Welcome to Place In This World, a Brand New, Ever Expanding Site totally devoted to global "smittyfication", that is addicting the world to the excellent music of Michael W. Smith. Sometime in the near future (Possibly at another site), Live Chat will probably be integrated into Place In This World!!!!

A little Smitty Background-

Michael Whitaker Smith was raised in Kenova, West Virginia. A typical boy, He was facinated by Baseball. He wanted to eventually become a professional ball player. Music was certainly not his first love. Then at the age of fifteen, he recieved a crushing blow.....He wasn't good enough. No all-star team, no chance at making the pros. About the same time, he caught a vision to write songs that would say something positive about his faith. In September of 1978, Michael, packed his bags and piled them into his green chevy and took of for Nashville. In Nashville, Michael fell into a dangerous pattern of drugs, drinking and "self destruction." In October of 1979, Michael recalls, " I kind of flipped out. I honestly believed I suffered a major nervous breakdown followed by a powerful experience with my Creator. And I remember thinking that the burden had really lifted and that my life would never be the same."

It was there, in Nashville, after 18 months of toil filling positons in landscaping and food service, he finally landed a position as a keyboardist for the gospel group Higher Ground, which really set the wheels in motion for Michaels career.

In September of 1980, he signed his first publishing contract. There, he met Mike Blanton and Dan Harrell, the founders of Reunion Records and Amy Grant's managers. They introduced him to Amy, and her hubby Gary Chapman. The trio began writing songs together. Finally, Blanton and Harrell were impressed by one of Michaels songs, and they encouraged him to write more. To the astonishment of Blanton and Harrell, in merely a few short weeks, MWS returned with not one, but ten songs that were "pretty amazing." In 1982, he completed his first album, Project.

Completed in September of 1983, this was Michael's debut album. Having worked as Amy Grant's principal pianist for several years, and with several popular songs, including Sandy Patti's How Majestic is Your Name, under his belt, this was Michael's first "solo" project. Most of the lyrics to the songs were written by his wife the former Deborah Davis (er. Debra D. Smith). The album itself is quite excellent. Friends became a sensation. My favorite song on the album though would probably be "Too Many Times". If you like stylistic variety, this would probably be your favorite Michael W. Smith album, as Smitty dables with miscellaneous styles varying from Jazz and Disco, to classical and rock!!!!

Probably the second most boring album that Smitty ever made, not to say that Smitty is boring, but to say that compared to Smittys other supurbly excellent albums was relatively dull. However, this album was probably one of the most essential albums Smitty ever recorded; the first album that Smitty drew from his "bubblegum pop" style that has made him such a musical success!!! The first song on the album, A Way, is unique, and kind of cool. I also enjoy Glorious Grace (T.T.P.O.), I play it often(on piano). Hosanna is kind of neat too......

WOW!!!! This album rocks!!! Probably the best album recorded in the history of music, the music flows so well it almost tells a story. As for the songs, they are pretty jive. But the songs on i2EYE are cooler......

The Big Picture mixed with a couple new songs......If U like these songs, buy the Big Picture.........

Bigger than the Big Picture?? Maybe. The flow of the album just wasn't as cool, but some of the songs were DA BOMB!! Secret Ambition, I Miss The Way, On the Other Side, The Throne, etc.... A MUST OWN for any MWS Fan!!!!!

This album revolved around Michael's classical roots, and drew the attention of the critics. In fact, his Christmas music was so phenomenal that Michael was asked by none other than then President George H. W. Bush to perform Christmas music for him at the White House.....believe it or not, when MWS was there he actually had the spunk to dare to ask the President if the piano was "in tune"!!!

The first half of the album, as well as 1990 were exceptional.... the second half was decent but not up to par. My very favorite Smitty song, Place In This World was released on this album, which helped make MWS a crossover hit!!!

This album came at a milestone in Michaels's career. His song, Place In This World had become a phenomenal hit, and the fans were eagerly anticipating more from this newly successful crossover artist. This was his second crossover album, and also the first studio recording since 2 that the vocals were not recorded in MWS's Bathroom. Songs like Somebody Love Me, Somewhere Somehow, and I will be here for you melted fans hearts, and other songs rocked out!!!

An excellent MWS set, great for brand new MWS fans to aquire. Not only does it contains some of the best songs from every MWS C.D. until 1993, it contains facinating info about MWS. It contains no original songs however, unlike....

This album contains a mix of MWS songs through 1993, including two original songs, DO YOU DREAM OF ME, and KENTUCKY ROSE. Kentucky Rose probably has the best Lyrics MWS Lyrisist Wayne Kirkpatrick ever wrote.

My least favorite Michael W. Smith album, it is vindicated however by songs like Breakdown, Straight to the Heart, Someday, and Crown Him.