La Vie (1988)
- Joel Caballero
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 8
La Vie (French for "the life") is the third studio album by Christian singer - songwriter Billy Sprague, released on April 26, 1988 by Reunion Records. The album is produced by CCM musician Gary Chapman.
La Vie has a sound of acoustic pop and, at times, country and heartland rock, courtesy of Chapman and it will be more authentic for Sprague's future releases. Gone is the glossy pop/rock productions of his first two albums. The title track quotes a French proverb:
"o la vie est dure, mais Dieu est bon," which translates
"life is hard but God is good"
The song is simple and has a country feel to it. The track "What Goes Around Comes Around" features a vocal choir that includes its writer Wayne Kirkpatrick, producer Chapman, Sprague and new Reunion Records artist Kim Hill among others. Three of the members of the gospel vocal sextet Take 6 also provides backing vocals on the album. Sprague also does a cover of "A Little Broken Bread," originally recorded by its writer Bill Batstone to close the album. Sprague dedicated La Vie to his father William Sprague and his mother (and Billy Sprague's grandmother) Myrtle, especially in the opening track "I Gotta Hand It To You."
La Vie was originally available on vinyl (in the U.K.), cassette tape and CD and is currently out of print. It is available for sale digitally by way of Sprague's website www.billysprague.com. You can also listen to the album on YouTube posted below this article.
Track listing
1. I Gotta Hand It To You (Billy Sprague, Jim Weber) -4:28
2. What Goes Around Comes Around (Wayne Kirkpatrick) -4:34
3. La Vie (Billy Sprague) -3:56
4. I Call It Love (Billy Sprague, Keith Brown) -3:53
5. Someone is There (Billy Sprague) -4:42
6. Heart Of the Infidel (Wayne Kirkpatrick, Richard Souther, Eric Persing) -3:52
7. You Can't Walk the Wire (Ashley Cleveland, Phil Maderia) -5:05
8. The Ultimatum (Billy Sprague) -4:18
9. If I Know Love (Billy Sprague) -3:23
10. A Little Broken Bread (Bill Batstone) -4:36
Radio singles
1988 "I Call It Love" -#2 Christian AC
1988 "What Goes Around Comes Around" -#6 Christian CHR
1988 "If I Know Love" -#19 Christian AC
1989 "La Vie" -#19 Christian AC
Previous release: Serious Fun (1986)
Next release: I Wish (1989) (compilation album)
Listen to the album La Vie here:
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