Larry Sparks - It's Just Me

(Rebel REB-CD-1880) 2023.

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On this 2023 release Larry simply picks and sings, with some accompaniment on bass from his son Larry Dee. Recorded at Larry's home studio, ten tracks are included with a 27:10 playing time.

Song selection consists a few re-recordings of Larry's earlier material, a couple of old songs, a hymn, and three newly composed tracks.

The revisited material includes: Don't Neglect The Rose originally on Silver Reflections (1988); Keith Whitley's Great High Mountain from Kind'a Lonesome (1979) & John Deere Tractor (1980); and the more recent Bring 'Em On Back and Mama's Apron Strings from Almost Home (2011).

The old songs include arrangements of Lefty Frizzell's Mom And Dad's Waltz, and She Thinks I Still Care, which was popularised by George Jones, and Rev Thomas Dorsey's How About You.

The three new compositions include two by Larry's oft-used songwriters: Marshal Warwick's Long Way To Denver, and Daniel Crabtree's Gospel track - The Scarlet Red Lines, plus Wyatt McCubbin's Sweetheart.

For Sparks afficinadoes, this collection is a lovely intimate release. The bare stripped down sound puts the focus squarely on Larry's emotional singing, and guitar accompaniment. I'd guess, Larry would have been 75-76 when this album was recorded and he still sounds pretty good for his age, with just the occasional vocal waiver on the heartfelt Mom And Dad's Waltz.

The CD comes in a digipak with a 3-panel fold out booklet, with liner notes by Chris Skinker.

Rebel have also issued a video for Mama's Apron Strings, which can be found on youtube.

• Larry Sparks: guitar, vocals
• Larry D. Sparks: bass

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