Fervor Coulee Bluegrass Blog

Larry Sparks Way Back When

Donald Teplyske  |  November 21, 2025

Larry Sparks "Way Back When" Rebel Records

2025 marks 55 years of 'solo' recording for Larry Sparks. Few Bluegrass Hall of Fame members have more consistently presented their brand of bluegrass over that time and his latest for Rebel Records, for which he has been recording since 1977, is no exception.

Always one of the most soulful of bluegrass vocalists, on Way Back When Sparks dips into the Ivory Joe Hunter catalogue for "Since I Met You Baby," one of several highlights on this set featuring Sparks and a full band; in contrast, Sparks' most recent album "It's Just Me" featured a stripped-down presentation.

Past and present Lonesome Ramblers contribute to Way Back When. Evan Wilson (mandolin), Tyler Mullins (banjo), Mike Feagan (fiddle), and Larry D. Sparks (bass) provide the traditional foundation for Sparks' new material. On would be remiss to not mention Sparks' own exceptional guitar playing: he is a master, and his playing throughout this collection is noteworthy especially on the rippin' instrumental "Sleepin' Lula."

Several of these songs have stayed with me over the last month. The Gary Ferguson-Niall Toner co-write "The Fields of Gettysburg" is especially powerful and Sparks brings the gravitas only he can deliver to this one. "Since I Met You Baby"—the only track to feature Ron Stewart on fiddle and banjo—and the title track are additional highlights with "Ages and Ages Ago" and "Come Back Darling" (which he previously recorded) allowing Sparks to present different shades of his 'grass. We've heard "Tennessee Border" many (many) times, but Sparks' version impresses. For those who appreciate bluegrass gospel, Sparks includes a pair of songs with "On the Battlefield For My Lord" sounding especially spry.

Nicely packaged as almost all Rebel and Larry Sparks albums are, Way Back When is sure to please long-time fans of Sparks while giving new listeners a solid introduction to the individual sound he has spent his life creating.