Behind the clean-cut image all was not squeaky clean in the private life of CCM superstar MICHAEL W SMITH. But now older and wiser he has returned to record possibly his most compelling album. Jan Willem Vink reports.

Although it failed to achieve mainstream attention 'The Big Picture' was an important release because of its encouraging tone. All songs were based on letters Michael had received and dealt with issues like suicide, abstinence and self esteem. Encouragement is still a major part of what Michael W Smith's music is all about. Michael also wrote a book, Old Enough To Know, based on the songs on 'The Big Picture', dealing with several issues young people have to go through and speaking openly about his own past.

'The Big Picture' was followed by 'I 2 (Eye)', a more acoustic based album, which was quite introspective in nature. "On The Other Side" told the story of Michael's own journey of faith, while "I Hear Leesha" was written after the death of a friend's daughter. The instrumental "Ashton" was based on Frank Peretti's novel This Present Darkness, which inspired Michael in a big way. "The Throne" was a classic worship song.

'I 2 (Eye)' was followed by 'Christmas', an album showing Michael's love for classical music and his accomplishments as a pianist. Michael was backed by an orchestra and two choirs, on an album that remains one of the better Christmas albums released in CCM to date.

Michael's following album, 'Go West Young Man', benefited from a new wave of interest from the secular music business. Once again Amy Grant spearheaded this interest, with several singles from her 'Heart In Motion' album ending high in the Billboard charts. This cleared the way for Michael W Smith and Kathy Troccoli, who in turn got singles in the Billboard top 20. Michael's song "Place In This World" ended up at a top 5 position on the Billboard charts and No 1 positions in places such as Indonesia and Taiwan. Michael quotes hearing the song for the first time on mainstream radio as a highlight in his career. "Getting to do records at all is always a high point, but one moment I'll always remember is driving down the freeway and hearing 'Place In This World' on mainstream radio for the first time. It was so exciting, knowing that a song that was deeply spiritual was being heard by so many. It was overwhelming."

The romantic video caused lots of turmoil among die-hard fans and a hard talk with his wife. Comments Michael: "We thought we'd do a love story, but I just didn't think there would be that much interaction. But the director and producer knew where I stand and they knew they could only push me so far. But it did turn out like a very natural, let's have fun kinda thing... The big mistake I made is I didn't let my wife know about it. I know this sounds crazy, but I should have just called my wife and said, 'I want you to know what's happening on this video.'

"It was a very emotional place, but it was probably the best thing that ever happened to our marriage because it drew us close together. There were places where we both weren't honest with each other. I was just trying to make sure, 'are my motives pure or not', but more than anything it was an honesty thing, and little things can turn into big things. We just went away to Colorado for a while and gosh, we just uncovered all this garbage, got clean of it and all of a sudden it's like our marriage kind of started all over again."

Michael's next album once again brought his music to a new level. 'Change Your World', co-produced by Mark Heimermann, had a very dynamic and youthful pop sound, with slight dance influences. Though both 'Change Your World' and 'Go West Young Man' sold around a million copies each, the album failed to repeat the momentum of the "Place In This World" chart success. The album was followed by a tremendously successful tour which drew half a million people. The video 'Change Your World Live' is a must-have for all fans and probably the best live video ever produced by a Christian artist.

Now, three years later, 'I'll Lead You Home' is the next step for Michael W Smith. It's an album that does not draw on the success of "Change Your World" and shows a more personal and mature side of Michael W Smith. As well as some funky-programmed songs there are also several songs with acoustic instrumentation that showcases Michael's ability to write memorable melodies. 'I'll Lead You Home' is a musical nod to the enormous popularity of the 1994's The Acoustic Tour' when Michael and friends took to the road with 'unplugged' versions of his hits.

Comments Michael in Release magazine: "For the 'Change Your World Tour' we had five semi trucks and 30 or 40 people on the road - a great show, very entertaining. Then I'd get letters or talk to kids and they'd say, 'My favourite part was when you sat down and played the piano'." About 'I'll Lead You Home', Michael comments, "I failed so many times that I've come to a point of not being afraid about it. I think it's the purest and most honest thing I've done. Maybe this was my calling for this record. You tend to write better songs when you just embrace life and experience some tough times. I think I tapped a well inside of me that I didn't even know was there."

Especially the title track, which was written after a nervous breakdown. "I think we all have those days when we feel like we're worthless. It had been accumulating for about a week or two," Michael continues, reflecting on a day in January. "I got up at a quarter to six in the morning and drove to the studio feeling empty, really empty. I didn't go there to write. I just went there to cry out, 'Help! Help! I just can't do it. I'm out of steam. I don't have anything else to give.'

"It was an extremely emotional time of confession and pouring my heart out to God and then it was like I heard this voice saying, 'You're not supposed to do it. I'm going to lead you home. I know you're lost. I know you're alone. I'm going to finish the work. I'm going to take care of it.'" That was the foundation for the title track of 'I'll Lead You Home'.

Though Michael does not regret his attempts to crossover, there was no attempt at writing another pop record. Michael has even set "The Lord's Prayer" to new music and recorded a smoking black gospel version of "Crown Him With Many Crowns". "I think I can honestly say that if I never have another hit, I'm gonna be okay. I think deep down in my heart, I just wanted the world to hear the music because I've got something to say."