Larry Sparks - Gonna Be Movin'

(Rebel REB-1644) 1983.

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Larry's third Gospel album was recorded over three days at Chandler Audio in Ashland, Kentucky. The title cut, Gonna Be Movin' was written by Randall Hylton, and was also later recorded by Ralph on his Back To The Cross (1992) CD.

Five tracks were written by Emma Smith who also wrote Mother How I Miss You and Take My Hand on The Testing Times; Don't Neglect The Rose on Silver Reflections; and The Rock I Stand On & Memories on The Rock I Stand On. Ralph also later recorded one of her songs from this album, Everything's Alright, on his 1988 LP I'll Answer The Call. He also recorded two more of her songs - Give Me Jesus on Back To The Cross and Christmas Praise on Christmas Time With....

Three tracks are written by Jim Eanes - Let Him Lead You, Call Out To Jesus and Ole Satan. When the band were in the process of selecting material for the album, Jim showed up in person with his guitar to play his songs for Larry.^[1]

Since You Came In is credited to Bruce Adler, and a version by Rabbis Bruce Adler & Donna Adler can be found on youtube.

Larry is co-credited with Earnest Riley with writing That Awful Day. I think Earnest also had one Gospel LP with Estill Baker ('Sing Gospel' (Pine Tree 546) 1978).

John Roemer's review of the album in Feb 1987 edition of 'Bluegrass Unlimited' sums up the album perfectly:-

Larry Sparks and a new edition of the 'Ramblers' - he has not, to my knowledge, recorded with these musicians before - roll pleasantly through a set of new and obscure gospel numbers. The mood is warm and easy going, for the most part, but enjoyable nevertheless. One Church Yard captures his earlier intensely soulful sounds, both in the strong vocal and in the mournful fiddle of David Harvey. Since You Came In is almost as gripping. The layered multi-fiddles on Let Him Lead You, a more uptempo piece, harken back to the uniquely arranged quality of his more experimental period.
Barry Crabtree's hard, clear banjo kicks off a number of the tunes with considerable drive, and Sparks' masterful guitar leads - the most distinctive in bluegrass, to my ears - are worth the price of the LP.
Unlike some earlier Sparks outings, the recorded sound (from Chandler Audio in Ashland, Kentucky) is beautifully rich and accurate. Few LPs got so full and balanced a treatment from the engineers.
A thoroughly compentent album, with a touch less passion in the performance and a great deal more control in the production than on may previous Sparks recordings.

• Larry Sparks: guitar
• David Harvey: mandolin / fiddle / vocals
• Barry Crabtree: banjo
• Larry D. Sparks: bass

Other artwork / related images:

[1] Chris Jones' liner notes to Let Him Lead You quoting David Harvey, 2010.