The discography of Michael W. Smith, an American contemporary Christian musician, consists of 15 studio albums and 80 singles as well as multiple Christmas albums, compilation albums, instrumental albums, and video releases. Smith has sold over 18 million albums as of May 2018.[1] He has recorded more top-ten albums on the BillboardChristian Albums chart (31) than any other artist,[2] and his 16 No. 1 albums on the chart are second only to Amy Grant.[3]
In 1982, Smith was hired as a keyboardist for Grant and began writing and performing on her albums as well as touring with her as an opening act at her concerts.[4] His first album, Michael W. Smith Project (1983), charted at No. 9 on the BillboardChristian Albums chart and was his first album to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His next albums, Michael W. Smith 2 (1984) and The Big Picture (1986), also charted in the top ten, but attempts to market The Big Picture to mainstream audiences did not succeed.[4]I 2 (EYE) (1988) became Smith's first No. 1 album on the Christian Albums chart and his second gold album, and seven of its singles reached the top ten on the CCM Update Christian radio charts.
Go West Young Man (1990) became Smith's first album to chart on the Billboard 200, and the singles "Place in This World" and "For You" peaked at Nos. 6 and 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA and certified gold by Music Canada. Change Your World (1992) and I'll Lead You Home (1995) also received platinum certifications. "I Will Be Here for You", the lead single from Change Your World, topped the adult contemporary charts in the United States and Canada while charting at No. 8 in Canada and No. 27 on the Hot 100, and I'll Lead You Home was the first Christian album to debut in the top 20 on the Billboard 200.[5]
Live the Life (1998), This Is Your Time (1999), and Healing Rain (2004) all received gold certifications; other gold-certified albums include the compilation album The First Decade (1983–1993) (1993), the holiday albums Christmas (1989) and Christmastime (1998), and the instrumental release Freedom (2000). Smith's live albums Worship (2001) and Worship Again (2002) have been certified double platinum and platinum, respectively, by the RIAA. His album Sovereign (2014) debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, his highest career ranking on the chart.[6] His most recent studio album, A Million Lights (2018), was released a week apart from his live album Surrounded (2018); both albums charted at No. 2 on the Christian Albums chart.
Albums
Studio albums
List of studio albums, with chart positions and certifications
^"I Will Be Your Friend" was released before the BillboardChristian Songs chart was created, but it did peak at No. 2 on The CCM Update Adult Contemporary chart.[48]
^"I Still Have the Dream" was released before the Billboard Christian Songs chart was created, but it did peak at No. 7 on The CCM Update Christian Hit Radio chart.[40]
^"Worth It All" was released before the Billboard Christian Songs chart was created, but it did peak at Nos. 4 and 7 on The CCM Update Adult Contemporary and Christian Hit Radio charts, respectively.[40][48]
^"Above All" was released before the Billboard Christian Songs chart was created, but it did peak at Nos. 1 and 17 on The CCM Update Adult Contemporary and Christian Hit Radio charts, respectively.[40][48]
^"Breathe" was released before the Billboard Christian Songs chart was created, but it did peak at No. 18 on the Radio & Records Christian AC chart.[49]
^"Purified" was released before the Billboard Christian Songs chart was created, but it did peak at Nos. 1 and 24 on the Radio & Records INSPO and Christian AC charts, respectively.[50]
^"Lord Have Mercy" was released before the Billboard Christian Songs chart was created, but it did peak at Nos. 1 and 9 on the Radio & Records INSPO and Christian AC charts, respectively.[51]
^"Here I Am" did not chart on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, but it did peak at No. 1 and 3 on the Radio & Records INSPO and Christian AC Indicator charts, respectively.[52][53]
^"Be Lifted High" did not chart on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, but it did peak at No. 26 on the Billboard Christian AC Songs chart.[54]
^"Save Me From Myself" did not chart on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, but it did peak at No. 50 on the Billboard Christian/Gospel Digital Songs chart.[55]
References
General
Brothers, Jeffery Lee (2003). Hot Hits: Adult Contemporary Charts 1978—2001. CCM Magazine. pp. 58–59. ISBN1-4107-3294-0.
^The following sources confirm the chart positions for the RPM Adult Contemporary chart:
"40AC (Adult Contemporary)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 31, 1991. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
"40AC (Adult Contemporary)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 2, 1991. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
