Beat the System

Infobox Album
Name = Beat the System
Type = Album
Artist = Petra


Released = 1984
Genre = Christian rock
Length = 41:15
Label = StarSong Records A&M Records
Producer = Jonathan David Brown
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:lj6xlfke5cqt link]
Last album = "Not of this World"
(1983)
This album = "Beat The System"
(1984)
Next album = "Captured In Time and Space"
(1985)

"Beat the System" is the seventh studio release of the Christian rock band, Petra. It was released in 1984.

It is the first album to feature John Lawry on keyboards. He is featured prominently in it, veering the sound of the album more in the techno-rock genre of music. It is also the last studio album to feature the vocals of Greg X. Volz.

Track listing

All songs written by Bob Hartman, except where noted.
# "Beat the System" – 4:22
# "Computer Brains" – 4:01
# "Clean" – 3:01
# "It Is Finished" – 3:52
# "Voice in the Wind" – 4:30
# "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" (Words & Music by Russ Ballard) – 3:54
# "Witch Hunt" – 4:34
# "Hollow Eyes" – 4:03
# "Speak to the Sky" – 4:16
# "Adonai" – 4:42

Track Information

The album features a cover of the famous song "God Gave Rock and Roll to You". It is the second time the band covers this song (the first one being in 1977, and featured on their second album).

While the album credits Argent's Russ Ballard as sole songwriter, this version, like Petra's 1977 version from "Come and Join Us", contains lyrics not heard in the original Argent version. The song was obviously rewritten, though no one has revealed who the Petra songwriter was. It would either have been guitarist and primary lyricist Bob Hartman, or lead vocalist Greg X. Volz, who also wrote songs for the band around the same time.

Guitarist Bob Hartman also says that some music recorded for the album was never released [cite web|author=Renaud, Josh|date=September 1998|url=http://www.petrarocksmyworld.com/pbobques.html|title=Bob Hartman Interview Q&A|accessdate=] .

Awards

* Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance in 1985.

Personnel

Petra

* Bob Hartman - Guitar, background vocals
* Greg X. Volz - Lead vocals
* John Lawry - Keyboards, background vocals
* Mark Kelly - Bass guitar, synthesizer bass, background vocals
* Louie Weaver - Drums, percussion

Production

* Jonathan David Brown - Producer

Recording

* Recorded and Mixed at Mama Jo's Recording Studio, North Hollywood, California by Jonathan David Brown
* Assisted by Todd Van Etten
* Additional recording at The Bennett House Recording Studios, Franklin, Tennessee
* Assisted by J.T. Cantwell and Don Cobb
* Mastering at Future Disc Systems by Steve Hall

Notes