The Live Set (1987)

Joel Caballero
Feb 3, 2023
2 min read

The Live Set is a 1987 live album by Christian singer - songwriter Michael W. Smith, released by Reunion Records.

This live album features songs from 1983's Michael W. Smith Project and 1986's The Big Picture plus three new songs: "Nothin' But the Blood" is a modern reworking of Robert Lowry's classic hymn "Nothing But the Blood," "I Know" is a song recorded from his Michael W. Smith - In Concert video in 1985 and was originally released as a non-album radio single in 1986 and makes its first appearance on this album and "Emily" would later receive a studio release on Smith's 1990 album Go West Young Man. The live album was recorded during The Big Picture Tour at The Civic Theatre in Des Moines, Iowa and the track "I Know" at The Civic Center Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.

The band included Wayne Kirkpatrick, Chris Rodriguez, David Huff, Mark Heimmermann and Christopher Harris. A video version of the concert called The Big Picture Tour was also available commercially with additional songs not on The Live Set album. It won a Dove Award for Long Form Video of the Year in 1988.

The album peaked at number four on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart.

The Live Set is the only live release from Smith's music catalog that is not available on streaming platforms. A YouTube link to listen to the live album is posted below this article.

Track listing on CD

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

1. Nothin' But the Blood (Robert Lowry; arranged by Michael W. Smith and

Christopher Harris) -3:42

2. Lamu (Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick) -8:26

3. You're Alright (Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Chris Rodriguez) -4:55

4. Could He Be the Messiah (Michael W. Smith, Deborah D. Smith) -5:17

5. Rocketown -6:18

6. Emily -3:51

7. I Know -4:29

8. Friends (Michael W. Smith, Deborah D. Smith) -4:05

9. Old Enough to Know -6:01