Family Bible

AMG Review of Family Bible

Greg Adams
All Music Guide

Notwithstanding the vintage photos that appear on the cover and in the booklet, please note the legend on the inlay card: "All new recordings." The ten gospel songs on Family Bible feature the original trio of Jim, Bonnie and Maxine, and despite being recent recordings, the old smooth harmony sound is still there. Better yet, the instrumentation is thankfully not of the synthesizer-and-drum-machine schlock that often taints these sorts of late-career projects. The Browns cover "Life's Railway to Heaven," "He'll Set Your Fields on Fire," "I'll Fly Away," and other gospel standards with such aplomb it makes one wonder at this trio's absence from today's country charts. Hey, why not? Jim Ed Brown, in particular, sounds as good as ever. Family Bible is an enjoyable gospel package that demonstrates that the Browns still have it.