Larry Ballard was one of those guys you think, geez, why didn't he make it so much bigger than he did? But, given how twangy he was, and how true to his roots, he did pretty damn good. Ballard appeared from out of nowhere (well, Detroit, actually...) and released a series of totally killer singles and LPs from 1974-77, and then pretty much just vanished off the radar. He's probably best known as a songwriter, penning rootsy Top Forty hits such as "Neon Lights" and "Honky Tonk Heaven," but for connoisseurs of real-deal 1970s major-label twang, his albums are not to be missed. If you're a fan of, say, Gary Stewart or Delbert McClinton, you're going to want to check this guy out as well.
Larry Ballard "Young Blood And Sweet Country Music" (Warner-Elektra Records, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Pete Drake)
To be honest, Ballad's debut album was a bit muddled, if not a complete mess. Only a few tracks really tap into his strengths as a roadhouse neo-tradder -- the title songs, as well as the album's opener, "Honky Tonk Love" and "Time For A Change." You'll hear similarities to guys like Delbert McClinton and Gary Stewart in these tracks, but along the way there are a bunch of misfires -- folkish, countrypolitanesque poetics, some songs that just have the wrong arrangements, that kind of stuff. Clearly, he was a square-peg kind of artist, and nobody knew quite how to frame him, least of all the clock-punching studio crew at Drake's place... Still, you can hear a glimmer of his raw talent, and some tracks are pretty swell. Notable among the musicians is Linda Hargrove playing guitar... He also gives her a shout-out in his liner note thank-yous, as well as David Allan Coe, who must have been an early patron. Anyway, this one's worth checking out, though his subsequent albums are much more cohesive.
Larry Ballard "Honky Tonk Heaven Is A Hell Of A Place To Be" (Capitol Records, 1976) (LP)
Larry Ballard "Waiting In The Wings" (Capitol Records, 1977) (LP)
An outstanding album of soulful, well-crafted honkytonk and classic country. One great song after another. Tracy Nelson has guest vocals on two tracks, adding a rough, rugged, bluesy roadhouse vibe... It's truly remarkable that an artist of such high calibre only made these three albums... But if you can track 'em down, they're well worth your while!
