Bill Gaither - Hymns - Music & Performance - CD

Get your voices warmed up and clear a spot in the living room, the den, or wherever you do your best listening (and dancing), as another Gaither disc has arrived. It's hard not to move around and sing along with the Homecoming Friends when the spirit gets you all wound up. From the opening notes of Hymns, the latest in the Gaither Gospel Series, the Friends fire up the salvation chariot and take the listener on a glory-filled journey that includes some of the greatest songs ever written.

The wheels of the Gaither chariot spray gravel across the salvation road right out of the gate, with the exploding "Hallelujah! We Shall Rise." Ann Downing, Squire Parsons, Amy Lambert and Mike Allen lead the Friends through the buoyant track. The Florida Boys are sedate but effective on the country-fried "A Beautiful Life." The Boys sing about the new life that awaits us when we are done with our work here on earth. The harmony-laced "I'd Rather Be An Old-Time Christian" features Reggie Smith, Ben Speer, Jim Hamill and Gene McDonald. The group, along with the Homecoming choir, share their wisdom: the Christian life beats a life of emptiness.

The Bishops perform a show-stopping version of "A Rose Among The Thorns." The singers absolutely stun with their a cappella re-telling of the story of Christ, the real rose among the thorns. The Hayes Family join the Friends for the jaunty "God Put A Rainbow In The Clouds." The multitude of voices become one for the spirited number. Harmonica maestro Buddy Greene adds his stinging harp to an a cappella reading of "Nothing But The Blood." Greene's harmonica break is as soothing as an emotion-packed Sunday morning sermon. Larry Ford, Stephen Hill and Lillie Knauls slow the Gaither Chariot down for a relaxed adaptation of the heavenly "Just A Little Talk With Jesus."

The chariot continues to move forward at an easy clip for tracks like the bluegrass-tinted "Life's Railway To Heaven," the piano and harmonica sprinkled "The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago," and the acoustically-rendered "Satisfied." The latter track features the golden voices of the Gaither Vocal Band. Cynthia Clawson does a graceful interpretation of the gospel classic "Softly And Tenderly," one that is truly lump-in-the-throat good, but without question, the standout track is the Isaacs' translation of "Wayfaring Stranger." The family group turn out a spine-chilling performance of the traditional folk song that words alone cannot describe. You really have to hear the song to appreciate its potency.

When purchasing any Gaither product, you are pretty much guaranteed to get your money's worth, but Hymns offers much more than that. Once the chariot finally comes to a full stop, it will be almost impossible for listeners to not hit the repeat button and take the journey all over again.

By Todd Sterling