I 2 (EYE)

i 2 (EYE)
Studio album by
Michael W. Smith
ReleasedSeptember 1, 1988
Recorded1988
Studio
  • The Bennett House, Deer Valley Studio and The Castle (Franklin, Tennessee)
  • OmniSound, Sixteenth Avenue Sound and Masterfonics (Nashville, Tennessee)
GenreChristian rock
Length56:02
LabelReunion
Producer
Michael W. Smith chronology
The Live Set
(1987) 		i 2 (EYE)
(1988) 		Christmas
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Jesus Freak Hideout[2]

i 2 (EYE) is Michael W. Smith's fifth album overall and his second album to be certified gold. Smith collaborated again with lyricist Wayne Kirkpatrick, and produced a music video for the song "Secret Ambition".[3][page needed] The album peaked at No. 1 on the Top Contemporary Christian charts.[4]

Track listing

All songs written by Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hand of Providence" 4:33
2."Secret Ambition"Smith, Kirkpatrick, Amy Grant6:26
3."On the Other Side" 3:40
4."All You're Missin is a Heartache" 5:39
5."I Miss the Way" 4:35
6."Live and Learn" 6:17
7."I Hear Leesha" 5:26
8."Help You Find Your Way"Smith, Kirkpatrick, Chris Rodriguez5:28
9."Ashton"Smith3:17
10."The Throne"Smith, Gary Moore6:49
11."Pray for Me" 3:52

Personnel

Musicians

  • Michael W. Smith – keyboards, lead vocals (1–8, 10, 11), backing vocals (2, 3, 6, 7, 10), horn arrangements (6), drum programming (9)
  • Dann Huff – guitars (1–8)
  • Chris Rodriguez – guitars (1, 3, 5, 6, 8), backing vocals (4, 6, 8, 11)
  • Jerry McPherson – guitars (2, 4, 9, 10), acoustic guitar (7)
  • Tom Hemby – guitars (6, 8, 10, 11), bass (9, 11)
  • Mark O'Connor – mandolins (9), fiddles (9)
  • Billy Sprague – acoustic guitar (11)
  • Mike Brignardello – bass (1–5, 7, 8)
  • Tommy Sims – bass (6)
  • Gary Lunn – bass (10)
  • Paul Leim – drums (1–4, 6–8, 10)
  • Mark Hammond – drum programming (11)
  • Terry McMillan – percussion (1, 3, 5, 7, 8), harmonica (1)
  • Bob Mason – cello (5)
  • George Binkley – violin (5)
  • John Borg – violin (5)
  • Carl Gorodetzsky – violin (5)
  • Ronn Huff – string arrangements (5)
  • Mark Douthit – horns (6), horn arrangements (6)
  • Barry Green – horns (6), horn arrangements (6)
  • Mike Haynes – horns (6), horn arrangements (6)
  • Wayne Kirkpatrick – backing vocals (1–8, 10), acoustic guitar (3), drum programming (9)
  • Chris Harris – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10), recitation (6)
  • Mark Heimmerman – backing vocals (2, 5)
  • Oz Fox – backing vocals (4)
  • Billy Simon – backing vocals (4)
  • Michael Sweet – backing vocals (4)
Choir on "The Throne"
  • Chris Harris
  • Jan Harris
  • Amy Heimmerman
  • Mark Heimmerman
  • Angel Palacastro
  • Chris Rodriguez
  • Lisa Rodriguez
  • Kim Smith
  • Don Wise
Children's choir on "The Throne"
  • Anna Kristen Caker
  • Benji Cowart
  • Jeremy Cowart
  • Dana Dawson
  • Daniel Dorris
  • Heather Holland
  • Shannon Love
  • Sara Yarborough
  • Kathie Hill – children's choir director

Production

  • Michael Blanton – executive producer
  • Jeff Moseley – executive producer
  • Michael W. Smith – producer
  • Wayne Kirkpatrick – producer
  • Bill Whittington – engineer, mixing
  • Lynn Fuston – additional engineer
  • Steve Bishir – assistant engineer
  • John Bouchillon – assistant engineer
  • Mike Clute – assistant engineer
  • Brian Hardin – assistant engineer
  • Mark Nevers – assistant engineer
  • Dave Parker – assistant engineer
  • Carry Summers – assistant engineer
  • Ken Love – editing
  • Hank Williams – mastering at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee)
  • Jackson Design Nashville – design
  • Eika Aoshima – photography
  • Jonathan Scow-Cloutier – styling
  • Wendy Osmundson – grooming

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1988) Peak
position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[5] 1

Certifications

Country Sales Certifications
United States (RIAA) 500,000[6] Gold

References

  1. ^ I 2 at AllMusic
  2. ^ "Michael W. Smith, "I 2 Eye" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. December 19, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  3. ^ Taff, Tori; Farris, Christa (2006). 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music: The Stories Behind the Music. ISBN 1591452104.
  4. ^ "i 2 (EYE)". AllMusic. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  5. ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  6. ^ "American album certifications – Michael W. Smith – I 2 Eye". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 24, 2023.