It's hard to believe that Larry Sparks is celebrating 50 years of singing and playing Bluegrass music, but this new CD --subtitled "A Classic 50th Celebration" --is all the proof needed to show that Larry is still very much at the top of his game. As usual, Sparks has picked out a neat assortment of songs, new and old, and he joins forces -- fittingly --with some of the great names in Bluegrass, including his mentor, Ralph Stanley (LOVING YOU TOO WELL). Curly Seckler is heard singing tenor on DIM LIGHTS THICK SMOKE and SING SING SING, and Bobby Osborne adds his voice and mandolin to LETTER FROM MY DARLING A particularly notable track features Alison Krauss and Judy Marshall teaming up with Larry on the lovely GOING UP HOME TO LIVE IN GREEN PASTURES. And the 12 song album ends with a live duet performance with Bill Monroe from 1995 --a strong version of IN THE PINES. A really fine album!
