Artist: Randy Simpson
Project Title: Homesick
Label: Independent
Producer: Randy Simpson, Mark Flanagan
Reviewed By: Scott Evans

One of the joys of being the owner of the Southern Gospel Music Forum for the past 14 years has been some of the great people I have met over those years and the long-lasting friendships that have been forged.  One of the first people I met after beginning my website was a soloist, from not too far from where I lived in Pennsylvania, named Randy Simpson.  Randy has been a talented soloist for several years and we recently received two brand new projects from Randy for review.

The first project we are reviewing is a project titled “Homesick.”  This project has a number of familiar songs that are sure to please listeners far and wide.  The first song on the project is the great hymn, “In The Garden.”  This song has always been one of my favorite hymns of the church as it talks about getting alone with God and talking with Him.  Randy does a fine job on this great, old song.  A Bill and Gloria Gaither classic is next with “I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About To Happen” and isn’t it great to know that even when we go through a trial, with Christ we know that there is something good for us right around the corner.  “There Is A River” is another of those classic songs in Southern Gospel Music.  I really enjoyed Randy’s version of this wonderful song.

Of course, if you know Randy Simpson, you know that he loves the traditional, old-fashioned quartet singing!  So do I, so I was pleased to see a Kingsmen classic next.  The old song “Meet Me At The Table” is next and Randy sings it very well!  “Without Him” is a wonderful song written several years.  I love Randy’s version of this song as well.  “I’m Saved” is a great song of proclamation stating that we are saved.  I trust that you can make that claim along with Randy and all of us here at the Southern Gospel Music Forum!  “Hallelujah Square” is a song that I grew up listening to and have not heard in a long time.  It was great to hear this old song again.

“Had It Not Been” is one of those songs that I have always loved!  What a tremendous message in this song as we are reminded of the sacrifice that Christ made for us when He chose to die for us.  Dottie Rambo is one of the all-time great songwriters in Gospel Music history.  One of my favorite songs that she ever wrote is “I’ve Never Been This Homesick Before.”  Randy has a wonderful version of this classic song!  The final song on this project is “Through It All.”  That song has, in my opinion, one of the best lyrics ever written.  I have always loved the line “for if I never had a problem, how would I know that God can solve them.”  I always love it when an artist records this great song and Randy’s is very, very good.

As I said before, I have known Randy Simpson for a long time.  I consider him to be one of my closest friends in Southern Gospel Music.  Randy is also a talented artist who always records quality music and performs great live concerts.  My favorite songs from this project are “I’ve Never Been This Homesick Before,” “Meet Me At The Table” and “Through It All.”  This project has a bunch of great Southern Gospel songs and all of them are performed to near perfection by Randy Simpson.  If you enjoy traditional songs, sung in a traditional Southern Gospel style, this project is for you.  For more information on Randy Simpson, visit his website at www.randysimpson.org.