The discography of Michael W. Smith, an American contemporary Christian musician, consists of 15 studio albums and 80 singles as well as multiple Christmas albums, compilation albums, instrumental albums, and video releases. Smith has sold over 18 million albums as of May 2018. He has recorded more top-ten albums on the Billboard Christian Albums chart (31) than any other artist, and his 16 No. 1 albums on the chart are second only to Amy Grant.
In 1982, Smith was hired as a keyboardist for Grant and began writing and performing on her albums as well as touring with her as an opening act at her concerts.Powell 2003, p. 839. His first album, Michael W. Smith Project (1983), charted at No. 9 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart and was his first album to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His next albums, Michael W. Smith 2 (1984) and The Big Picture (1986), also charted in the top ten, but attempts to market The Big Picture to mainstream audiences did not succeed. I 2 (EYE) (1988) became Smith's first No. 1 album on the Christian Albums chart and his second gold album, and seven of its singles reached the top ten on the CCM Update Christian radio charts.
Go West Young Man (1990) became Smith's first album to chart on the Billboard 200, and the singles "Place in This World" and "For You" peaked at Nos. 6 and 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA and certified gold by Music Canada. Change Your World (1992) and I'll Lead You Home (1995) also received platinum certifications. "I Will Be Here for You", the lead single from Change Your World, topped the adult contemporary charts in the United States and Canada while charting at No. 8 in Canada and No. 27 on the Hot 100, and I'll Lead You Home was the first Christian album to debut in the top 20 on the Billboard 200.
Live the Life (1998), This Is Your Time (1999), and Healing Rain (2004) all received gold certifications; other gold-certified albums include the compilation album The First Decade (1983–1993) (1993), the holiday albums Christmas (1989) and Christmastime (1998), and the instrumental release Freedom (2000). Smith's live albums Worship (2001) and Worship Again (2002) have been certified double platinum and platinum, respectively, by the RIAA. His album Sovereign (2014) debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, his highest career ranking on the chart. His most recent studio album, A Million Lights (2018), was released a week apart from his live album Surrounded (2018); both albums charted at No. 2 on the Christian Albums chart.
Albums Studio albums + List of studio albums, with chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSUSChristMichael W. Smith Project Released: March 15, 1983 Label: Reunion Records Format: CD, cassette, digital download, LP — 9 RIAA: GoldMichael W. Smith 2 Released: February 23, 1984 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download, LP — 4The Big Picture Released: February 1, 1986 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download, LP — 2i 2 (EYE) Released: August 15, 1988 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download, LP — 1 RIAA: GoldGo West Young Man Released: September 24, 1990 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download, LP 74 1 RIAA: Platinum MC: GoldChange Your World Released: August 21, 1992 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download, LP 86 1RIAA: PlatinumI'll Lead You Home Released: August 1, 1995 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download 16 1 RIAA: PlatinumLive the Life Released: April 28, 1998 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download 23 1 RIAA: GoldThis Is Your Time Released: November 23, 1999 Label: Reunion Format: CD, digital download 21 1 RIAA: GoldHealing Rain Released: October 26, 2004 Label: Reunion Format: CD, digital download, DualDisc 11 1 RIAA: GoldStand Released: November 7, 2006 Label: Reunion Format: CD, digital download 48 1 Wonder Released: September 28, 2010 Label: Reunion Format: CD, digital download 26 2Sovereign Released: May 13, 2014 Label: Sparrow Records/The MWS Group Format: CD, digital download, LP 10 1 A Million Lights Released: February 16, 2018 Label: Rocketown Records Format: CD, digital download — 2Still, Vol. 1 Released: October 9, 2020 Label: Rocketown Format: CD, Digital download — 42 "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Box sets + List of box sets, with chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positionsUSChristUSHolidayThe Wonder Years Released: November 23, 1993 Label: Reunion Records Format: CD Contains: Two CDs and a 24-page spiral-bound book 30 —The Christmas Collection Released: September 28, 2004 Label: Reunion Format: CD, digital download Contains: Christmas and Chistmastime 14 24The Ultimate Christmas Collection Released: October 13, 2009 Label: Reunion Format: CD, digital download Contains: Christmas, Christmastime, and It's a Wonderful Christmas 46 —
Compilation albums + List of compilation albums, with chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSUSChristThe First Decade (1983–1993) Released: September 30, 1993 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download — 1 RIAA: GoldThe Second Decade (1993–2003) Released: October 7, 2003 Label: Reunion Format: CD, digital download 38 1Decades of Worship Released: January 12, 2012 Label: Provident Label Group Format: CD, digital download 99 5
Christmas albums + List of Christmas albums, with chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSUSChristUSHolidayChristmas Released: September 1, 1989 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download, LP — 3 — RIAA: GoldChristmastime Released: October 13, 1998 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download 90 5 4 RIAA: GoldIt's a Wonderful Christmas Released: October 14, 2007 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download 54 2 2The Spirit of Christmas Released: September 30, 2014 Label: Sparrow Records/The MWS Group Format: CD, cassette, digital download 16 1 1 "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Instrumental albums + List of instrumental albums, with chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSUSChristFreedom Released: November 21, 2000 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download 70 2 RIAA: GoldGlory Released: November 22, 2011 Label: Reunion Format: CD, digital download 121 7
Live albums + List of live albums, with chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSUSChristThe Live Set Released: July 7, 1987 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download, LP — 4Worship Released: September 11, 2001 Label: Reunion Format: CD, cassette, digital download, DualDisc 20 1RIAA: 2× Platinum MC: GoldWorship Again Released: September 19, 2002 Label: Reunion Format: CD, digital download 14 1RIAA: PlatinumA New Hallelujah Released: October 28, 2008 Label: Reunion Format: CD, digital download 19 1Surrounded Released: February 23, 2018 Label: Rocketown Records Format: CD, digital download 188 2Awaken: The Surrounded Experience Released: February 22, 2019 Label: Rocketown Format: CD, digital download — 13Worship Forever (Live) Released: September 10, 2021 Label: Rocketown Format: CD, digital download — 4 "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Other albums + List of other albums, with chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positionsUSUSChristUSKidHymns Released: March 24, 2014 Label: Cracker Barrel Format: CD, digital download 25 1 —Hymns II – Shine on Us Released: January 29, 2016 Label: Cracker Barrel Format: CD, digital download 172 3 —Lullaby Released: May 4, 2018 Label: Rocketown/The Fuel Music Format: CD, digital download — — 8Worthy is the Lamb (Live) Released: March 15, 2024 Label: Rocketown/The Fuel Music — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Videos + List of video releases, with chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSVideoThe following sources confirm the chart positions for the Billboard Music Video Sales chart:Worship Released: August 20, 2002 Label: Reunion Format: DVD, VHS 1RIAA: Platinum MC: GoldLive in Concert – A 20 Year Celebration Released: February 10, 2004 Label: Reunion Format: DVD 12RIAA: GoldA New Hallelujah: The Live Worship DVD Released: March 17, 2009 Label: Reunion Format: DVD 2 "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Singles 1980s + List of singles, with chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumUS Christ ACBrothers 2003, p. 197-199.US Christ CHRPowell 2003, p. 842."Great Is the Lord"19831 Michael W. Smith Project"Could He Be the Messiah"21"Friends" 7"Hosanna" 19842Michael W. Smith 2"I Am Sure"8"I Know" 1986 5 1The Live Set"Rocketown" 1 1The Big Picture"Voices" 5 19"Wired for Sound" — 4"Old Enough to Know" 1987 24 6"Emily" 8 1The Live Set"Nothin' But the Blood" 28 5"Friends (Live)" 1988 34 13"Pray for Me" 1 2 I 2 (EYE)"Help You Find Your Way" — 13"Hand of Providence" 2 4"I Miss the Way" 1989 4 —"Live and Learn" 7 7"The Throne" 1 1"On the Other Side" 2 3"Holy, Holy, Holy" 5 —Our Hymns "—" denotes releases that did not chart
1990s + List of singles, with chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumUSUSACUS Christ ACUS Christ CHRCANThe following sources confirm the chart positions for the RPM Top Singles chart:CAN ACThe following sources confirm the chart positions for the RPM Adult Contemporary chart:"I Hear Leesha"1990 — — 7 5 — — I 2 (EYE)"Go West Young Man" — — 2 1 — — Go West Young Man"Place in This World"1991 6 5 1 1 25 8 "How Long Will Be Too Long" — — 3 2 — — "For You" 60 20 2 1 65 12 "Seed to Sow"1992 — — 4 2 — — "Cross My Heart" — — 3 — — — "Love Crusade" — — — 4 — — "I Will Be Here for You" 27 1 2 1 8 1 Change Your World"Somebody Love Me"1993 71 10 12 4 32 11 "Give It Away" — — 1 1 — — "Picture Perfect" — — 25 1 — — "Kentucky Rose" — — 12 25 — — The First Decade (1983–1993)"Cross of Gold" 1994 — — — 24 — — Change Your World"Cry for Love" 1995 — — 1 1 — — I'll Lead You Home"Straight to the Heart" — — 3 25 — — "Breakdown" — — — 4 — — "I'll Lead You Home"1996 — — 2 2 — — "I'll Be Around" — — 1 3 — — "A Little Stronger Every Day" — — 2 5 — — "Someday" — — 5 3 — — "Emmanuel" — — 37 — — — Emmanuel: A Musical Celebration of the Life of Christ"Jesus Is the Answer"1997 — — 4 9 — — Tribute: The Songs of Andrae Crouch"Live the Life" — — 1 3 — — Live the Life"Love Me Good" 1998 61 — 5 4 — — "Never Been Unloved" — — 1 9 — — "Missing Person" — — 1 2 — — "Christmastime" — — 12 — — — Christmastime"Let Me Show You the Way" 1999 — — 1 16 — — Live the Life"This is Your Time" — 25 1 5 — — This Is Your Time "—" denotes releases that did not chart
2000–present