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| Live the Life | 
 enlarge | Artist: Michael W. Smith
Label: Reunion
Category: Music
List Price: $10.98
Buy New: $6.01
You Save: $4.97 (45%)
New (3) Used (4) from $1.12
Avg. Customer Rating:  137 reviews
Sales Rank: 380313
Format: Live
Media: Audio Cassette
UPC: 083061026349
EAN: 0083061026349
ASIN: B000005Z0B
Release Date: April 28, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New In Wrapper, No Cut Outs or Drill Holes [Guaranteed Delivery!] [Audio Cassette]
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| Tracks:
| • | Missing Person - Michael W. Smith, Smith, Michael W. | | • | Love Me Good - Michael W. Smith, Smith, Michael [01] | | • | Live the Life - Michael W. Smith, Smith, Michael [01] | | • | Never Been Unloved - Michael W. Smith, Smith, Michael W. | | • | I Believe in You Now | | • | Don't Give Up | | • | Let Me Show You the Way - Michael W. Smith, Smith, Michael W. | | • | I Know Your Name | | • | Matter of Time | | • | In My Arms Again | | • | Song for Rich | | • | Hello, Goodbye |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential recording
This is the one, the album Michael W. Smith has always wanted to make. Put simply, Live the Life is a masterpiece. The Christian music star has finally meshed his impressive songwriting skills and limited but effective singing with a tasteful producer's ear. The anthemic "Missing Person" sets the tone: Smith is playing for keeps. Guitars, not keyboards, play a large role on this release, as evidenced by Smith's cowriting with the vastly underrated Brent Bourgeois on "Live the Life," "Don't Give Up," and "Matter of Time." On the rest, Smith shares songwriting duties with master musician Wayne Kirkpatrick. Each number carries a depth unparalleled and showcases Smith's maturation. Fast, slow, happy, sad, quiet, and loud: you have it all on Live the Life. --Michael Lyttle
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| Customer Reviews: Read 132 more reviews...
 The best Smitty CD of all time November 15, 2008
There never has been nor ever will be a more consistent artist in the CCM industry as Michael W. Smith. The man just puts out great albums and hit singles one after the other. I own most of his CD's (from 'The Big Picture' right up to 'A New Hallelujah') and consider myself a huge fan. However, if I had to pick my absolute favourite CD from his vast catalogue, this would have to be the one. None of his other albums equals the magic he captured on 'Live The Life'. The only one that might come close would be 'This Is Your Time' which was released soon after this one. Still, as good as 'This Is Your Time' was, it didn't hit the mark quite as well as 'Live The Life'. Undoubtedly, this masterpiece was the peak of Smitty's career. Only one throw-away track on the whole CD (the embarassingly goofy 'Love Me Good' which has no business being on this superb collection of songs) makes for a quality album that you will find yourself playing over and over again in the car. If I had to sum up the feel of the whole CD in two words, it would be introspective and melancholy (which is also revealed by the drained of color cover photo of Smitty looking grimly out a window into the rain). In fact, some of the songs are heart-wrenching. Witness the only track ever that can bring tears to my eyes, the unbearably sad 'Hello,Good-bye'. It will leave you a mess, believe me. If you were able to put the raw feelings one experiences when someone close to them dies to music, this would be it. Prepare to have your heart torn out as Smitty mourns the loss of young Noah: "I'll see you on the other side" indeed. Or the haunting 'In My Arms Again', the pensive, swelling love ballad which, unbelievably, was rejected from the Titanic soundtrack (thier loss!!!). Exploding with passion and emotion! Then there is 'Let Me Show You The Way', a song which drips empathy in its pleading lyrics. But my favourite all time song ever has to be the tragic 'Missing Person', a song about a young, on-fire Christian who has drifted away from his Christian faith and lost his zeal. It's just flat-out a perfect song musically and it never fails to make me want to crank it as loud as I can bear it! 'Live The Life' is Michael W. Smith's most important album and a must-have for fans and for those who just love good CCM music!
 An Underrated Album That Deserves More January 10, 2008
MWS, or Smitty, has been around forever, or pretty close. However, I wasn't a big fan of his earlier work, it just wasn't my cup of tea. It just seems too old fashioned. Unfortunately after this album he went back to that format. But, after a good 15 years MWS had to change his format, do something different, or at least for part of the album. The result? His best work in my opinion.
The first two songs are MWS's best songs of his career. They're different, they're good, one is peppy, one is somberish. (Is that even a word?) It continues through a good first half of the album, then I would say it get boring again, and becomes just like his old work. So did he just use that because he already had it, and he didn't have anything better? Anyways, they're not as good as the first part, and they feel out of place.
Overall, a refreshing album from MWS, and his best. And we can only hope he comes out with another one just like it.
Genious! January 10, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Since my years in Junior High, Michael W. Smith's music has been a large part of the soundtrack of my life. His music speaks to me in volumes. I played his music during the loss of my brother, and I play his music to my two toddler girls. He ranges from fast-paced, upbeat fun, to mellow, soothe-the-soul inspiration. No matter what, all his music is a devotion to Christ and a heartfelt dedication to our Lord. Michael W. Smith's music has been part of my "record" collection for over half my life... and will be through to the end. My thanks and genuine gratitude to Michael and his family, for walking with us in our faith to our Lord, and for sharing such inspirational talent during such worrisome years on this Earth. Thank You, Michael W. Smith... and Thank You, Christ Jesus.
Definitely one of Smitty's better efforts April 29, 2005
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
I love this album! The opener "Missing Person" is the best opening for a Michael W. Smith album I've ever heard (with the possible exception of "Sonata in D Major" from the album PROJECT, but that was less than a minute and completely instrumental, so I don't think that counts). But the best song on here is "Never Been Unloved", penned by Wayne Kirkpatrick. It's a gentle and simple ballad that reminds us (sometimes very explicitly) of just how much God loves us and how unlovely we are.
LIVE THE LIFE is not like THE BIG PICTURE or any of Smitty's other "edgier" sounding albums. With the exceptions of "Missing Person", "Love Me Good" (the only cheesy song on the album), and "Don't Give Up", it's all very mellow music. Sometimes, it gets so soft it almost loses the listener. But it's nice to have a break from the harsh RNR sounds every once in a while, and this CD provides an excellent alternative.
Thumbs Up! March 5, 2005
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This album really showcases Michael's lyrical, instrumental, and vocal abilities well, and it is very uplifting! "Missing Person" is a soul-searching song I think we all can identify with, and my favourite on this CD. I like all of the songs on here, but other highlights are "Never Been Unloved" (the sweet and simple truth we all need to hear!), "I Know Your Name" (another reminder of God's loving care), and "Song for Rich" (for all you Scottish/Irish pipes fans out there!) The only drawback on this CD is that God's name is only mentioned a couple of times, and two of the songs are love songs ("A Matter of Time" and "In My Arms Again"), though those tracks are beautiful. Also, "Let Me Show You the Way" is one of my absolute favourites, and it is about friendship, but can be taken in another way. If you don't mind "Christian love songs" and so forth, though, you are guaranteed to enjoy this album! Soothing and inspiring!
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