This self-titled CD was released in 1974. Many of the songs have a country twang to them. I like this album mostly for the guitar work. Most of the songs feature extended guitar riffs and solos, which make it cool to listen to. Because Hartman was a relatively new Christian at the time, his lyrics are very simple; there's not a lot to them.

Favorite Songs: Wake Up, Storm Comin', Walking in the Light

Petra put out Come and Join Us in 1977. Bob Hartman has said that this CD was a compromise, because they had to cut "Killing My Old Man" from the CD, and the record company wouldn't let them title the CD "God Gave Rock and Roll To You." The sound on this album is improved from their first one, and you can begin to see growth in the lyric-writing.

Favorite Songs: Come and Join Us, Without You I Would Surely Die

Washes Whiter Than is a great album! The sound is softer than the previous two albums, but the songs are of higher quality. With Greg X. Volz leading many of the songs, they are so much easier to listen to. The sound is still very 70s, but it is very appealing to the ear. There are still two songs on this album I haven't listened to, because they aren't available on the CD. StarSong issued both Never Say Die and Washes Whiter Than together on one CD, and the songs "(Couldn't Find Love) Without You" and "Magic Words" were cut. If you have Washes Whiter Than on tape, and it's still in good shape, I'd be interested in buying it from you! Email me if you'd like to help me out!

Favorite Songs: Yahweh Love, I'm Thankful, Morningstar, Taste and See

Petra brought back the rock for Never Say Die. It's a good mixture of harder and softer songs. With this album, Petra started to get heavy airplay on songs like "The Coloring Song." This is one of my favorite older Petra albums.

Favorite Songs: Angel of Light, Chameleon, Praise Ye the Lord

To me, More Power To Ya is probably one of the high points as far as lyrics go. Songs like "More Power To Ya," "Judas' Kiss," "Rose-Colored Stained Glass Windows," and "Road to Zion" really speak to me. This album has a good classic rock sound, although I think the CD has more softer songs than rock songs.

Favorite Songs: Rose-Colored Stained Glass Windows, Road to Zion, Judas' Kiss, Disciple

Besides having a really cool title, this CD has a really good sound. The synthesizer begins to play a more prominent role in this CD, going with more artificial sounds than piano or organ sounds. The Visions/Doxology bookends are very cool instrumental pieces, and I love the way they mesh with the opening "Not of this World" and closing "Godpleaser."

Favorite Songs: Not of this World, Bema Seat, Not by Sight

80's techno rock took Petra by storm on Beat the System. New keyboardist John Lawry provided lots of cool new synthesizer work for the songs here. I really love the sound of this album, although I do wish the guitar was a little bit more prominent. This is a fun album to listen to. I think Petra's experimentation with this new sound really freed them up creatively, and that is why it works so well.

Favorite Songs: Clean, It Is Finished, God Gave Rock and Roll to You, Adonai

Petra's only live-recorded album was also the last album to feature Greg X. Volz as the lead singer. Petra recorded this while on the "Beat the System" tour, so many of the songs are from that album. Also included are some older classics as well as rock, praise, and slow medleys. My favorite parts are the solos by Bob Hartman on guitar, Louie Weaver on drums, and John Lawry on keyboards. This is a very cool CD (although the tape version is longer than the CD).

Favorite Songs: Bob's Solo, Louie's Solo, John's Solo

I have never really been sure how do describe the sound of this album. The guitar always sounds really funky to me throughout the album, and the whole sound of it seems kind of murky. The loss of Greg X. Volz and the addition of John Schlitt certainly led to some changes, and this was a transition album. I'm not too crazy about this one, but it does have some pretty good songs on it.

Favorite Songs: Shakin' the House, Alter Ego, You Are I Am, Thankful Heart

The first of the exclamation-point titles, Petra is finally back making rock and roll like it was meant to be made! The title of the album is the theme of the album, and I love the lyrics of the songs. They are really encouraging and powerful. The drums of "This Means War!" echo in my head when I think about the album.

Favorite Songs: This Means War!, Get On Your Knees and Fight Like a Man, You Are My Rock, Kenaniah

This is the ultimate high point for Petra's rock sound as far as I am concerned. It's hard rock at it's finest: blazing guitars and drums, incredible rythym, in-your-face lyrics that continue the spiritual warfare theme. The opening three songs of this album are the greatest series of songs on any Petra CD. "Hit You Where You Live" is my all-time favorite Petra rock song.

Favorite Songs: All Fired Up, Hit You Where You Live, Mine Field, Defector, Counsel of the Holy, Stand in the Gap

I have listened to this CD but only a few times, but I was surprised by it when I did. It had a shockingly good rock sound on many of the songs. I haven't listened to it enough to really have any favorites, though.

Beyond Belief is Petra's best-selling album, and is considered by most fans to be the pinnacle of their discography. It tones the hard rock sound down just a notch, but it has a great set of songs.

Favorite Songs: Creed, Beyond Belief, Love, Prayer, I Am On the Rock

The band went out of its way to try and change its sound for Unseen Power, after doing three CDs in a row with a very similar style. The guitar sounds different here, and there is more synthesizer, I think. A lot of it works, but this album doesn't stand out to me. This CD also begins Petra's steady progression of toning down their sound, moving from a mixture of mostly hard rock songs.

Favorite Songs: Dance, Destiny, Ready Willing and Able

This is a good rock album. Petra continued changing their sound on this one, but I like it. They won a Grammy for this CD, and a lot of fans like it. The only problem to me is that it continues the softening of their music, with the ratio of "light" songs to "hard" songs moving toward "light."

Favorite Songs: Sleeping Giant, Midnight Oil, Underneath the Blood, Good News

Petra makes a big change on this album, as longtime keyboardist John Lawry is replaced and founder/songwriter/guitarist Bob Hartman stops touring. The addition of Jim Cooper and David Lichens infuses youth, and Petra tries to capture a more alternative sound, like what was popular at the time. I don't think it really worked that well, and there aren't too many stand-out songs on this CD. One big problem for me was the drums, because they were mixed so quietly. Louder drums would have helped a lot.

Favorite Songs: Think Twice, Heart of a Hero, No Doubt, Right Place

This album was more change for Petra. It was the first praise album they'd done in nine years, and it also marked the departure of recent additions Cooper and Lichens, as well as bassist Ronnie Cates. Kevin Brandow, Pete Orta, and Lonnie Chapin came on board. This CD is really different, but I like the way it sounds. There are some cool arrangements, and I love the way all the praise songs turned out. Bob Hartman's three original songs are also very well-written, especially "Lovely Lord."

Favorite Songs: Lord I Lift Your Name On High, Be of Good Cheer, I Waited For the Lord, Lovely Lord

For the first time in a while, there were no personnel changes for an album. This is the new Petra, with yet another new sound. This time it works... There is a lot more modern sound to this CD, with the new bandmembers contributing heavily to the writing of the music. But there is still a hint of classic Petra on songs like "St. Augustine's Pears." I love the sound achieved here, but still I don't like the toning down of the music. I'd say this album is half and half light and harder, but I would prefer more hard music. With that complaint aside, this CD is a winner.

Favorite Songs: Hello Again, A Matter of Time, God Fixation, Falling Up, St. Augustine's Pears, The Invitation