Bill & Gloria Gaither & Their Homecoming Friends - Homecoming Christmas From South Africa

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Don't expect an African musical influence apart from a track by the African Children's Choir offering a version of "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands". This is largely as homespun American as you can get with the Gaithers' Homecoming Friends offering various Christmas songs with a few old hymns thrown in for good measure. Musically it's variable ranging from the always reliable Russ Taff and a fine version of "Blessed Assurance" by The Isaacs through to a pretty gruesome rendition of "Winter Wonderland" where Lynda Randle is helped out by her brother Michael Tait (dc Talk fans would really wince at this one). Ernie Haase & Signature Sound turn in a fine vocal on "Forgiven Again" while veteran Ben Speer shows he's some way past his vocal best on "Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem". Whether you will want this 2006 album when Christmas comes around again is open to some doubt.