
Bye (smile)
S.S.J.

By SEA (64.12.96.102) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 03:54 am:

Eli,
Are the other members of the Vibrations sill alive? It would be great to get them some sort of recognition....maybe Rock & Roll Hall of Fame or something.

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 04:29 am:

Sea,

I am not sure about Carl Fisher, as I have heard conflicting reports.

Other than that, they are still with us.
Im gonna try and call a number that I recently got on Don Bradley, the bass singer(and comedian!)

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.42.211.225) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 09:36 am:

anyone remember the Vibrations recording on the MANDALA LABEL?
with
'aint no greens in harlem'

if so what year was this.

mel

By Purpose (151.199.233.169) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 12:22 pm:

Peace to All of You,

I'm an occasional 'visitor' to the 'Site', but
wanted to share how much I've enjoyed reading the
info on the Vibrations. What memories!
I had the pleasure of seeing them as an 'early'
teen, in Philly and here in Delaware. They were
awesome and I, like many other young girls, then,
had my 'eyes' on Ricky. :o) Thanks for the memories
and for sharing the pictures.

Purpose

By Eli (68.236.53.71) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 12:32 pm:

Mel,

The Mandala record was done in 1972.
It was sure a departure for the guys.
Blieve it or not , some of the vocals were recorded outside in the back of the studio because the producer, Bob Gallo wanted to capture the "air" around the vocals.
Go figure.

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 12:35 pm:

Hi Purpose;
Your welcome, and welcome to SD!
Soul Sister

By Nosey (205.188.209.9) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 06:09 pm:

Thanks Soul Sister for the instructions. A co-worker of mine is gonna help me soon.

Ahem...that picture of Deon Jackson just shut my computer down........TILT, TILT, TILT!

What is he doing btw?

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 07:36 pm:

Hi Nosey;
Last I talked with him, he was a family man, his second one, lives in the burbs of Chi-town, and was busy being a Dad. I heard somewhere else that he was doing some performing locally, standards like Jimmy, but that was a few years back, don't know if he's performing today. Would be nice to run into him when Jimmy is performing in Chicago sometime.
S.S.

By CORNBREAD (66.185.84.74) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 08:07 pm:

I believe producer Bob Gallo opened a studio in Toronto,Canada some years ago.

By Juicefree20 (141.149.37.7) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 08:24 pm:

Good Evening Everyone.

I loved Forgive & Forget. Who sang lead on that one? These fellas had some excellent harmonies. I admit that I'm not well versed on their music. I have their Greatest Hits Cd & I haven't listened to it often. Guess I'd better give it another go round : )

Soul Sister, didn't I ask you yesterday to tame that lion

Hey Bobby E, are you trying to start another war here? You just can't say those type of things man. You mean that Otis didn't show the fellas those moves? Just when I thought that thread was through, Bobby E what'cha tryin' to do? Hey Bobby, that rhymed, can we make a song outta that
Peace to all
Juice

By Soul Sister (65.43.144.46) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 08:33 pm:

Hey There Juice;
Don't worry she cool, purring like a kitten, ha-ha-!!

"Forgive And Forget" is my most favorite Vibration song, beautifully done.

Always on the Cancer side,
S.S.