i 2 (EYE)
| i 2 (EYE) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
_(Michael_W._Smith_album_-_cover_art).jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 1, 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1988 | |||
| Genre | Christian rock | |||
| Length | 56:02 | |||
| Label | Reunion | |||
| Producer | Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick | |||
| Michael W. Smith chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| 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. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hand of Providence" | 4:33 | |
| 2. | "Secret Ambition" | Smith, Kirkpatrick, Amy Grant | 6:26 |
| 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 Rodriguez | 5:28 |
| 9. | "Ashton" | Smith | 3:17 |
| 10. | "The Throne" | Smith, Gary Moore | 6:49 |
| 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 W. Smith – producer
- Wayne Kirkpatrick – producer
- Michael Blanton – executive producer
- Jeff Moseley – executive 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
- The Bennett House (Franklin, Tennessee) – recording location
- Deer Valley (Franklin, Tennessee) – recording location
- The Castle (Franklin, Tennessee) – recording location
- OmniSound (Nashville, Tennessee) – recording location
- Sixteenth Avenue Sound (Nashville, Tennessee) – recording location, mixing location
- Masterfonics (Nashville, Tennessee) – mixing location
- 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
- ^ I 2 at AllMusic
- ^ "Michael W. Smith, "I 2 Eye" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. December 19, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
- ^ Taff, Tori; Farris, Christa (2006). 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music: The Stories Behind the Music. ISBN 1591452104.
- ^ "i 2 (EYE)". AllMusic. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
- ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
- ^ "American album certifications – Michael W. Smith – I 2 Eye". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
