Live the Life

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Live The Life
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 28, 1998
Recorded1997
GenreChristian rock
Length56:52
LabelReunion
ProducerMark Heimmerman, Michael W. Smith, Stephen Lipson
Michael W. Smith chronology
I'll Lead You Home
(1995)
Live The Life
(1998)
Christmastime
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Live the Life is an album by Michael W. Smith.[2] One notable song on this album was "In My Arms Again," which Michael W. Smith wrote for the film Titanic. There were 26 songs written and completed for the album, whose release date was pushed back twice as Smith wasn't fully satisfied with the track list. Along with the 12 songs which eventually made it on the album, the tracks "Greater Than We Understand" and "Evening Show" were released on the B-sides of the CD singles for "Live the Life" and "Love Me Good" respectively. The remaining 12 songs appeared in some form on Smith's 1999 album This Is Your Time.

"Song for Rich" is an instrumental tribute to Rich Mullins who died in a car crash in September 1997.[3]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Missing Person" 6:01
2."Love Me Good" 4:41
3."Live the Life"Smith, Brent Bourgeois4:36
4."Never Been Unloved" 4:39
5."I Believe in You Now" 4:44
6."Don't Give Up"Smith, Bourgeois4:20
7."Let Me Show You the Way"Smith, Nik Kershaw, Stephen Lipson4:12
8."I Know Your Name"Smith, Beverly Darnall4:00
9."Matter of Time"Smith, Bourgeois3:42
10."In My Arms Again"Smith, Joanna Carlson, Cindy Morgan6:11
11."Song for Rich"Smith1:53
12."Hello, Goodbye" 5:22
13."Live the Life (reprise)" (hidden track)Smith, Bourgeois2:30
Japanese bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Love Me Good (Acoustic Mix)" 3:52
14."Live the Life (Acoustic Remix)" 4:40
15."Do You Dream of Me?" 4:21
16."Once Again" 3:17
17."Live the Life (Reprise)" (hidden track)Smith, Bourgeois2:30
Bonus track[citation needed]
No.TitleLength
18."Greater Than We Understand"3:13
Bonus track "Love Me Good" single[citation needed]
No.TitleLength
3."Evening Show"8:38

Personnel[edit]

  • Michael W. Smith – vocals, keyboards (1, 4–8, 10, 11, 12), acoustic piano (2, 3, 5), programming (2, 5, 6, 10), guitars (3, 7, 9), Hammond B3 organ (6)
  • Mark Heimmerman – keyboards (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12), Hammond B3 organ (1), backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 8, 9)
  • Bryan Lenox – programming (2, 6, 10), keyboards (10)
  • Phil Madeira – Hammond B3 organ (2)
  • Dennis Patton – programming (5, 9)
  • Marc Harris – Hammond B3 organ (5)
  • Stephen Lipson – programming (7), guitars (7)
  • George Cocchini – guitars (1, 3)
  • Jerry McPherson – guitars (1–4, 6, 8, 12)
  • Will Owsley – guitars (1)
  • Tom Hemby – guitars (4)
  • Micah Wilshire – backing vocals (1, 5, 6), guitars (3)
  • Nik Kershaw – guitars (7)
  • Robbie McIntosh – guitars (7)
  • Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals (6), guitars (8, 9, 12)
  • Dann Huff – guitars (9)
  • Brent Barcus – guitars (10)
  • Brent Milligan – bass (1)
  • Jackie Street – bass (1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 12)
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass (4)
  • Dan Needham – drums (1, 3, 4)
  • Neil Conti – drums (7)
  • Scott Williamson – drums (8, 9, 12)
  • Terry McMillan – percussion (1–5, 9)
  • Luis Jardim – percussion (7)
  • Steve Brewster – percussion (8, 12)
  • Ronn Huff – string arrangements and conductor (3)
  • Tom Howard – string arrangements and conductor (9), orchestrations and arrangements (10)
  • The Nashville String Machine – strings (3, 9)
  • John Mockwoodwinds (11), woodwind arrangements (11), tin whistle (12)
  • Peter Cairney – woodwinds (11)
  • Hunter Lee – woodwinds (11)
  • William Verdier – woodwinds (11)
  • Judson Spence – backing vocals (1, 3, 5)
  • Wayne Kirkpatrick – backing vocals (4, 9, 12)
  • Michael Black – backing vocals (5)
  • Lori Wilshire – backing vocals (6)
  • Brent Bourgeois – backing vocals (8)

Choir on "Love Me Good"

Technical personnel

  • Producers – Mark Heimmerman (Tracks 1–5, 8, 9, 11 & 12); Michael W. Smith (1–6, 8-12); Stephen Lipson (Track 7).
  • Executive Producer – Michael Blanton
  • Engineers – Keith Compton, Tom Laune, Bryan Lenox, Heff Moraes and Todd Robbins.
  • Assistant Engineers – Rob Burrell, Robert "Void" Caprio, Dave Dillbeck, Patrick Kelly, Alan Litten, Shawn McLean and Tim Putnam.
  • Recorded at Deer Valley, Fun Attic, The Bennett House and Dark Horse Recording Studio (Franklin, TN); The Tracking Room (Nashville, TN); The Aquarium (London, England).
  • Mixing – Joe Baldridge, Bryan Lenox and Heff Moraes.
  • Mix Assistants – Joe Costa and Adam Hatley.
  • Mixed at Deer Valley and The Playground (Franklin, TN); Sixteenth Avenue Sound (Nashville, TN); The Aquarium (London, England).
  • Computer Editing – Dan Rudin
  • Mastered by Hank Williams at MasterMix (Nashville, TN).
  • Photography – Jimmy Abegg
  • Art Direction and Design – Diana Lussenden

Chart performance[edit]

Chart (1998) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[4] 23
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[5] 1

References[edit]

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Billboard – 13 Dec 1997 – Page 45 " "Live The Life" has already won the hearts of Smith's faithful fans in Christian music circles."
  3. ^ "www.philcallaway.com". www.philcallaway.com. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
  4. ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  5. ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2019.