I 2 (EYE)

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".^{[3][page needed]} The album peaked at No. 1 on the Top Contemporary Christian charts.^[4]

i 2 (EYE)
Studio album by Michael W. Smith
Released	September 1, 1988
Recorded	1988
Studio	The Bennett House, Deer Valley Studio and The Castle (Franklin, Tennessee) OmniSound, Sixteenth Avenue Sound and Masterfonics (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre	Christian rock
Length	56:02
Label	Reunion
Producer	Michael W. Smith Wayne Kirkpatrick
Michael W. Smith chronology
The Live Set (1987) i 2 (EYE) (1988) Christmas (1989)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Hand of Providence"		4:33
2.	"Secret Ambition"	Smith, Kirkpatrick, Amy Grant	6:26
3.	"On the Other Side"		3:40
4.	"All You're Missin is a Heartache"		5:39
5.	"I Miss the Way"		4:35
6.	"Live and Learn"		6:17
7.	"I Hear Leesha"		5:26
8.	"Help You Find Your Way"	Smith, Kirkpatrick, Chris Rodriguez	5:28
9.	"Ashton"	Smith	3:17
10.	"The Throne"	Smith, Gary Moore	6:49
11.	"Pray for Me"		3:52

Personnel

Musicians

• Michael W. Smith – keyboards, lead vocals (1–8, 10, 11), backing vocals (2, 3, 6, 7, 10), horn arrangements (6), drum programming (9)
• Dann Huff – guitars (1–8)
• Chris Rodriguez – guitars (1, 3, 5, 6, 8), backing vocals (4, 6, 8, 11)
• Jerry McPherson – guitars (2, 4, 9, 10), acoustic guitar (7)
• Tom Hemby – guitars (6, 8, 10, 11), bass (9, 11)
• Mark O'Connor – mandolins (9), fiddles (9)
• Billy Sprague – acoustic guitar (11)
• Mike Brignardello – bass (1–5, 7, 8)
• Tommy Sims – bass (6)
• Gary Lunn – bass (10)
• Paul Leim – drums (1–4, 6–8, 10)
• Mark Hammond – drum programming (11)
• Terry McMillan – percussion (1, 3, 5, 7, 8), harmonica (1)
• Bob Mason – cello (5)
• George Binkley – violin (5)
• John Borg – violin (5)
• Carl Gorodetzsky – violin (5)
• Ronn Huff – string arrangements (5)
• Mark Douthit – horns (6), horn arrangements (6)
• Barry Green – horns (6), horn arrangements (6)
• Mike Haynes – horns (6), horn arrangements (6)
• Wayne Kirkpatrick – backing vocals (1–8, 10), acoustic guitar (3), drum programming (9)
• Chris Harris – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10), recitation (6)
• Mark Heimmerman – backing vocals (2, 5)
• Oz Fox – backing vocals (4)
• Billy Simon – backing vocals (4)
• Michael Sweet – backing vocals (4)

Choir on "The Throne"

• Chris Harris
• Jan Harris
• Amy Heimmerman
• Mark Heimmerman
• Angel Palacastro
• Chris Rodriguez
• Lisa Rodriguez
• Kim Smith
• Don Wise

Children's choir on "The Throne"

• Anna Kristen Caker
• Benji Cowart
• Jeremy Cowart
• Dana Dawson
• Daniel Dorris
• Heather Holland
• Shannon Love
• Sara Yarborough
• Kathie Hill – children's choir director

Production

• Michael Blanton – executive producer
• Jeff Moseley – executive producer
• Michael W. Smith – producer
• Wayne Kirkpatrick – producer
• Bill Whittington – engineer, mixing
• Lynn Fuston – additional engineer
• Steve Bishir – assistant engineer
• John Bouchillon – assistant engineer
• Mike Clute – assistant engineer
• Brian Hardin – assistant engineer
• Mark Nevers – assistant engineer
• Dave Parker – assistant engineer
• Carry Summers – assistant engineer
• Ken Love – editing
• Hank Williams – mastering at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee)
• Jackson Design Nashville – design
• Eika Aoshima – photography
• Jonathan Scow-Cloutier – styling
• Wendy Osmundson – grooming

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1988)	Peak position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[5]	1

Certifications

Country	Sales	Certifications
United States (RIAA)	500,000[6]	Gold

References

1. I 2 at AllMusic
2. "Michael W. Smith, "I 2 Eye" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. December 19, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
3. Taff, Tori; Farris, Christa (2006). 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music: The Stories Behind the Music. ISBN 1591452104.
4. "i 2 (EYE)". AllMusic. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
5. "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
6. "American album certifications – Michael W. Smith – I 2 Eye". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 24, 2023.