The Marathons – Peanut Butter A 428, Mono, 1st pressing, NM/EX, US, 1961

$

150

The Marathons – Peanut Butter
Label: Arvee Records – A 428
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: USA
Released: 1961
Genre: R&B, Doo-Wop
Style: Soul, Vocal Group Harmony 💿 DESCRIPTION

Original first U.S. pressing (1961) on Arvee Records, featuring the Los Angeles vocal quintet The Marathons — a pseudonym used by The Vibrations for their novelty hit “Peanut Butter.”
Produced by H.B. Barnum and Marty Cooper, this LP represents the golden era of early West Coast R&B humor and dance-floor charm.
The record combines driving rhythm ’n’ blues with playful themes and dynamic harmonies, perfectly capturing the L.A. club sound of the early ’60s.

Highlights include the infectious title track “Peanut Butter,” the upbeat “Chicken Spaceman,” and the soulful “Gee” — all driven by tight vocal interplay and punchy arrangements typical of Barnum’s early productions.

Pressed during the peak of the “Peanut Butter” single’s chart success — it reached #20 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and #25 on the R&B chart in spring 1961.
Issued exclusively in mono, as Arvee had not yet begun stereo production.

• Authentic 1961 first pressing identifiable by:

  • Orange label with alternating black “arvee” panels

  • Center numerals “1” and “2” printed in large black type

  • Back cover photo with the band posing around a jar of peanut butter and slice of bread

  • Address line: ARVEE RECORDINGS 7803 SUNSET BLVD. HOLLYWOOD 46, CALIF.

• Mastering details: hand-etched matrix numbers and small plant mark “H” in run-out area
  → The “H” is consistent with Hollywood mastering or Monarch-linked facilities used by Arvee in 1961.

• Recorded and pressed during the label’s brief independent run before its distribution was absorbed by Chancellor / Era.

• Peanut Butter was later covered by The J. Geils Band and Rufus Thomas, further cementing its cult R&B legacy.

• An original mono Arvee pressing remains highly collectible, as most surviving copies were heavily played at the time of release.

• Side A: A-428-A-D1 ✳︎ “H” etched

• Side B: A-428-B-D1 ✳︎ “H” etched

• Label design: bright orange base with black alternating “arvee” panels and bold centered numerals

• Runout style: fully hand-etched; early Arvee script typical of 1960–61 L.A. pressings