Road of Life was released by MCA on 4 November 1974 as MCA 426, a gospel LP assembled from Bill Monroe sessions spanning thirteen years. Four songs come from one session at Bradley’s Barn in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, on 26 March 1970: “Road of Life,” “It’s Me Again, Lord,” “I Will Sing for the Glory of God” and “Beyond the Gate.” There the Blue Grass Boys were James Monroe on guitar, Rual Yarbrough on banjo and Kenny Baker on fiddle, with Culley Holt singing bass. James Monroe sings lead on three of the four, and Bill Monroe on “Road of Life.”
The other tracks were cut at Columbia’s studio in Nashville. “This World Is Not My Home” and “The Old Country Baptizing” date from 10 May 1962, with Frank Buchanan on guitar and Bessie Lee Mauldin on bass. “Somebody Touched Me,” written by Monroe and Harold Donny, was recorded a week later with Tony Ellis added on banjo. “Pass Me Not” followed on 23 November 1962, and “Were You There” on 20 March 1963 with Benny Williams on guitar, Bill Keith on banjo and Kenny Baker on fiddle. “We’re Going Just Over in the Glory Land,” with Jackie Phelps on guitar, Joe Stuart on banjo and Benny Williams and Buddy Spicher on fiddles, was recorded on 9 April 1964. The oldest track, “Out in the Cold World,” was recorded on 15 May 1957 at Bradley Film & Recording, with Leslie Sandy on guitar, Don Stover on banjo and three fiddlers: Joe Stuart, Gordon Terry and Dale Potter.
Tracklist
- 1 Cryin’ Holy alt version 2:18
- 2 Harbor of Love alt version 2:41
- 3 Shine Hallelujah Shine alt version 2:18
- 4 Over in the Glory Land alt version 2:32
- 5 Just a Little Talk With Jesus alt version 2:28
- 6 You’re Drifting Away alt version 2:45
- 7 He'll Take You In 3:05
- 8 This World is Not My Home alt version 2:40
- 9 Baptize Me In The Cumberland River 2:39
- 10 Are You Lost in Sin alt version 2:16
- 11 Somebody Touched Me alt version
- 12 We’re Going Just Over in the Glory Land alt version
