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. CCM Magazine ranked Michael W. Smith Project at number 34 on their 2001 book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. Smith earned his first Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance, Male at the 26th Grammy Awards.

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

Personnel

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

Production

 * Michael W. Smith – producer, assistant engineer
 * Michael Blanton – executive producer
 * Dan Harrell – executive producer
 * Mike Psanos – 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