The album Sounds Like Home, released in 2007 on Lonesome Day Records(LDR-010), serves as a compelling solo showcase for Steve Gulley—a seasoned bluegrass vocalist and guitarist with credits including Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Renegade, and Mountain Heart—delivering 14 tracks of traditional bluegrass, heartfelt gospel, and country-infused originals that clock in at approximately 42 minutes. The project captures Gulley’s warm, versatile tenor navigating themes of love, faith, hardship, and home with emotional authenticity and high-energy picking.

Co-produced by Gulley and label head Randall Deaton, the album was primarily recorded at Lonesome Day Studio in Booneville, Kentucky, with overdubs tracked at Slack Key Studio in Nashville (engineered by Mike Latterell), and mastered by Hank Williams at Mastermix—yielding a polished yet rootsy sound that emphasizes clear acoustic separation, dynamic harmonies, and instrumental drive without overproduction, allowing the songs’ sincerity to shine through the intimate, homegrown feel.

The tracklist opens with the spirited “You Couldn’t Pay Me to Care”(2:45), co-written with Tim Stafford and featuring Dale Ann Bradley’s harmonies; followed by the hard-driving “Livin’ It Down” (2:55) with Randy Kohrs on resonator; Fred Rose’s classic “Big Rock in the Road”(2:24); the playful “Little So & So” (2:24); Gulley’s solo-penned “It Ain’t the Leaving” (2:56); the gospel powerhouse “Prepare to Meet Thy God”(3:23) spotlighting J.D. Crowe on banjo alongside Adam Steffey (mandolin, bass vocals), Dale Ann Bradley (high baritone), and Jeff Parker (tenor); a tender duet with wife Debbie Gulley on Curly Putnam/Billy Sherrill’s “My Elusive Dreams” (3:18); the shared-lead “No Not One” (4:44) with Vic Graves; “Mountain Heart” (2:24), reuniting Gulley with former bandmates Barry Abernathy (banjo), Jim VanCleve (fiddle), Clay Jones (guitar), and Shawn Lane (tenor); “Cheater of the Year” (2:46) with Russell Moore’s tenor; Don Reno/Red Smiley’s “Another Day” (2:49); the Louvin Brothers-inspired “Nearer My God to Thee” (3:24) featuring father Don Gulley on lead and Doyle Lawson on mandolin/harmonies; George Jones’ “The Grand Tour” (3:48); and closing brother-duet “All Alone” (2:43) with Barry Abernathy.

Core ensemble includes Gulley (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Stafford (guitar, vocals), Adam Steffey (mandolin, vocals), Jason Moore (bass), Ron Stewart (banjo, fiddle on select), Tim Crouch (fiddle), and Randy Kohrs (resonator)—augmented by guests for added depth and personal resonance.

Critically acclaimed, Sounds Like Home earned 4 stars from Lonesome Road Review for Gulley’s vocal range across traditional (“Big Rock in the Road”) and modern cuts (“Livin’ It Down”), gospel sincerity, and standout covers like “The Grand Tour.” My Kind of Country graded it an A, praising its “lovely sounding” production and “moving songs, beautifully sung.” Bluegrass Today highlighted the “who’s-who” musicians fostering cohesiveness. It remains a Lonesome Day staple, affirming Gulley’s bluegrass legacy.