Description
The Wind & the Wave is the fifth album by the American singer and songwriter Billy Sprague, released on Reunion Records in 1993, distributed by Benson Music Group. The album was produced by Chris Harris, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and Billy Sprague. “A Way Back” is a duet featuring Christine Dente of Out of the Grey.
In early 1992 Billy Sprague released ‘Torn Between Two Worlds‘, a musical catharsis of the anguish that followed the tragic death of his fiancee. With ‘The Wind and the Wave’, Sprague finishes 1993 by saying, “I’m doing better now, so let’s get on with making a difference in this crazy world.”
This theme of hope and restoration is mixed throughout the record with an examination of the state of our fallen planet as in «Whatever Happened to Love». This horn-laden romp answers itself by declaring that “Love is alive in the name Immanuel.” In «The Sacred Journey», he says, “In the darkest doubt and sorrow dare to pray the wildest hope/ And little by little you come alive.” On «A Way Back» he is joined by Christine Dente to once again offer hope and encouragement. Sprague’s view of this world is seen most clearly in «When Nothing’s Sacred», where he presents a picture of the effect of compromising in our lives: “People need a living God but seem content with idols/ People need a destiny but settle for careers/ People need each other but rely on self-reliance/ People need a Christmas but settle for a holiday.” The chorus offers this album’s most sobering realization that we live “…in a time when nothing’s sacred and souls settle for less.”
If God’s word carried Billy Sprague’s spirit through the tough times, then the songs of John Lennon and Paul McCartney have been his musical refuge. «Whatever Happened to Love», «The Sacred Journey», «I Saw a Blind Man», «When Nothing’s Sacred» and «Mona Lisa Said» all serve up more than enough Beatlemania to place Sprague solidly behind Phil Keaggy as heir to the McCartney throne.
It’s hard to tell if Billy Sprague set out to make another personal record but couldn’t help injecting social commentary or if it was the other way around. In the hands of a less accomplished songwriter, these mixed messages could be confusing, but Sprague ably ties the need for personal restoration to a heart for the lost and offers hope for both. [Derek Wesley Selby, CCM, February 1994]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-wind-the-wave/319373692)
CD tracklist:
01. Press On
02. Whatever Happened To Love
03. A Way Back
04. Mona Lisa Said
05. The Blessing (Of The Fleet)
06. The Sacred Journey
07. When Nothing’s Sacred
08. I Saw A Blind Man
09. Kumquat May
10. Mona Lisa’s Encore
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Benson.
“Press On” (MUSIC VIDEO)
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