Sparklin' Bluegrass from 1975 showcases Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers at the height of their powers as a working band committed to straightforward, high-energy traditional bluegrass at a time when the genre was fragmenting in multiple directions. Sparks, an Ohio-raised guitarist and singer who had come up in the Stanley Brothers organization, brought a deep understanding of mountain music to everything he recorded, and his guitar tone — gritty, assertive, and rhythmically incisive — became one of the most distinctive instrumental voices in 1970s bluegrass. "A Face in the Crowd" is representative of his approach: plainspoken lyrics delivered with emotional directness over tight ensemble playing. The album is an honest working document rather than a showpiece, which is precisely what makes it durable. Sparks remained a consistent practitioner of traditional bluegrass through decades of changing fashions, and records like this one explain his lasting respect among listeners and peers.
Tracklist
- 1 Dark Hollow alt version 2:53
- 2 Faded Love alt version 2:57
- 3 A Life Of Sorrow 2:43
- 4 Too Much Mountain Dew 2:18
- 5 A Face in the Crowd Source Recording 3:23
- 6 Kentucky Chimes (Instrumental) 2:21
- 7 Just Lovin’ You 2:48
- 8 Brand New Broken Heart 2:52
- 9 Memories And Dreams 2:26
- 10 Goodbye Little Darlin’ 2:19
- 11 Long Journey Home alt version 3:04
- 12 This Lonesome Old Feeling 3:34
- 13 Kentucky Banjo (Instrumental) 1:56
- 14 Blue Ridge Cabin Home alt version
- 15 Rock Hearts alt version 2:03
- 16 Roving Gambler alt version
