Personnel: Michael W. Smith (piano, vocals); Dan Huff (guitar); Gary Chapman (pedabro, background vocals); Jerry McPherson (mandolin); Terry
McMillan (harmonica, percussion); Jerry Dale McFadden (accordion); Mark Heimermann (keyboards, background vocals); Phil Madeira (Hammond B-3 organ); Tommy Simms (bass); Steve Brewster (drums); Mark Hammond (keyboard, bass & drum programming); Chris Harris (background vocals).
Engineers: Joe Baldridge, Todd Robbins, Ronnie Brookshire, jb.
Beginning with "Do You Dream of Me," a tender duet between Michael W. Smith and his longtime friend and associate, Amy Grant, THE FIRST DECADE successfully hits the high points of the Christian pop singer/songwriter/keyboardist's initial decade of recordings. While devoted CCM fans may be most pleased with Smith's blatantly faith-based tunes (see the soaring "Great Is the Lord"), his pop-leaning numbers are equally, if not more, impressive in their ability to convey spiritual concerns in a more general way, as best revealed on his poignant crossover hit, "Place in This World."