The Big Picture (Michael W. Smith album)

Last updated
The Big Picture
Bigpicture.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 1, 1986
Recorded1985
Studio
Genre Contemporary Christian music
Length50:39
Label Reunion
Producer
  • Michael W. Smith
  • John Potoker
Michael W. Smith chronology
Michael W. Smith 2
(1984)
The Big Picture
(1986)
The Live Set
(1987)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]
Jesus Freak HideoutStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]

The Big Picture is the third album by contemporary Christian music artist Michael W. Smith, released in 1986 on Reunion Records. [3] The title comes from the song "Pursuit of the Dream," in which it is heard a few times, but also applies to the variety of themes for young people to learn about from the various songs on the album. While "Pursuit of the Dream" instructs the listener to pursue their goals, other themes on the album include the folly of escapism ("Lamu"), sexual abstinence before marriage ("Old Enough to Know"), and maintaining a positive self image ("You're Alright"). The song "Tearing Down The Wall" opens with a reverse snippet of Amy Grant's "Emmanuel". The Big Picture was ranked at number 21 on CCM Magazine's100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. [4] Smith won a GMA Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 18th GMA Dove Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance, Male at the 29th Grammy Awards.

Contents

Track listing

CD release [5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Lamu"Smith, Kirkpatrick, Amy Grant 5:55
2."Wired for Sound" 6:00
3."Old Enough to Know" 4:47
4."Pursuit of the Dream" 5:11
5."Rocketown" 4:32
6."Voices" 5:50
7."The Last Letter" 4:37
8."Goin' Thru the Motions" 4:55
9."Tearin' Down the Wall" 3:35
10."You're Alright"Smith, Kirkpatrick, Chris Rodriguez 4:36
11."Coda" (Hidden track)Smith0:41

Personnel

Backing vocals on "Voices"

Production

Chart performance

Chart (1986)Peak
position
US Christian Albums (Billboard) [6] 2

Accolades

GMA Dove Awards

YearWinnerCategory
1987The Big PicturePop/Contemporary Album of the Year

Related Research Articles

<i>Free at Last</i> (DC Talk album) 1992 studio album by DC Talk

Free at Last is the third studio album from DC Talk, which was released in 1992. Music videos were filmed for "Jesus Is Just Alright", "The Hardway" and "Luv Is A Verb". In 1994, DC Talk released a long-form video of the "Free at Last World Tour" entitled Narrow is the Road, in which all three music videos can be seen.

<i>Age to Age</i> 1982 studio album by Amy Grant

Age to Age is the fourth studio album by Christian music singer Amy Grant, released in 1982 on Myrrh Records.

<i>The Collection</i> (Amy Grant album) 1986 compilation album by Amy Grant

The Collection is a compilation album by Christian music singer Amy Grant, released in 1986.

<i>Unguarded</i> (Amy Grant album) 1985 studio album by Amy Grant

Unguarded is the seventh studio album by Christian and Pop singer Amy Grant, released in 1985 on A&M Records. It is Grant's first album released by A&M.

<i>Straight Ahead</i> (Amy Grant album) 1984 studio album by Amy Grant

Straight Ahead is the sixth studio album by Christian music artist Amy Grant, released in 1984.

<i>Lead Me On</i> (Amy Grant album) 1988 studio album by Amy Grant

Lead Me On is the eighth studio album by Christian music singer-songwriter Amy Grant, released in 1988 through A&M Recordings.

<i>Heart in Motion</i> 1991 studio album by Amy Grant

Heart in Motion is the ninth studio album by Christian singer-songwriter, Amy Grant, released on March 5, 1991. Unlike Grant's previous albums, Heart In Motion contains pop songs mingled with Christian values. The album features Grant's biggest worldwide hit, "Baby Baby" and was certified 5× platinum in the United States, selling over five million copies.

<i>Behind the Eyes</i> (Amy Grant album) 1997 studio album by Amy Grant

Behind the Eyes is the twelfth studio album by Christian music and pop music singer Amy Grant, released in 1997.

<i>i 2 (EYE)</i> 1988 studio album by Michael W. Smith

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". The album peaked at No. 1 on the Top Contemporary Christian charts.

<i>Go West Young Man</i> (Michael W. Smith album) 1990 studio album by Michael W. Smith

Go West Young Man is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith, released on October 1, 1990, through Reunion. This record was his first attempt at mainstream success. It was successful, as it scored a Billboard Hot 100 top ten hit with "Place in This World", which peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991.

<i>Change Your World</i> 1992 studio album by Michael W. Smith

Change Your World is a 1992 studio album by Contemporary Christian music artist Michael W. Smith released by Reunion Records.

<i>The First Decade (1983–1993)</i> 1993 compilation album by Michael W. Smith

The First Decade (1983–1993) is a compilation album from Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith. This album also features two new songs "Do You Dream of Me?" and "Kentucky Rose". A follow-up compilation album, The Second Decade (1993–2003), was released ten years later, picking up where The First Decade left off.

<i>Live the Life</i> 1998 studio album by Michael W. Smith

Live the Life is an album by Michael W. Smith. One notable song on this album was "In My Arms Again," which Michael W. Smith wrote for the film Titanic. "Missing Person" also received airplay on Christian radio.

<i>My Utmost for His Highest</i> (album) 1995 compilation album by Various artists

My Utmost for His Highest is the first of three albums of songs inspired by Oswald Chambers' devotional of the same name. The album, produced by Brown Bannister, features performances by popular Christian musicians of songs relating to a day from Chamber's book. It was the first album to receive the GMA Dove Award for Special Event Album of the Year, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.

<i>Medals</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Russ Taff

Medals is the second studio album by Christian singer-songerwriter Russ Taff, released in 1985 on Myrrh Records. Medals would prove to be his breakthrough album. Taff once again co-wrote with his wife Tori, along with his guitarist and songwriter James Hollihan, Jr. and contributions from other CCM artists and songwriters like Pam Mark Hall, Roby Duke and Chris Eaton.

<i>The Way Home</i> (Russ Taff album) 1989 studio album by Russ Taff

The Way Home is the fourth studio album by Christian singer-songwriter Russ Taff, released in 1989 on Myrrh Records. Music videos were made for "Winds of Change" and "I Cry" to promote the album. The Way Home was ranked at number 11 on CCM Magazine's 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The album includes a one-minute version of the traditional gospel song "Ain't No Grave" – Taff later recorded a longer version on his 1991 album Under Their Influence. In 1990, The Way Home won Rock Album of the Year and the song "The River Unbroken" won Rock Recorded Song of the Year at the 21st GMA Dove Awards. Taff was also nominated for Best Gospel Performance, Male for the song "Farther On" at the 32nd Grammy Awards. The album topped the Billboard Inspirational Albums chart.

<i>Our Hymns</i> 1989 compilation album by Various artists

Our Hymns is a compilation album released in 1989 on Word Records. It features well-known church hymns each done by CCM artists' interpretation and styles of music from pop to rock to country. It is also a trilogy of albums from Word Records using the word "Our" in the series starting with this album, along with Our Christmas (1990) and Our Family (1992). The R&B vocal group Take 6 won the Grammy for Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group for their interpretation of "The Savior Is Waiting" at the 32nd Grammy Awards. In 1990, the album won Praise and Worship Album of the Year and Amy Grant won Country Recorded Song of the Year for "'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus" at the 21st GMA Dove Awards. Our Hymns debuted and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.

<i>One More Song for You</i> 1979 studio album by The Imperials

One More Song for You is the 26th studio album by the Christian music group The Imperials, released in late 1979 on DaySpring Records. It was the first of two albums that the group collaborated with well-known musician/producer Michael Omartian, moving them to a more contemporary pop sound, with the second being their next album Priority (1980). "I'm Forgiven" went to number one on the Christian radio charts and stayed there for 13 weeks. The Imperials were winners at the 12th GMA Dove Awards winning three for Group of the Year, Artist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year with lead singer Russ Taff winning Male Vocalist of the Year. One More Song for You was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational at the 23rd Grammy Awards. The album reached number one on the Billboard Inspirational Albums chart. CCM Magazine has ranked One More Song for You at number 75 on their 2001 book The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.

<i>A Heart That Knows You</i> 1992 compilation album by Twila Paris

A Heart That Knows You is a compilation album by Christian singer-songwriter Twila Paris, released in late 1992 by Star Song Records. The album peaked at number four on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. A Heart That Knows You is a collection of Paris' radio hits and praise and worship songs from her Star Song catalog featuring two brand new songs, a re-recording of her first number-one hit "The Warrior Is a Child" and a re-recorded medley of "Do I Trust You", "Keepin' My Eyes on You", and "We Will Glorify". The new recordings were produced by Greg Nelson and Paul Mills. In 1993, Paris won her first of three-consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year titles at the GMA Dove Awards. A music video was made for "Destiny" to promote the album.

<i>Beyond a Dream</i> (Twila Paris album) 1993 studio album by Twila Paris

Beyond a Dream is the tenth studio album by Christian singer-songwriter Twila Paris, released in late 1993 by Star Song Records. Paris reunited with producer Brown Bannister, who produced her 1990 album Cry for the Desert and also with Paul Mills who produced two tracks from her 1992 compilation album A Heart That Knows You. The album topped the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart, giving Paris her first number-one album. In 1995, Paris won her third-consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year title and also won Song of the Year for writing her number-one Christian AC hit "God Is in Control" at the 26th GMA Dove Awards. Music videos were made for "God Is in Control" and "What Am I Without You?"

References

  1. Granger, Thom. "The Big Picture". AllMusic . Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  2. Frias, Sherwin (February 10, 2007). "Michael W. Smith, "The Big Picture" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  3. Michael W. Smith: The Big Picture. Reunion Records. 1986.
  4. Granger, Thom, ed. (2001). The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. Harvest House. pp. 92–95. ISBN   0-7369-0281-3.
  5. "Michael W. Smith – The Big Picture". Discogs. May 1986. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  6. "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2019.