Larry Sparks - Ramblin' Guitar

(Pine Tree PTSLP-500) 1970

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Larry formed the Lonesome Ramblers shortly after leaving the CMB's sometime around November 1969, with this debut LP released about 5-6 months later in April 1970.

The intial line-up of the band included his sister Bernice Sparks on guitar, Joe Isaacs on banjo, David Cox on mandolin and Lloyd Hensley on bass. Years later, Larry would acknowledge that the LP was recorded too soon, but it does give an insight into his early solo period, and many of the hallmarks of his style are already present. Indeed, it's remarkable how consistently good his music has been over the five decades plus, since this recording.

Side One of the LP is wholly instrumental and largely dominated by Larry's bluesy / melody-led lead guitar work, with some mandolin breaks by David Cox. The June 1970 review of the album in 'Bluegrass Unlimited' commented: "All those fans who have been clamouring for a good bluegrass guitar album can now have one. There is is some bluesy guitar work, some Travis picking, some Carters style melody, and some contemporary bluegrass orientated lead guitar. Most impressive is his original 'Rambler's Special' in his original style."

As far as I can tell, none of the tracks on Side One include any banjo.

The instrumental cuts include the title cut, Ramblin' Guitar, which he later re-recorded for his 1985 guitar instrumental LP Lonesome Guitar; and another original Rambler's Special. The remainder are familiar standards, although Rosewood Casket is noteworthy for it's unique (?) use of a musical saw by the Pine Tree / Melody Records label owner William M. Jones.

Side Two kicks off with a version of Hank Williams Six More Miles. A life-long influence on Larry's music, it's notable that one of his numbers was chosen for Larry's debut and this version includes Harmonica by Hobert Griffith, who also plays on (Today Has Been) A Lonesome Day. The song was later re-recorded on Larry's 1974 LP Footsteps Of Tradition.

Joe Isaacs' banjo can be heard on the final five tracks on Side Two (God's Presence, (Today Has Been) A Lonesome Day, Too Late To Walk The Floor,These Old Prison Bars and Constant Companions). His banjo playing is obviously influenced somewhat by Ralph's and he sang lead vocals for the CMBs for a short time between Larry's departure & Roy Lee Centers joining the CMB's in Nov 1969. It's also worth mentioning that Constant Companions was written by Osburn Thorpe, who had a few of his songs recorded by Ralph. (For more info on Osburn see The Bluegrass Sound Of...). The song sounds similar to Stone Walls And Steel Bars with the 'constant companions' being the singers "heartaches and sorrows", having lost his darling...

Osburn Thorpe also produced the LP, and wrote the liner notes.

These Old Prison Bars written by Harold Russell was, I presume, released originally on a 7" by Billy, Bobby and The Russell Brothers Young And In Love/These Old Prison Bars (Jewel 800) c1970. You can find their version on youtube. Gary Brewer also later recorded the song on his 'Money To Ride The Train' (Copper Creek CCCD-0129) CD 1994.

Too Late To Walk The Floor was later re-recorded by Larry on his 1975 Sparklin' Bluegrass LP. The version here is a tad slower, and perhaps slightly less polished in comparision.

The final track, God's Presence features Paul 'Moon' Mullins on fiddle. Another former CMB, he introduced Larry to the Stanley Brothers, with one interview mentioning that Larry first sat in with them at a show in 1963^[1]; and another by Gary Reid, saying that he began working for them in the fall/winter of 1964.^[2]

Judging by the front cover picture of Larry, original copies of this album must have been with the blue cover, and the later B&W one a reissue/repress. Both are considerably more expensive than the 1982 LP reissue on Old Homestead as The Soul Of Larry Sparks.

• Larry Sparks: guitar, lead vocal
• Joe Isaacs: banjo, tenor vocal
• Bernice Neeley (nee Sparks): guitar, second tenor vocal
• David Cox: mandolin, baritone vocal
• Lloyd Hensley: bass
• Paul Mullins: fiddle
• Hobert Griffith: harmonica
• William Jones: saw

Other artwork / related images:

[1] "Larry Sparks" by Doug Green, Dec 1972 issue of 'Bluegrass Unlimited', mentions: "...Moon Mullins introduced 16 year old Larry to the Stanley Brothers in 1963, at a Hamilton, Ohio night spot, 'The Speedway'. Larry sat in with them the rest of the night, and when Carter asked, before leaving, if he'd be interested in working the occasional show with them in the area, Larry said 'yeah, real quick'. They lived up to their word a few months later, and he was occasionally called upon from that time until Carter's death in December 1966."
As Larry was born on 25 Sept 1947, he would have turned 16 in Sept 1963.
[2] "25 Years With Larry Sparks" by Gary Reid, Apr 1988 issue of 'Bluegrass Unlimited'.