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LARRY SPARKS - JOHN DEERE TRACTOR (REB-1588), 1980

Musicians
Larry Sparks: Guitar, Mandolin, Lead & Harmony Vocals
Tommy Boyd: Dobro, Banjo, Tenor Vocals
Kirk Brandenberger: Fiddle
Mike Carter: Bass
Bob Goff: Bass on track 1

Production Credits
Produced by Robert Trout
Recorded at Lemco Sound Studio, Lexington, KY
Engineered by Cecil Jones and Tom Underhill
Recorded: March 16-18, 1978
Remastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO

Larry Sparks’ most enduring and legendary work on Rebel Records may be John Deere Tractor. This album, and the title cut especially, has proved to be one of the all-time bluegrass classics. It is a mixture of a country-boy-gone-to-town tale and guitar work and vocals by Sparks that leave no doubt as to his stature in the genre. Though there are only 10 songs, every one of them is top-notch, from Larry’s distinctive guitar piece “Carter’s Blues” to his wonderful moody gospel classic “Great High Mountain.” “Girl at the Crossroads Bar,” “I’d Rather Be Alone” and Allen Mills’ wonderful “Love of the Mountains” are traditional bluegrass at its best.

Larry Sparks has won multiple International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. In October of 2015, Sparks’ legendary career was immortalized forever when he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.