The Second Decade 1993-2003

Description

The Second Decade 1993-2003 is a compilation album by the American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Michael W. Smith, released on Reunion Records in October 2003, distributed in the US by Provident Music Distribution and Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Includes “Friends 2003”, an all-star update to “Friends” originally released on Smith’s debut album back in 1983, featuring vocals by Amy Grant, Joy Williams, Mac Powell, Michael Tait, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Point Of Grace.

This is Smith’s second greatest hits compilation album, picking up where his first greatest hits compilation, The First Decade 1983 – 1993, left off.

A multi-artist tribute album entitled Ultimate Music Makeover: The Songs of Michael W. Smith was released on Rocketown Records in 2005.

For an artist in any musical genre, releasing a disc celebrating ten years of popularity and hits is quite an accomplishment. To be able to do the same thing ten additional years later is truly amazing, and Michael W. Smith is one of the fortunate few who has had the enduring popularity to achieve this feat. Although The Second Decade 1993-2003 is full of hit songs, this retrospective is not necessarily a greatest-hits package but a general overview that highlights the best moments of a ten-year period in a remarkable career. Therefore, popular songs like «Let Me Show You the Way» or Smith’s duet with Jim Brickman, «The Love of My Life», are omitted in favor of other career highlights like the title track to Freedom, his passionate instrumental album from 2000. Also taking space away from the hits are two new songs that bookend the collection; however, these are welcome additions that merit inclusion. «Signs», with lyrics co-written by his son, Ryan, opens the disc with quiet, solitary piano lines as Smith’s gravelly voice joins in and drives the song forward to an exuberant and memorable chorus. «Raging Storm» is a piano-based ballad that gracefully closes the disc, and the decade, for this talented singer/songwriter. In addition to brilliant hits like «Missing Person» and «This Is Your Time», a new remix of «Breakdown» beefs up the driving sound of this 1995 song. Concert performances of «Above All» and «You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)» from Smith’s set of live Worship albums warrant inclusion by showcasing his talent on the stage, but sound a bit out of place amid the studio tracks. Taken from the Dove Hits 2003 compilation, «Friends 2003» is an all-star update to one of Smith’s most durable standards, but even with guests like Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Point of Grace, this well-worn early hit could have been left out to make room for a more appropriate hit song. However, it’s a small concession to make when the balance of the disc offers some of the best music that Michael W. Smith has created over his second decade in the spotlight, and with his 2002 Dove Award for Artist of the Year, it seems he is well on his way to a successful third decade.

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-second-decade-1993-2003/303089540)

CD tracklist:

01. Signs – 4:37
02. Missing Person – 5:07
03. Cry For Love – 5:11
04. This Is Your Time – 4:29
05. Live The Life – 4:39
06. Never Been Unloved – 4:43
07. Love Me Good – 4:41
08. Breakdown (RrrrB Remix) – 5:27
09. Straight To The Heart – 2:46
10. I’ll Lead You Home – 5:21
11. Above All (Live Version) – 4:34
12. You Are Holy (Prince Of Peace) – 5:20
13. Friends 2003 – 4:57
14. Freedom – 3:39
15. Raging Sea – 3:15

Limited Edition DVD tracklist:

DVD-1 Live The Life (Film directed and produced by Ken Carpenter) – 4:35
DVD-2 Love Me Good (Film directed by Thom Oliphant and produced by Lisa Ruffler) – 3:52
DVD-3 There She Stands (Film directed and produced by Ken Carpenter) – 4:06
DVD-4 Secret Ambition (Film directed and produced by Stephen Yake) – 6:08
DVD-5 The Second Decade…A Look Back (Film directed and produced by Ken Carpenter) – 6:03
DVD-6 20 Years Of Changing Your World (Film directed and edited by Ken Carpenter) – 3:19
DVD-7 Credits – 3:09

Note: A Limited Edition digipak version of the album was also released, which included a bonus DVD.

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