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GADABOUTS
“Stranded in the Jungle”
(James Johnson, Ernest Smith)
Mercury 70898
No. 39 August 4, 1956
REWRITTEN, UPDATED JULY 29, 2015
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The Gadabouts had been about for a stretch with unsuccessful–sales wise–recordings for their
hometown label, Mercury. Comprised of Chicagoens Johnnie Barr, Larry Craig, Eddie Hayes, and Bill
Putnam, the Gadbouts–so named for their hope to roam eternally in search of pleasure, and money–ah,
and hit records.
The Gadabouts only chart-mover was a cleansed cover of the JAYHAWKS’ gritzy gas “Stranded in the
Jungle.” Mercury Records, at the time, was having some success with the Crewcuts. The short-hairs “white
bread” readings on rock’n’roll numbers created by R&B waxers [the PENGUINS’ “Earth Angel” #13, 1955;
the Flamingos· “Ko Ko Mo” #16, 1955; NAPPY BROWN’s “Don’t Be Angry” # 14, 1955…] were successfully
snatching away a sizable chunk of the original acts action. Before approaching the Gads about making a
similar perpetration, Mercury attempted to utilize the Diamonds in a similar manner. The label, however,
had under estimated their abilities and while the Diamonds did manage to scored a number of chartings
with covers, Diamond disks sounded to all as “the real thing,” not no slices of Wonder Bread.