Bill Gaither - Canadian Homecoming - Music & Performance - CD

Bill and Gloria Gaither recently took their Homecoming Friends to Canada, to spread the good news of Jesus Christ through song. Like all Homecoming shows, the results were captured live and are now being made available to the Gaither faithful. Canadian Homecoming is a joyful disc featuring some of the Gaither crew's usual suspects. Folks like Guy Penrod, Russ Taff, Ben Speer, and Joy Gardener entertain their northern neighbors with gospel classics and well-known hymns.

Canadian Homecoming kicks off with the rollicking "Goodby, World, Goodby," a horn drenched number featuring Mike Allen, Tim Duncan, and Ivan Parker. Allen, Duncan, Parker, and the Friends, have the crowd clapping and singing along right from the get go. The Gaither Vocal Band and Ernie Haase & Signature Sound join forces for the lively "Holy Highway." The two vocal groups praise God above as a marching drum beats away behind them. The Isaacs dip into their old-time bluegrass bag for "It Is Well With My Soul," a sparsely arranged track. The group also join Russ Taff for the easygoing "More Than Ever." Taff is always in fine voice, and he doesn't disappoint here.

Larry Ford takes the mic for "Little Is Much When God Is In It." Ford delivers his message -- even the small things God gives us to do are important in the kingdom -- with a little help from the Friends. Ivan Parker returns to center stage for the affective "I Can Only Imagine." Parker draws an immediate response from the audience as he sings the familiar tune. The Booth Brothers are smashing on Andrae Crouch's moving "Through It All," while the Hoppers are equally as brilliant on Nancy Harmon's inspired "I've Come Too Far." Joy Gardner pours out her soul during an angelic rendering of "He Is Holy."

The Gaither Vocal Band are in barbershop mode on the bouncing "My Journey To The Sky." Ernie Haase & Signature Sound slow things down for the emotionally charged "Then Came The Morning." Haase tells the story of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, on one of the album's most profound tracks. "When All Of God's Singers Get Home" features a spoken word section by Gloria Gaither and a solo vocal spot by Connie Hopper. Guy Penrod joins Charlotte Ritchie and Ben Speer to help bring the album to a close with the heavenly piano number "Because He Lives." The song turns into a big sing-a-long with audience participation.

Like all Gaither Music Group collections, Canadian Homecoming is an inspirational album that is more than worth its sticker price.

By Todd Sterling