John Deere Tractor cover

John Deere Tractor

Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers

Album · 1980 · Rebel REB 1588

John Deere Tractor came out on Rebel in 1980 as REB-1588, but it was made two years earlier. The Bluegrass Discography dates the recording to 16 March 1978 at Lemco Sound Studio in Lexington, Kentucky, and Rebel credits Robert Trout as producer, with Cecil Jones and Tom Underhill recording. Larry Sparks had joined Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys after Carter Stanley’s death in December 1966, left in late 1969 to form the Lonesome Ramblers, and moved to Rebel in 1977.

Sparks sings lead and plays guitar, with mandolin also credited to him. Tommy Boyd plays banjo and Dobro and sings harmony, Kirk Brandenberger plays fiddle, and the bass is Mike Carter’s on most tracks and Bob Goff’s on the title song.

There are ten songs. The title song is credited to Lawrence A. Hammond, “Love of the Mountains” to Allen Mills, and “Makin’ Believe” to Jimmy Work. “Nobody’s Business,” “Hot Sauce” and “When I Lay My Burdens Down” are credited as traditional, and “Carter’s Blues” to A. P. Carter. The rest are “Girl at the Crossroads Bar,” “I’d Rather Be Alone” and “Great High Mountain.” Rebel reissued the album on CD in 2002 as REB-CD-1588.

Tracklist

  1. 1 John Deere Tractor Source Recording Lawrence A. Hammond · key C# · 60 bpm 4:28
  2. 2 Girl at the Crossroads Bar Source Recording Bill Bryson · key E · 106 bpm 2:35
  3. 3 Hot Sauce 2:24
  4. 4 I’d Rather Be Alone alt version 2:33
  5. 5 Great High Mountain Source Recording Keith Whitley · key F · 61 bpm 3:13
  6. 6 Love of the Mountains Source Recording Allen Mills · key A · 107 bpm 2:58
  7. 7 Making Believe 4:07
  8. 8 Nobody’s Business Source Recording Traditional · key G · 174 bpm 1:52
  9. 9 When I Lay My Burdens Down alt version 3:57
  10. 10 Carter’s Blues alt version 2:35

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