The Live Set

Description

The Live Set is a live album by the American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Michael W. Smith, released on Reunion Records in March 1987, manufactured and distributed by both Word Records and A&M Records. The album was produced by Michael W. Smith. According to CCM Magazine, The Live Set was the 8th best selling album of 1987 in the Christian music market.

The Live Set was recorded at The Civic Theatre in Des Moines, Iowa and at The Civic Center Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Lead vocalist and keyboardist Michael W. Smith was backed by a tour band featuring Mark Heimermann on additional keyboards, Chris Rodriguez and Wayne Kirkpatrick on guitars, as well as a rhythm section consisting of bassist Chris Harris and drummer David Huff (the latter of White Heart and Giant fame).

The live album features selections from two previous albums, the debut album Michael W. Smith Project as well as Smith’s third studio album The Big Picture, and introduces three new songs. “Nothin’ But the Blood” is a modern re-working of Robert Lowry’s classic hymn. “I Know” was released to radio as a single (the radio edit is only available on The Wonder Years, a Limited Edition 2CD package with accompanying book released by Reunion Records in 1993). “Emily” would later receive a studio release on 1990’s Go West Young Man.

Arrgghh! The dreaded “live” album, you say? Well, check it out, pal! This record truly lives up to the title “live.” There is only one track on ‘The Live Set’ that has not previously been issued in some form, but the LP should still easily join the list of essential “live” records.

The double-pocket 12-song collection opens with Smitty’s take on the sing-along favorite, «Nothing but the Blood». It was retrieved from the soundtrack of his first concert video and remixed, as was the radio/video hit, «I Know». This is the first audio release for both tunes. The one track heard for the first time anywhere is «Emily», which became a concert fave during ‘The Big Picture’ tour. The remaining nine songs are taken from the same concert that produced the full-length ‘Big Picture’ video. Since not everyone in the world owns a VCR, or has the dough to plunk down for the video and the record, this marketing ploy can be forgiven.

Two things about ‘The Live Set’, however, cannot be overlooked. First, the applause. I’ve heard dozens of “live” albums and bootlegs over the years, including The Beatles’, Elvis’, Springsteen’s, et. al., and I’ve never heard applause this loud! It sometimes overpowers the music tracks. I saw two shows on this tour, and I’ll grant you – Smitty and the boys whipped the crowds into a frenzy, both times. But the applause was never that relentless. It just takes away from an otherwise flawlessly-mixed recording.

Second, time constraints aside, it would have been nice to hear some talking between tracks. I realize that for many folks this is the bane of concert recordings. But Michael’s comments, however brief, would have been the icing on the cake.

Those criticisms aside, let me say that ‘The Live Set’ makes Smith’s first album and ‘The Big Picture‘ virtually obsolete. It contains the best tracks from both – though, sadly, nothing from ‘MWS 2‘. The concert versions improve on their studio counterparts in every way. Highlights include the extended percussion openings on «Lamu» and «Rocketown», Chris Rodrigues’ guitar solos on «Old Enough to Know» and «Pursuit of the Dream», and the entire band’s ultra-tight playing and singing on «You Need a Savior». ‘The Live Set’ is high-energy; it’s dead-on musicianship; it’s – well – it’s what you’ve come to expect from the hottest performer in Christian music. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, September 1987]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Nothin’ But The Blood” – 3:38
A2. “You’re Alright” – 4:39
A3. “Could He Be The Messiah” – 5:02
A4. “Rocketown” – 6:13

Side Two
B1. “Emily” – 3:45
B2. “I Know” – 4:23
B3. “Friends” – 3:59
B4. “Old Enough To Know” – 5:57
B5. “You Need A Saviour” – 6:24

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Reunion Records. The cassette and CD editions feature three additional tracks: “Lamu” (8:27), “Pursuit Of The Dream” (6:01), and “Be Strong And Courageous” (4:15). A video version of the concert was also made commercially available.