Larry Sparks - New Gospel Songs

(Pine Tree PTSLP-507) 1971

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Larry's second album was probably released sometime around or before Sept 1971, as it was reviewed in the November issue of 'Bluegrass Unlimited', getting five-stars.

The recording has a notable improvement in fidelity compared to Ramblin' Guitar and the song arrangements and particularly the interaction between lead guitar / mandolin and banjo, has advanced significantly. This may be down to having more time for the band to 'gel' before recording, but this was Larry's first LP to feature Mike Lilly on banjo and Wendy Miller on mandolin, and they are key figures I think in Larry's early success.

Although Joe Isaacs had moved on by the time the LP was recorded, one of his songs, Blessed Savior was still included and he also co-wrote He's Everything To Me with Larry Sparks.

Osburn Thorpe, who produced the first album, also wrote four songs for this LP: Green Pastures In The Sky, Walk In The Gospel Way, Meet Me Over There, and That's Enough For Me; plus two which were co-written: I Believe with Bernice & Larry Sparks; and Faith Is The Answer with Bernice Sparks.

The title cut Green Pastures In The Sky is performed solo by Larry, and is one of the album's highlights. Some of the tracks have rather repetitive vocal refrains, but otherwise the LP is worth checking out.

The song was also cut by Ralph Stanley shortly afterwards on 10 Dec 1971. Ralph's can be found on his Old Country Church LP.

Early copies of this album came in a different cover, with a live band photo from an earlier line-up with Bernice Sparks and Joe Isaacs. These seem to be much harder to find than the version with a front cover photo of Larry standing at a country church door. It is curious coincidence that this more common version has a cover similar to Ralph's Old Country Church which also shows Ralph in a similar pose standing at a church door. The more common front sleeve is over-printed in silver style ink, which doesn't come out too well in photo's, but is much more impressive on the actual LP.

Larry later re-recorded Green Pastures In The Sky four times with studio versions appearing on: Pickin' And Singin' (1975); It's Never Too Late (1980); The Rock I Stand On (1994); and New Moon Over My Shoulder (2019).

The album was reissued as Green Pastures In The Sky (Old Homestead OHS-90148) 1982.

• Larry Sparks: guitar, lead vocal
• Mike Lilly: banjo, baritone vocal
• Wendy Miller: mandolin, tenor vocal
• Neal Brackett: bass

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