Michael Whitaker Smith was born on October 7, 1957 in
Kenova, West Virginia. His debut album
THE MICHAEL W. SMITH PROJECT came out in 1983 and included the songs ‘Friends’
and ‘Great is the Lord’, both of which were co-writes with his wife Deborah
that would become very popular. In 1986
Michael released what I would say is the album of his career. Entitled THE BIG PICTURE, it was aimed at
teens, and dealt with issues such as partying, suicide, and premarital
sex. His follow-up studio album was i 2
(EYE) which came out on Reunion Records in 1988. It became his first platinum album and hit #1
on the Contemporary Christian Charts. It
was produced by Michael and Wayne Kirkpatrick and runs 56 minutes and 26
seconds.
The album opens with a quirky sounding pop song
musically. Paul Leim is on drums and
Terry McMillan contributes percussion and harmonica. ‘Hand of Providence’ declares a belief in a
Higher Power: “Oh, the Hand of Providence/Is guiding us through choices that we
make/Oh, the Hand of Providence/Is reaching out to help us on our
way/Providence, ever since/Any thesis ever entered man/The Hand of
Providence/Has been our best defense/Tho’ His ways are sometimes hard to
understand”. ‘Secret Ambition’ is a
terrific Christian rock song written by Michael, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and Amy
Grant. Among the background vocalists
are Chris Harris and Mark Heimermann.
The song speaks of Christ: “Nobody knew His secret ambition/Nobody knew
His claim to fame/He broke the old rules steeped in tradition/He tore the Holy
Veil away/Questioning those in powerful position/Running to those who called
His Name/(But) Nobody knew His secret ambition/Was to give His life away”.
‘On the Other Side’ begins with these words of testimony:
“I’m not how I used to be/When we hung around/Back when it was you and
me/Tearin’ up this town/We used to live our lives running from change/Now we
don’t see eye to eye/I am not the same/And you wonder where I’ve gone/Well,
I’ve found where I belong/I’m on the other side/True-I used to walk your shore/But
I’m not there anymore/I’m on the other side”.
‘All You’re Missin’ is a Heartache’ is a slow rock number. Two of the backing vocalists are Stryper’s
Michael Sweet and Oz Fox. It seeks to
convince believers their lifestyle is the best: “You’re kissing the dark,
you’re courting your pride/You wonder is it greener on the other side/(But they
have nothing to offer you)/All you’re missin’ is a heartache/A disillusion for
a keepsake/A life of living with your own mistake/All You’re missin’ is a
heartache”.
‘I Miss the Way’ is a pretty ballad that uses a string
quartet. Ron Huff is responsible for the
string arrangement. This song is
addressed to one who has fallen away from their Christian faith: “I miss the
way His love would dance within your eyes/I miss the way His heart was the soul
of your life/And somewhere in the saddest part of heaven’s room/Our Father
sheds a tear for you/He’s missing you too”.
‘Live and Learn’ is a peppy pop/rock song that uses horns and finds
Tommy Simms on bass. It encourages us
not to keep committing the same sins over and over: “An engaging temptation had
me doing time/’Cause when it starts a fire under strong desire/We are partners
in crime/But hindsight is clearer/I can see where I’ve gone and never
return/It’s a new man in the mirror/It’s a new freedom song to live and
learn/Always living and learning (2X)”.
‘I Hear Leesha’ is a sentimental song dedicated to Leesha
Heaston who lived from 1972 to 1988.
Here are some of the words: “Seems like it was only yesterday/She was
living here, yeah, she was living here/Lord knows why He’s taken her away/It
isn’t very clear, no, it isn’t very clear/Into every life a little rain must
fall/And losing one you love is like a storm/But storms are passing/I hear
Leesha singing in heaven tonight/And in between the sadness/I hear Leesha
telling me that she’s alright”. ‘Help
you find your Way’ was penned by Chris Rodriguez, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and
Michael W. Smith. Dan Huff, Chris
Rodriguez, and Tom Hemby play guitars.
This song, that rocks hard in the latter half, is about friendship:
“When it feels like you’re living in a box/You need someone who believes in
you/A promise true when tried/I’ll be right here by your side/So whenever your
need be/Know that you can lean on me/I’ll help you find your way (2X)/When
you’re lost in all the madness/When you’re blinded by your doubt/When you need
someone to be there for you/I’ll help you find your way”.
Up next is ‘Ashton’, a creative instrumental penned by
Michael W. Smith. It was inspired by
Frank Peretti’s book ‘This Present Darkness’.
Mark O’Connor plays fiddles and mandolins. Michael and Gary Moore wrote the next song `The
Throne’. It uses both an adult choir and
a children’s choir. These lyrics sound
like a passage from the Book of Revelation: “Blessing! Glory! Sing
Hallelujah!/Shout the saints of God alone/Honor! Power! and Dominion!/Praises
gather at the throne/Oh, they gather at the crystal throne/Gather at the
crystal throne”. ‘Pray For Me’ finds
Billy Sprague playing acoustic guitar. It is an emotional easy listening song about
parting ways: “Here is where the road divides/Here is where we realize/The
sculpting of the Father’s great design/Through time you’ve been a friend to
me/But time is now the enemy/I wish we didn’t have to say goodbye/But I know
the road He chose for me/Is not the road He chose for you/So as we chase the
dreams we’re after/Pray for me and I’ll pray for you/Pray that we will keep the
common ground/Won’t you pray for me and I’ll pray for you/And one day love will
bring us back around”.
Nowadays, Michael W. Smith is known primarily as a worship
artist. He is also respected for his
several Christmas albums and tours. i 2
(EYE) takes you back to a time when his music was more pop/rock in nature and
directed at teenagers and some young adults.
I’m rating it 93% and recommending it to fans of Steven Curtis Chapman,
Billy Joel, and Elton John. I would love
Smitty to make another more youth oriented album in the future, but I don’t
think it’s likely to happen. For more
info visit: www.michaelwsmith.com.