Go West Young Man (Michael W. Smith album)

Michael W. Smith most notably performed "Place in This World", which peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on Cash Box[3] (#5 AC), and "For You" on various shows, for example The Arsenio Hall Show, to promote the album. The record was a mainstream crossover success for Smith and became a platinum album. Videos were produced for both singles released and received much radio airplay. Several of the songs from this album made it into his greatest hits album, The First Decade (1983-1993).

• Michael W. Smith – lead vocals, keyboards, keyboard programming, backing vocals (2), acoustic piano (9)
• Mike Lawler – additional keyboards (1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10), Hammond B3 organ (5), programming (6, 10), synth bass (6, 10), drums (6, 10), percussion (6, 10), synth solo (7), keyboard programming
• Bryan Lenox – additional keyboards (1, 7), percussion (2, 3, 4, 6–10), drums (3, 4, 6, 7, 9), keyboard programming
• Trace Scarborough – keyboard programming
• Tommy Sims – bass guitar (1, 2, 5, 8), synth bass (4), stick bass (9), keyboard programming
• Matt Pierson – synth bass (3), fretless bass (7)
• Dann Huff – guitar (1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9)
• Jerry McPherson – guitar (4, 5, 7, 9)
• Will Owsley – guitar (4), guitar solo (4)
• Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 10), guitar (10)
• Paul Leim – drums (1, 2, 5, 8), percussion (2)
• Terry McMillan – percussion (1–9)
• Mark Douthit – saxophone (1, 3, 4)
• Sam Levine – saxophone (2, 6)
• Barry Green – trombone (1–4), trombone solo (4)
• Chris McDonald – horn arrangements (1–4, 6), trombone (6)
• Mike Haynes – trumpet (1, 3, 4, 6)
• George Tidwell – trumpet (1)
• The Nashville String Machine – strings (3, 8, 9)
• Ronn Huff – string arrangements and conductor (3, 8, 9)
• Carl Gorodetzsky – concertmaster and contractor (3, 8, 9)
• Chris Eaton – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 7)
• Wayne Kirkpatrick – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 7, 10)
• Jimmy Marks – backing vocals (2)
• Chris Harris – backing vocals (4, 6, 7, 10)
• Vince Ebo – backing vocals (5)
• Vicki Hampton – backing vocals (5, 6)
• The American Boychoir – choir (9); Nathan Wadley – soloist
  • Africa Children's Choir (6); arranged by Michael W. Smith and Ronn Huff; Choir director – Gertrude Kafeero; Tour leader – Darla Peters

Production

• Producer – Michael W. Smith
• Co-producer – Bryan Lenox
• Vocal producer – Wayne Kirkpatrick
• Executive producers – Michael Blanton and Terry Hemmings
• Engineers – Bill Deaton, Pasquale Delvillagio, Pat Hutchinson, Gregg Jampol, Patrick Kelly, Brent King, Bryan Lenox, Don Martin, Dave Murphy, Rick Rowe, Bret Teegarden, and Bill Whittington.
• Mixing – Humberto Gatica, assisted by David Parker and Alejandro Rodriguez.
• Recorded at BMG Studio (New York, NY); Sound-trek Studio (Kansas City, MO); Deer Valley Studio (Franklin, TN); Treasure Isle, Omni Sound, The Benson Studio, Digital Recorders, and 16th Avenue Sound (Nashville, TN).
• Mixed at 16th Avenue Sound (Nashville, TN).
• Editing – Nick Palladino at Scene Three, Inc. (Nashville, TN).
• Mastering – Stephen Marcussen at Precision Disc Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
• Art direction – Buddy Jackson and Deb Rhodes
• Design – Beth Middleworth for Jackson Design
• Photography – Mark Tucker
• Styling – Mary Jane Starke
• A&R – Don Donahue and Richard Headen
• MWS personal assistant – Elizabeth Leighton Jones