The Gospel Road


The Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus is a double album and the fourth gospel album and 45th overall album by American country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1973. It is the soundtrack to the film of the same name released by Twentieth Century Fox.
The movie and the soundtrack tell the story of the life of Jesus. The album consists primarily of spoken-word recordings taken from the film of Cash describing the action on screen, interspersed with occasional songs, including several that are presented in piecemeal form through the album. Additional vocalists featured on varying tracks include The Carter Family, The Statler Brothers, June Carter Cash, Larry Gatlin, Kris Kristofferson, and Rita Coolidge. Songs performed included several that Cash had previously recorded for records such as The Holy Land and Hello, I'm Johnny Cash, along with cover versions of the Larry Gatlin song "Help Me" and "Follow Me" by John Denver. Cash later recorded a full version of "Help Me" which was included on the posthumous album American V: A Hundred Highways under its complete title.
It peaked at No. 12 on the country album charts; the single released from it was "Children" / "Last Supper". The movie was released on March 31, 1973.

Track listing

Side one

Running time - 22:36
  1. Song: "Praise the Lord" - Johnny Cash
  2. Introduction*
  3. Song: "Gospel Road " - Johnny Cash
  4. Jesus Early Years*
  5. Song: "Gospel Road " - Johnny Cash
  6. John the Baptist*
  7. Baptism Of Jesus*
  8. Wilderness Temptation*
  9. Follow Me, Jesus*
  10. Song: "Gospel Road " - Johnny Cash
  11. Jesus Announces His Divinity*
  12. Jesus' Opposition is Established*
  13. Jesus' First Miracle*
  14. Song: "He Turned the Water into Wine " - Johnny Cash
  15. State of the Nation*
  16. Song: "I See Men as Trees Walking" - Johnny Cash with The Carter Family and The Statler Brothers
  17. Song: "Jesus Was a Carpenter" - Johnny Cash
  18. Choosing of Twelve Disciples*

Side two

Running time - 22:00
  1. Jesus's Teachings *
  2. Parable of the Good Shepherd *
  3. The Two Greatest Commandments *
  4. Greater Love Hath No Man *
  5. John the Baptist's Imprisonment and Death *
  6. Jesus Cleanses the Temple *
  7. Jesus Upbraids Scribes and Pharisees *
  8. Jesus in the Temple *
  9. Come Unto Me *
  10. Adulterous Woman, The *
  11. Song: "Help " - Larry Gatlin, Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge
  12. Jesus and Nicodemus*
  13. Song: "Help " - Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge
  14. Sermon on the Mount *
  15. Blessed Are *
  16. The Lord's Prayer *
  17. Song: "Amen Chorus " - The Carter Family and the Statler Brothers
  18. Introducing Mary Magdalene *
  19. Mary Magdalene Speaks *
  20. Song: "Follow Me" - June Carter
  21. Magdalene Speaks Again *

Side three

Running time - 24:47
  1. Crossing the Sea of Galilee *
  2. Song: "He Turned the Water into Wine " - Johnny Cash
  3. Song: "He Turned the Water into Wine " - Johnny Cash
  4. Feeding the Multitude *
  5. Song: "He Turned the Water into Wine " - Johnny Cash
  6. More Jesus Teachings *
  7. Living Water and the Bread of Life, The *
  8. Gospel Road - Johnny Cash
  9. Jesus and Children *
  10. Song: "Children" - Johnny Cash with The Carter Family
  11. Four Months to Live *
  12. Song: "Help " - Johnny Cash
  13. Song: "Help " - Johnny Cash
  14. Raising of Lazarus *
  15. Jesus' Second Coming *
  16. Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem *
  17. Song: "The Burden of Freedom " - Johnny Cash
  18. Jesus Wept*
  19. Song: "The Burden of Freedom " - Johnny Cash
  20. Jesus Cleanses Temple Again *

Side four

Running time - 21:22
  1. Feast of the Passover *
  2. Song: "Lord, Is It I?" - The Statler Brothers
  3. Song: "The Last Supper" - Johnny Cash with The Statler Brothers
  4. John 14:1-3 *
  5. And Now, He's Alone *
  6. Agony in Gethsemane *
  7. Jesus Before Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod *
  8. Song: "The Burden of Freedom " - Johnny Cash
  9. Crucifixion *
  10. Jesus' Last Words *
  11. Jesus' Death *
  12. Earthquake and Darkness *
  13. He is Risen *
  14. Mary Magdalene Returns to Galilee *
  15. Jesus Appears to Disciples *
  16. Great Commission, The *
  17. Ascension *
  18. Song: "Amen Chorus " - The Carter Family and the Statler Brothers
  19. Jesus Was a Carpenter - Johnny Cash
Tracks* narration by Johnny Cash, recorded in The Holy Land. Written by Johnny Cash and L Murray.

Personnel

;Technical
  • Charlie Bragg, Freeman Ramsey, Roger Tucker, Selby Coffeen - engineer
  • Bill Barnes, Peggy Owen - album design

Charts

Album - Billboard
YearChartPosition
1973Pop Albums205
1973Country Albums12