Michael W. Smith Project

Michael W. Smith Project is the debut album of Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith. Originally released in 1983, the album was reissued in CD format in 1987 with a new cover featuring an updated photo of Smith. The album reached number nine on the Top Contemporary Christian chart.[1]

Michael W. Smith Project
Studio album by Michael W. Smith
Released	February 8, 1983
Recorded	1982
Genre	Contemporary Christian music
Length	40:44
Label	Reunion
Producer	Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith chronology
Michael W. Smith Project (1983) Michael W. Smith 2 (1984)
Original cover

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Michael W. Smith and Deborah D. Smith, except where noted.

Side one[3]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Sonata in D Major"	M. Smith	1:13
2.	"You Need a Savior"		3:34
3.	"Could He Be the Messiah"		4:28
4.	"Too Many Times"		4:25
5.	"Be Strong and Courageous"		3:42
6.	"Looking Up"	M. Smith	3:23
Total length:			20:45

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Race is On"		3:41
2.	"First Light"/"Love in the Light"		5:30
3.	"Friends"		4:16
4.	"Great Is the Lord"		2:52
5.	"Alpha Overture"	M. Smith	3:40
Total length:			19:59

Note: "First Light" was titled "From Light" on the original vinyl and cassette releases.

Credits

Music

• Michael W. Smith – lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, Yamaha GS2 synthesizer, Prophet-5 synthesizers
• Shane Keister – OB-X synthesizer, Prophet-5 synthesizers, vocoder
• Jon Goin – guitars
• Mike Brignardello – bass guitar
• Mark Hammond – drums, Roland TR-808 drum machine on "First Light"
• Mike Psanos – percussion
• Dennis Solee – saxophone
• Gary Chapman – background vocals
• Jackie Cusic – background vocals
• Diana DeWitt – background vocals
• David Durham – background vocals
• Teresa Ellis – background vocals
• Amy Grant – background vocals ("Friends")
• Pam Mark Hall – background vocals
• Chris Harris – background vocals
• Gary Pigg – background vocals
• Kim Smith – background vocals

Production

• Michael W. Smith – producer, assistant engineer
• Michael Blanton and Dan Harrell – executive producers
• Mike Psanos – recording engineer
• Brown Bannister – assistant engineer
• John Woods – assistant engineer
• Jack Joseph Puig – remixing
• Recorded at Tree International Studio (Nashville, Tennessee)
• Hank Williams – mastering
• Mastered at Woodland Sound Studio (Nashville, Tennessee)
• Bill Brunt – art direction
• Tim Campbell – photography[1]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1983)	Peak position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[4]	9

References

1. "Michael W. Smith Project". AllMusic. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
2. "Michael W. Smith Project". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
3. "Michael W. Smith Project". Discogs. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
4. "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2019.