Hailing from North Carolina, The Larks were a classic doowop group of the early 1950s.

With their roots firmly in gospel, the collective moved to secular music to form The Larks. Although they were not among the most prolific hitmakers, their style and technique made them one of the most admired of the early doowop ensembles.

This 48-track 2CD set comprises the A- and B-sides of just about all their releases on the Apollo label and in a second incarnation of the group under lead singer Eugene Mumford on the Apollo subsidiary label Lloyds, plus some titles from those labels which were not released at the time, plus recordings on Jubilee as The Selah Singers, on Regent as The 4 Barons, and on Apollo as The Southern Harmonaires. It features their Top 10 R&B hits Eyesight To The Blind and Little Side Car.

It’s a substantial overview of their career – they broke up before their final release – and it’s a thorough and excellent showcase for their highly-regarded skills as vocal harmonisers.

REVIEWS

In terms of vocal group royalty, the Larks rank amongst the top four or five groups of all time, up there with the likes of The Five Keys, Ravens, Clovers, Dominoes, Orioles and early Drifters. The smooth harmonies and polished lead vocals of Allen Bunn and in particular, Eugene Mumford, being highly regarded by collectors and followers of the vocal group sound, as well as being highly influential on a legion of groups that followed them. Highly eloquent and detailed sleeve notes along with sound as good as you're likely to heat, this well-presented set is a fine tribute to one of the classic vocal groups of all time. - Tony Watson (Blues & Rhythm April 2021)

This collection contains a very large slection of their material and shows how they ranged from jubilee, blues, gentle R&B, proto-rock, to old-fashioned dated pop.There are 48 tracks in this collection and are always performed impeccably. The Larks were  wonderful group, with so much, and so many talents, who deserve their legendary status. Sure, there are a lot traces of older styles - Mills Brothers and Ink Spots - and a fair bit of early '50s pop, but I loved the collection ... this double CD is special. - Pete Bowen (Now Dig This Issue 456)