Larry Sparks - Early & Essential Vol. 1

(Old Homestead OHS-90004) 1972

---

This is a reissue of the first 12 tracks from Larry's 1972 debut LP for Old Homestead Bluegrass Old And New, with a slight adjustment to the running order.

I don't have a copy of this LP yet, so can't say if the sound quality has improved compared to the original pressing, but judging by the last two tracks from Bluegrass Old And New, which were included on Early & Essential Vol. 2, I expect the improvement is probably marginal. In the Sept 1982 review in 'Bluegrass Unlimited' however, it mentions that the album has "much improved sound", so I may be being overly pessimistic.

The Bluegrass Old And New album has subsequently been made available on Spotify, with significantly better sound quality than the original album.

For more information see the original LP entry.

The cover photo looks like it's from the same photo shoot as the Thank You Lord album.

• Larry Sparks: guitar, lead vocal
• Barney Carter: guitar (a)
• Mike Lilly: banjo, baritone vocal
• Wendy Miller: mandolin, tenor vocal
• Neal Brackett: bass

NB: (a) bass vocal on Thank You Lord.

Other artwork / related images:

[1] liner notes to 'Early & Essential Vol. 2'