Without a scintilla of doubt, the do-wop period of the 50s-60s was the last time America had happy music. As Woody Allen once said of today’s music, “I don’t know whether to dance or take prisoners.” These two 2cd sets will invite you to sing along to create harmonic heaven.
The Larks originally consisted of Gene Mumford, Allen Bunn (Tarheel Slim), Thermon Ruth, Hadie Rowe, David McNeil Orville Brooks and David Bowers. The interesting thing about them is that they just couldn’t make up their minds as to whether they wanted to be identified as a “religious”, “romantic” or “secular” vocal group, so this collection has them walking both sides of the railroad tracks. Thus, you get blues grooves like “Lemon Squeezer” from their rear early days as well as the earthy “Eyesight To The Blind” and novelty “Os-Ca-Lu-Si-O”, even ending their years with jump blues such as “No, Mama, No.” Their voices were a honey’d blend on pieces like “Darlin’” and the dreamy “If It’s A Crime” and produce the definitive take of “My Reverie.” Velvet voices.
While not ever getting a “big” hit, The Harptones are still on the radar, mostly because their “Life Is But A Dream” was featured in the hit movie Goodfellas. While many members came and went, the core team included lead singer Willie Winfield, bassist Billy Brown and tenorist William Dempsey along with Jimmy Beckum, Nicky Clarke and Dicey Galloway coming and going. They hit it big with a glorious version of “Sunday Kind of Love” and “My Memories of You” and hit the charts with the ethereal “The Shrine of St. Cecilia” and “What Will I Tell My Heart”. They also did a few tunes for the 1956 film Rockin’ The Blues and the team is jumping on “High Flying Baby” and “Mambo Boogie”. Lead singer Willie Winfield has an angelic voice, with a vibrato that rivals Sidney Bechet’s soprano sax, making each song a serenade. Tonal tapestries.