From the Vault...

12/17/2017
#1599

info
Petra
"Never Say Die/Washes Whiter Than"


© Star Song

Year of Release: 1998
Rating:

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 related sites:
    Petra Website
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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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    Previous Review: #1598
    Deep Purple--Shades Of Deep Purple
    Next Review: #1600
    Sheena Easton--The World Of Sheena Easton: The Singles Collection