Larry Sparks - Way Back When (2025)

Bluegrass Hall of Famer Larry Sparks celebrates his 20th album for Rebel Records with WAY BACK WHEN, a collection that blends heartfelt originals, classic covers, and gospel favorites — all delivered with the soulful vocals and clean guitar picking that have come to define his sound.

Larry Sparks offers a rich selection of songs that meld brand-new material with timeless classics, each brought to life with his unmistakable voice and masterful guitar work. The album opens with the warm, nostalgic title track, written by Gary Ferguson, Brent Moyer, and Robert Tobin. “The Fields of Gettysburg,” Ferguson’s moving co-write with Niall Toner, evokes the history and human cost of the Civil War. Sparks offers a spirited take on “Tennessee Border,” a song famously recorded by Hank Williams and Roy Acuff, and lends heartfelt intimacy to Arthur Smith’s gentle “A Daddy’s Lullaby.” He brings a bluegrass edge to Ivory Joe Hunter’s soulful “Since I Met You Baby,” while his gospel roots shine brightly on the stirring “On the Battlefield for My Lord.” The traditional “Sleepin’ Lula” bursts with playful drive, and Sparks channels classic country warmth in “Ages and Ages Ago." Flatt & Scruggs’ “Come Back Darling” is rendered with heartfelt longing, and the album closes with a Hank Williams’ gospel gem “How Can You Refuse Him Now?,” performed with reverence and deep emotion.