Larry Sparks Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of "New Highway" with a Digital Re-Issue
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Larry Sparks' all-gospel classic album New Highway, the record will be re-issued digitally. You cannow available pre-save, add and order ahead of its February 24 release.
For over those 25 years, Sparks' stature has grown from that of a much-admired but insufficiently recognized master to a member of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, inducted in 2015 by one of his biggest fans - Alison Krauss - and a widely hailed link between the music's first generation and stars of today like Billy Strings, who frequently performs songs from the vast catalog Sparks has delivered over the past half century and counts a June, 2022 guest appearance with him at Nashville's Station Inn as a career highlight.
Recorded at Mountain Home's western North Carolina studios, New Highway found Sparks backed by a couple of regular band members - Scott Napier on mandolin and Jim Britton on banjo - and a couple of the label's own stalwarts in Tim Surrett (bass) and multi-instrumentalist David Johnson (fiddle, dobro), as well as occasional contributors John Bowman (guitar) and Tricia Robertson (harmony vocals); as has often been the case in the studio, the pragmatic Sparks leaned toward solo vocals and handled most of the harmonies himself.
In the same vein, the project features a collection of songs typical for Sparks, who has often made quick choices just in advance of recording - two each from Homer and Bruce Jackson; two from long-time colleague David Marshall of the Marshall Family; one, "The Old Love Letter," that had been recorded just a couple of years earlier for a sister label to Mountain Home by Southern Gospel legends, The McKameys; a pair of standards in "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" and "When The Savior Reached Down For Me," and a left-field choice of Mississippi Fred McDowell's "Gotta Move," here given a classically up-tempo bluegrass treatment.
Regardless of source, each of these songs gets the quintessential Larry Sparks treatment: simple, sturdy arrangements that center on the master's powerful yet nuanced approach to both guitar work and singing and an emotional, compelling delivery especially well suited to the album's gospel messages. For while many brilliant musicians have passed through the ranks of his band, the Lonesome Ramblers, there has never been any doubt as to who's in command, whether in the studio or on stage. Long out of print, New Highway is an important addition to a catalog that stands among the best bluegrass has to offer.
Pre-save, add or order New Highway on digital platforms HERE.
Tags : Larry Sparks Larry Sparks news Larry Sparks New Highway bluegrass Bluegrass Gospel
Hot Trends
-
Former Avalon Singer Michael Passons Says He Was Let Go Because of His Sexuality
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Transformation Worship's "Yahweh"
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Wilson Fairchild, Sons of the Statler Brothers, to Debut Album
-
Bethel Music's Kalley Returns with New Song Three Years After Daughter's Death
-
Maverick City Music and Elevation Worship Share their Thoughts About their New Song "Names"
-
Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes Are Married
-
Matt Maher Teams Up with Dee Wilson on "Common Ground"
-
Taize Releases "Music of Unity and Peace"
-
Chris August Tied the Knot with Katelin Cummings
-
Tauren Wells Releases New Single "Making Room"
-
Tasha Layton on Her Suicide Attempt, Singing with Katy Perry & Working on Her Own Music
-
Elevation Worship and Maverick City Reveal How Grandma was the Inspiration Behind "Talking to Jesus"
-
Lee Greenwood Collaborates with Drew Jacobs on New Version of "God Bless The U.S.A."
-
Phil Wickham Celebrates His 15th Wedding Anniversary with "Just Too Good"
Most Popular
-
Former Avalon Singer Michael Passons Says He Was Let Go Because of His Sexuality
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Transformation Worship's "Yahweh"
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Wilson Fairchild, Sons of the Statler Brothers, to Debut Album
-
Bethel Music's Kalley Returns with New Song Three Years After Daughter's Death
-
Maverick City Music and Elevation Worship Share their Thoughts About their New Song "Names"
-
Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes Are Married
-
Matt Maher Teams Up with Dee Wilson on "Common Ground"
-
Taize Releases "Music of Unity and Peace"
-
Chris August Tied the Knot with Katelin Cummings
-
Tauren Wells Releases New Single "Making Room"
-
Tasha Layton on Her Suicide Attempt, Singing with Katy Perry & Working on Her Own Music
-
Elevation Worship and Maverick City Reveal How Grandma was the Inspiration Behind "Talking to Jesus"
-
Lee Greenwood Collaborates with Drew Jacobs on New Version of "God Bless The U.S.A."
-
Phil Wickham Celebrates His 15th Wedding Anniversary with "Just Too Good"