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From the Vault...
12/17/2017
#1599 |
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info
Petra
"Never Say Die/Washes Whiter Than"
© Star Song
Year of Release: 1998
Rating:
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track listing
I'm Thankful
Why Should
The Father Bother
Morning Star
Magic Mirror
Mary's Song
Yahweh Love
Taste And See
Deep Love
The Coloring Song
Chameleon
Angel Of Light
Killing My Old Man
WIthout Him
We Can Do Nothing
Never Say Die
I Can Be Friends With You
For Annie
Father Of Lights
Praise Ye The Lord
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Petra
"Never Say Die/Washes Whiter Than"
Christian band Petra marks their debut here on WSVNRadio, with a two-fer CD disc; their third and fourth albums of their career: Washes Whiter
Than (1979), and Never Say Die (1981). Note: For this two-fer CD, the order of albums are switched on the back cover. The first 8
tracks are from Washes Whiter Than, and the remaining 10 tracks were from Never Say Die. Another note: -- for this two-fer CD,
two songs were OMITTED from the original Washes Whiter Than album -- "(Couldn't Find Love) Without You" and "Magic Words."
(These songs I haven't seen released on any other CD, yet they both can be found on YouTube.)
Petra is one those bands that has a very extensive history. Starting out as a Southern Rock band in the 1970s, beginning in 1972. As most Southern
bands were popular in the 1970s, such as the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, etc. Petra was formed as yet another band
in the style of Southern Rock. However, they would branch into other styles of their music, such sounding as other popular 1970s bands as Foreigner,
Styx, and Journey. Washes Whiter Than would not be considered a "Southern Rock album." It does its "Pop" aura, and having a sound that equally matches
that of "Christian Pop" at its time. In comparing to the likes of Foreigner, Styx and Journey, they would be more compared to Styx. On both these albums,
the lead vocals were provided by Greg X. Volz.
Washes Whiter Than -- (3rd Petra album; 1979):
"I'm Thankful" and "Why Should The Father Bother" are truly good songs to
start out the album. These first songs are "Christian Pop" of the time, and as I listen, a little country sounding ("I'm Thankful"), as in Alabama,
and the Alan Parsons Project, as in their hit "Games People Play" on "Why Should The Father Bother." And also on this song, there are great
harmonies. As more tracks that follow, the album gets quite interesting. "Morning Star" sounds more like the early years of Styx. "Magic
Mirror" also has a slight vocal resemblance to Dennis DeYoung of Styx, and is another good Christian Pop sounding tune, and again, sounding like the
early Styx.
"Mary's Song" has Petra in the category of "Soft Rock", as this song is truly a beautiful sounding track. The soft style is also on "Yahweh
Love.". Greg X. Volz's vocals has a slight resemblance to that of Canadian band Triumph, Rik Emmett. Then it becomes incredibly funky on the next
track, "Taste And See." "Deep Love" is another "soft rock" tune, as it ends the album, and sounds off-Country, as if the Country act Alabama could
record this song.
Never Say Die -- (4th album; 1981) "The Coloring Song" begins this album, and is way different, after listening to tracks from their
previous album, Washes Whiter Than. Pop sounding, yes, but its really hard to explain, maybe Celtic? A good song, yet the previous album tracks
are better. "Chameleon" is another interesting tune, as it has a more Progressive Rock style, as in the band Kansas, and Styx. The ending of the
song has its Progressive Rock organ.
"Angel Of Light" definitely has a harder rock style, maybe even Progressive style. The harmonies are well-done here as well, and has a
resemblance of their harmonies to Queen. "Killing My Old Man" is another good harder Rock track, and was controversial with its song title, as the
band would representing Christian music, and its faith. Definitely sounding like most harder Rock bands of the 1970s.
"Without Him We Can Do Nothing" is another harder edge Rock track, sounding like Boston ("Don't Look Back". The title track not only is
a Rock tune, but it has a certain soulfulness to it. Boston comes to mind ("Let Me Take You Home Tonight" on "I Can Be Friends With You."
"For Annie" could easily be one of those many heavy-metal ballads, as in Winger's "Heaven." It's another beautiful song. "Father Of
Lights" has a more upbeat Pop feel, and also "Deep Love," being both harder rock songs.
Overall, both albums Washes Whiter Than and Never Say Die are very well recorded albums by Petra. There's something for everyone on
Washes Whiter Than: It has its Pop, Rock, Funk, Progressive. Never Say Die progressed more into harder rock. And, overall, there are
great comparisons of Petra, to the likes of Styx, Boston, Kansas, Triumph, Queen, and even April Wine.
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