Sold Date: January 31, 2023
Start Date: January 17, 2023
Final Price: $21.22 (USD)
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1972 Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers Bluegrass Old And New Vinyl LP Record
Vinyl / Jacket Grade per Goldmine Standard: F / VG; Vinyl has a couple small skips on side 2 but plays all the way through; Nice filler copy until a better one comes along.
THESE OLD BLUES-2:05 Larry Sparks-BMI HOW I'VE TRIED - 2:20 Larry Sparks-BMI KENTUCKY BANJO - 1:50 (INSTRUMENTAL) Mike Lilly-BMI THE GREAT JUDGEMENT DAY - 2:58 Larry Sparks, Neal Brackett-BMI I'M LEAVING YOU - 2:05 Herman Smith-BMI PRETTY POLLY - 3:30 P.D. THANK YOU LORD - 2:35 Larry Sparks, Neal Brackett-BMI SiJe
SINGLE GIRL, MARRIED GIRL - 3:26 P.D. MEMORIES OF THE PAST - 1:59 Herman Smith-BMI BILLY IN THE LOW GROUND - 2:42 (INSTRUMENTAL) P.D. KING JESUS-2:12 Larry Sparks-BMI I CAN'T GO ON LOVING YOU - 2:31 Bernice Sparks-BMI WILL YOU BE LOVING ANOTHER MAN - 2:30 Monroe, Flatt-BMI WHERE WE'LL NEVER SAY FAREWELL - 2:45 Eva and Larry Sparks-BMI Art Work-Stan Hester-Milford, Michigan Recorded at Bill Carpenter Studio 8230 Hyne Rd., Brighton, Michigan For Free Catalog of Additional Albums Write: OLD HOMESTEAD RECORDS 6241 Three Lakes Drive Brighton, Michigan 48116 "This Album is dedicated to Fay McGinnis who has done so much for nearly everyone involved in Bluegrass and Old Timey Music." As most of you are probably aware, Larry Sparks and The Lonesome Ramblers is a relatively new blue- grass group having been together for only about two years. However Larry has been playing and singing bluegrass music professionally for about eight years. He started in 1965 as a part time fill in on lead guitar for The Stanley Brothers until Carter’s untimely death in December of 1966. In February of 1967 Larry join- ed Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys as lead guitarist and did very much to help Ralph estab- lish himself as a single after Carter’s death. The thing I remember most as I think back over Larry's career was his untiring devotion to his music. After he joined the Stanley Brothers, I remember when they came to town and would visit my husband Roy and myself at our home Larry would sit around all day before the shows and practice his guitar. He would also practice his singing with Roy and Sonny Nelson (who at that time was a member of the Sunny- siders) and one night Carter introduced them on the stage to sing a song as the Shed House Trio. Carter meant it to be funny and it brought a laugh from the audience but I believe Larry really enjoyed revealing his talent to Carter and Ralph as well as the audience. Since then Larry has developed an ability to put more feeling in his songs than almost anybody in the busi- ness tod&y. Larry worked with Ralph Stanley for three years traveling all over the United Stages and was very well received everywhere they went. Larry sang songs rang- ing from old time gospel hymns to modern country ballads, backed up by the Clinch Mountain Boys. He helped Ralph make five albums on King, Starday and Jo lyn records. In early 1970, Larry decided to form his own group called the Lonesome Ramblers and they have been doing very well together. They have been very success- ful at the bluegrass festivals and this year seems bigger and better. The Lonesome Ramblers consist of Larry singing lead and playing lead guitar of course. Larry is from Ohio but his parents are originally from Jackson County, Kentucky. He now makes his home in Frank- lin, Ohio. Wendy Miller plays mandolin and sings tenor with the Lonesome Ramblers. He is from Campton, Ken- tucky but now makes Dayton, Ohio his home. He has been working with Larry now for one year. He gives credit to Noland Faulkner who lives here in Michigan for having taught him much of what he knows about the mandolin. I might add he is an excellent craftsman having made the mandolin he now plays and used on this album. Mike Lilly plays banjo and sings baritone. He is from Ohio but like Larry his parents are from Ken- tucky. Mike has been working with the group for one year. I feel he has one of the most dynamic styles of banjo playing in the business today being able to play clawhammer style just as well as three finger bluegrass style. He makes his home in Dayton, Ohio at this time. Neal Brackett who plays the bass has been work- ing with Larry for two years. He has quite a long career in bluegrass music having played with several bands back in the early days of bluegrass. He is also an outstanding song writer having helped write two of the songs on this album besides many others. Neal hails from Blue Ridge, Georgia originally but now makes Trenton, Ohio his home. Barney Carter is playing rhythm guitar on this album. He works part time with the Ramblers and is from Somerset, Kentucky originally but now lives in Whiteland, Indiana. Barney sings bass on the quarter number “Thank You Lord.’’ This is Larry and the Rambler's third album besides two singles and I feel the best they have done yet. I was highly honored when Larry told me he was going to dedicate this album to me. Larry is one of the nice- st persons I know and I feel he is fast becoming one of the big names in bluegrass music. The songs they chose for this album is some of the best material they have done not only in that they are extremely good listening songs but also they dis- play the many talents of Larry Sparks and the Lone- some Ramblers. There are songs for just about every- one’s liking with old songs such as Single Girl, Married Girl and Pretty Polly; gospel songs such as Thank You Lord and Where We’ll Never Say Farewell; then new songs such as These Old Blues and How I’ve Tried. There are also two insturmentals thrown in for good measure. I know after hearing this album you will agree with me that there are many many exciting things yet in store for Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers. Fay McGinnis




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