On 1973's The Gospel Road, Johnny Cash tells the story of Jesus’ life with a believer’s passionate conviction. The two-disc album (released as the soundtrack to the 20th Century Fox film of the same title) testifies to both the redemptive role Christ played in the Man in Black’s life and the growing prominence of Jesus Music in early-‘70s pop culture. Cash closely interweaves music and narration over the course of the album’s 78 tracks, adhering closely to the contents of the Four Gospels while offering more general commentaries like the bittersweet “Children.” The tone of the tracks blends a high seriousness with a warm folksiness, heard in the downhome twang of tunes like “The Gospel Road, Pt. 1” and “I See Men as Trees Walking.” “Jesus Was a Carpenter” and “He Turned the Water into Wine” are offered in various forms to emphasize their timeless themes. June Carter Cash (“Follow Me”), Kris Kristofferson (“Help, Pt. 2”), and The Stadler Brothers (“Lord Is It I?”) enrich the project with their featured vocal contributions. Ultimately, The Gospel Road stands as Cash’s most expansive statement of his unshakable faith.