I have to say that I haven't been able to see Larry Spark perform live since the eighty's and I hope I do some time soon. It was a Saturday night and we had just been through a Tornado that blew through Council Bluffs,Iowa, taking tree's out all over town in addition to taking out business establishments up and down the main street. There where two funnel clouds one taking the south east route through town and the other heading down the main street jumping from one side and then the other, taking out one building and leaving others. When Larry and the Band arrived at the restaurant and lounge which was located on the eastside it was at least there but no electric available so those of us wondered if he would even do a show. To those of us who had shown up, he said well folks there's candle light and we have acoustic instruments let's get on with the show.
I have always enjoyed Larry Sparks music and have played it on the radio many times, and so with the release of this new album we get to hear Larry Spark at his best. In the liner he thanks Del McCoury for the opportunity to be the first act to be on the new McCoury Music label which is the new cd album is on.

Don Rigsby is the producer and he and Larry has brought together some very talented musicians and song writers, and this first McCoury release should bring everyone involved much praise. Just having the 2004 and 2005 IBMA Male vocalist of the year award winner and Del's favorite make vocalist of all time is worth the price of the cd it's self. Don Rigsby has jam-packed this new album with memorable songs by veterans and newly arrived song writers including one that the WWB listener's will be familiar with Mr. Mark Brinkman. Brink's "The Old Coal Mine" (the name changed from what Mark had titled it at first by Larry himself)is a very poignant tune about the woe's of working in the coal mines and Larry Sparks and it fit's real nicely into his song book. Pulling the words and notes around his vocal cords like a soft brand new pair of kid gloves. Other song's that stand out to me personally, songwriter Connie Leigh's "Casualty Of War" during these times we have quite a few songs of war. But this one will bring the feelings of a mothers feelings that she held back during her last phone her son, which unless you are a mother of a soldier in the front line's will ever know.
Larry include's a song that he co-wrote with Bernice Sparks called "Good-Bye Little Darlin" that keep's your feet tappin' with that good ole time bluegrass sound and keeps that traditional side of me stoked up. Then of course I on the Gospel side there is the great Larry Cordle tune with can also do fine during the Christmas season it's called "Follow The Star". All the tunes are stand outs and I even though I do not agree with the addition of anything but traditional instruments on a album presented to a primarily Bluegrass audience.
 
The two tunes with the piano styling of the long time country piano legend Hargus "Pig" Robbin's pull's at my ole traditional country DJ heart strings. The tunes are done in taste and traditional feel. And all we could hope, is that some country radio stations that have the good mind to play real country will pick them up and say hey, let's give em a whirl.

Larry and Don have brought in some very exciting guest artist also, with J.D. Crowe bring his banjo to help on a few, Stuart Duncan and Ron Stewart get some fiddle licks in and my home boy Randy Korhr's as great as ever on the resophonic guitar, I still call it a Dobro myself. The tune's are wonderful and the picker's are great. But of course it's Larry's soulful voice that does the trick, on a couple of the songs I almost think of the ole possum. This is a great follow up to his 2005 award winning "40". "The Last Suit You Wear" is scheduled for a May 1st release. I give it a 10 picks up, go to www.larrysparks.com for more info and tour dates.