The Best of Larry Sparks: Bound to Ride

by Larry Sparks

Overview

As a bluegrass performer, Larry Sparks has always been easy to like. Perhaps it has something to do with his distinct vocal style, or perhaps his speedy fingerpicking, or perhaps his choice of material. It could even have something to do with his ability to bridge the old and the new without seemingly to sacrifice either. Best of Larry Sparks: Bound to Ride offers a good overview of his work, drawing form a wide range of material, from 1975's Sparklin' Bluegrass to 2003's The Coldest Part of Winter. It is interesting, with all of this material side by side, to compare Sparks' work from 1975-1976 with everything after 1980. When listening to "You Could Have Called" from 1976, Sparks handles the song well, though his vocal is higher (more nasal) than his later material. In a sense, he is still finding his voice here, a voice that would emerge strongly on 1980's John Deere Tractor. The title cut from that album, written by Lawrence Hammond, remains one of Sparks', and contemporary bluegrass', finest moments. Here, Sparks easily evokes the disappearance of clean country living in both words and music, evocatively underpinning his vocals with Tommy Boyd's dobro. "John Deere Tractor" is joined by many other fine cuts, making Bound to Ride a good intro to Sparks' rich songbook. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/06/2008
Label:	Rebel
UPC:	0032511752222
Rank:	42097

Tracks

1. Tennessee 1949
2. Colleen Malone
3. John Deere Tractor
4. A Face in the Crowd
5. I'd Like to Be a Train
6. Smokey Mountain Memories
7. You Ain't Lived
8. Blue Ridge Cabin Home
9. You Could Have Called
10. I'm Bound to Ride
11. Don't Neglect the Rose
12. Imitation of the Blues
13. Just Lovin' You
14. Blue Virginia Blues

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Larry Sparks   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Mandolin,Baritone (Vocal)
David Harvey   Mandolin
Josh McMurray   Banjo
Ricky Skaggs   Fiddle,Mandolin,Tenor (Vocal),Baritone (Vocal)
Kirk Brandenberger   Fiddle
Danny Williams   Bass (Electric)
Tommy Boyd   Banjo,Dobro,Tenor (Vocal)
Gene Elders   Fiddle
Art Stamper   Fiddle
Wendy Miller   Mandolin,Tenor (Vocal)
Art Wydner   Bass
Barry Crabtree   Banjo
Tim Sargent   Dobro
Jim Heffernan   Dobro
Mike Lilly   Bass,Banjo,Baritone (Vocal)
Bob Goff   Bass
Terry Barnes   Mandolin,Tenor (Vocal)
Scott Napier   Mandolin

Technical Credits

John "Babbacombe" Lee   Photography
Mark Freeman   Production Coordination
Louise Certain   Composer
Pete Goble   Composer
David Glasser   Mastering
Larry Sparks   Arranger,Composer
Earl Thomas Conley   Composer
David Freeman   Compilation Producer
Marty Godbey   Photography
Lawrence Hammond   Composer
Jon Hartley Fox   Liner Notes
Frank Godbey   Photography
Leroy Drumm   Composer
Glen Rose   Photography
Patrick Brayer   Composer
Gladys Stacey Flatt   Composer