Dave's Review

Label: Gaither Music Group
Producer: Bill Gaither

In this review, I'm going to list some facts about A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming (Vols. 1&2) . . . song titles, performer names, format information, etc. The facts should help you determine whether or not you want to buy these DVDs. My actual "review" . . . my personal opinion, in other words . . . will consist of only one sentence. I'll save it for last.

The main concert footage for these projects was recorded in front of a live audience at Fisk University Memorial Chapel in Nashville. Compared to previous live Gaither Gospel Series videos, there's few shots of the crowd, though . . . lots of close-ups on performers and their intruments. On stage, Bill Gaither and Marty Stuart share hosting duties, with Gaither also conducting a number of backstage interviews. Each video clocks in at approximately 90 minutes, and is shot in widescreen perspective with 5.1 digital surround sound.

The performer list reads like a Who's Who of current bluegrass music . . . Doyle Lawson, Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Ralph Stanley, Rhonda Vincent, The Lewis Family, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and others. Some Homecoming regulars like Jeff And Sheri Easter, the Isaacs, the Gaither Vocal Band, Jake Hess, Cynthia Clawson and Vestal Goodman round out the cast.

Volume One begins with Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives performing "This Little Light Of Mine" and ends with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band leading the entire group in "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." In between, songs range from serious (Isaacs "Is Not This The Land Of Beulah") to silly (Lewis Family "Honey In The Rock") and from instrumental showcases ("Bluegrass Breakdown") to lay down the instruments and just sing á cappella (Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys "Gloryland"). Although neither is typically classified as a bluegrass performer, Jake Hess and the Gaither Vocal Band each perform a song that is in keeping with the mood of the event . . . "Sunday Meeting Time" for Hess and "Yes, I Know" for the GVB.

Volume Two contains and equal of the same type of material . . . Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder get things started with their uptempo "I'm Ready To Go" and the slower question song "Are You Afraid To Die?" Doyle Lawson And Quicksilver give us an á cappella version of "I Am Going To Heaven," followed by two tunes featuring the Isaacs, "Another Soldier Down" and "He Ain't Never Done Me Nothing But Good." Marty Stuart, Ronnie McCoury, and Doyle Lawson join Skaggs' group for an intrumental romp through "Rawhide." Cynthia Clawson delivers an Appalachian tinged version of "Hear The Voice Of My Beloved" followed by the hymn "Rock Of Ages" with Sheri Easter and Charlotte Penhollow providing backup vocals. Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys perform "Rank Stranger" followed by "Gloryland" (the same performance that's on Vol. One). On "Jesus Hold My Hand," Vestal Goodman is joined by Jeff, Sheri, and Charlotte on backup vocals with an all star cast of pickers (Marty Stuart, Steve "Rabbit" Easter, Kevin Williams, and Ben Isaacs). Songs by the Lewis Family, Stuart, Connie Smith, Jerry And Tammy Sullivan follow. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and members of Del McCoury's band perform "Take Me In Your Lifeboat" to round out Volume Two.

Both DVDs contain a special bonus feature about the history of the Carter Family. Shot on location, we visit the birthplace of A. P. Carter and a local church in the area. Bill Gaither and Marty Stuart interview and sing several tunes with two of the surviving Carter children.

Well, those are the facts. I promised to insert one sentence of opinion at the end, and since we've reached the end of this review, here goes . . .

Thanks to the superior video and audio quality of A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming, a legendary cast of performers singing classic songs, and the amazing talents displayed, owning these DVDs is an absolute necessity for any serious fan of bluegrass gospel music. Any questions?