Go West Young Man (Michael W. Smith album)

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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.

Background

Michael W. Smith most notably performed "Place in This World", which peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on Cash Box (#5 AC), and "For You" on various shows, for example The Arsenio Hall Show, to promote the album. The record was a mainstream crossover success for Smith and became a platinum album. Videos were produced for both singles released and received much radio airplay. Several of the songs from this album made it into his greatest hits album, The First Decade (1983-1993).

Track listing

1. "Go West Young Man" — 4:01 (Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick)
2. "Love Crusade" — 4:23 (Smith, Kirkpatrick)
3. "Place in this World" — 4:01 (Amy Grant, Smith, Kirkpatrick)
4. "For You" — 4:10 (William Owsley III, Smith, Kirkpatrick)
5. "How Long Will Be Too Long" — 4:37 (Smith, Kirkpatrick, Grant)
6. "Seed to Sow" — 6:14 (Smith, Kirkpatrick)
7. "Cross My Heart" — 4:37 (Smith, Kirkpatrick)
8. "Emily" — 4:17 (Smith, Kirkpatrick)
9. "Agnus Dei" — 5:09 (Smith)
10. "1990" — 1:42 (Smith)

Personnel

• Michael W. Smith — lead vocals, keyboards, keyboard programming, background vocals (2), piano (9)
• Mike Lawler — additional keyboards (1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10), Hammond B3 organ (5), programming (6, 10), drums and percussion (6, 10), synth bass (6, 10), synth solo (7), keyboard programming
• Bryan Lenox — additional keyboards (1, 7), percussion (2, 3, 4, 6-10), drums (3, 4, 6, 7, 9), keyboard programming
• Trace Scarborough — keyboard programming
• Tommy Sims — bass guitar (1, 2, 5, 8), synth bass (4), stick bass (9), keyboard programming
• Matt Pierson — synth bass (3), fretless bass (7)
• Dann Huff — guitar (1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9)
• Jerry McPherson — guitar (4, 5, 7, 9)
• Will Owsley — guitar and guitar solo (4)
• Chris Rodriguez — guitar (10), background vocals (1, 2, 5, 10)
• Paul Leim — drums (1, 2, 5, 8), percussion (2)
• Terry McMillan – percussion (1-9)
• Mark Douthit — saxophone (1, 3, 4)
• Barry Green — trombone (1-4), trombone solo (4)
• Mike Haynes — trumpet (1, 3, 4, 6)
• George Tidwell — trumpet (1)
• Sam Levine — saxophone (2, 6)
• Chris McDonald — trombone (6), horn arrangements (1-4, 6)
• Chris Eaton —background vocals (1, 2, 4, 7)
• Wayne Kirkpatrick — background vocals (1, 2, 4, 7, 10)
• Jimmy Marks — background vocals (2)
• Chris Harris — background vocals (4, 6, 7, 10)
• Vince Ebo — background vocals (5)
• Vicki Hampton — background vocals (5, 6)
• The Nashville String Machine — strings (3, 8)
• Ronn Huff — string arrangements and conductor
• Carl Gorodetzsky — concertmaster and contractor
• The American Boychoir — choir (9); Nathan Wadley – soloist
  • Africa Children's Choir (6); arranged by Michael W. Smith and Ronn Huff; Choir director — Gertrude Kafeero; Tour leader — Darla Peters

Production

• Producer — Michael W. Smith
• Co-producer — Bryan Lenox
• Vocal producer — Wayne Kirkpatrick
• Executive producers — Michael Blanton, Terry Hemmings
• Engineering — Bill Deaton, Pasquale Delvillagio, Pat Hutchinson, Gregg Jampol, Patrick Kelly, Brent King, Bryan Lenox, Don Martin, Dave Murphy, Rick Rowe, Bret Teegarden, Bill Whittington.
• Mixing — Humberto Gatica, assisted by David Parker and Alejandro Rodriguez.
• Recorded at BMG Studio (New York, NY); Sound-trek Studio (Kansas City, MO); Deer Valley Studio (Franklin, TN); Treasure Isle, Omni Sound, The Benson Studio, Digital Recorders and 16th Avenue Sound (Nashville, TN).
• Mixed at 16th Avenue Sound (Nashville, TN).
• Editing — Nick Palladino at Scene Three, Inc. (Nashville, TN).
• Mastering — Stephen Marcussen at Precision Disc Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
• Art direction — Buddy Jackson, Deb Rhodes
• Design — Beth Middleworth for Jackson Design
• Photography — Mark Tucker
• Styling — Mary Jane Starke
• A&R — Don Donahue and Richard Headen
• MWS personal assistant — Elizabeth Leighton Jones

Commercial performance

Country	Peak	Sales	Certifications (sales thresholds)
Canada (CRIA)	n/a	50,000	Gold
United States (RIAA)	74	1,000,000	Platinum