shake it, shake, shake it

I've been a sucker for falsetto love songs lately (see: I Think It’s Gonna Work Out Fine). “Shake It Up” by the Vibrations begins with a break, transitions into some dialogue, before diving into some nice falsetto. It's catchy, light-hearted, and has lots of energy squeezed into its 3-minute duration. The harmonies enhance the active arrangement, which sounds like a mix between Smoked Sugar's "I'm A Winner" and The Moments' (& The Whatnauts') "Girls" .

"Shake It Up"

The Vibrations formed in Los Angeles in the '50s, consisting of Don Bradley (bass), Carl Fisher (second tenor), Dave Govan (baritone), Jimmy Johnson (lead), and Richard “Ricky” Owens. They were active until the mid-‘70s, releasing hit singles under different handles for different labels including, Checker, Chess, Okeh, and Epic. Initially, they recorded as The Jay Hawks before changing their name to The Marathons, and finally settling as The Vibrations. One of their members, Ricky Owens, left the group and joined the Temptations for a brief period as well. They had a handful of charting singles and is believed to have disbanded in 1976. Click here for more info on these guys, their music, and their history. Shake it up!