Beat the System

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Beat the System
Studio album by Petra
Released	1984
Genre	Christian rock
Length	41:15
Label	StarSong Records A&M Records
Producer	Jonathan David Brown
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Petra chronology
Not of this World (1983) Beat The System (1984) 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.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Track Information 3 Awards 4 Personnel 4.1 Petra 5 Production 6 Recording 7 Notes

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Bob Hartman, except where noted.

1. "Beat the System" – 4:22
2. "Computer Brains" – 4:01
3. "Clean" – 3:01
4. "It Is Finished" – 3:52
5. "Voice in the Wind" – 4:30
6. "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" (Words & Music by Russ Ballard) – 3:54
7. "Witch Hunt" – 4:34
8. "Hollow Eyes" – 4:03
9. "Speak to the Sky" – 4:16
10. "Adonai" – 4:42

[edit] 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^[1].

[edit] Awards

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

[edit] Personnel

[edit] 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

[edit] Production

• Jonathan David Brown - Producer

[edit] 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

[edit] Notes

v • d • e Petra Bob Hartman · John Schlitt · Greg Bailey · Paul Simmons Greg Hough · Rob Frazier · Greg X. Volz · Bill Glover · Louie Weaver · David Lichens · Pete Orta · Kevin Brandow · John DeGroff · Mark Kelly · Ronny Cates · Lonnie Chapin · John Slick · John Lawry · Jim Cooper · Trent Thomason · Bryce Bell Albums Petra · Come and Join Us · Washes Whiter Than · Never Say Die · More Power to Ya · Not of this World · Beat the System · Captured in Time and Space · Back to the Street · This Means War! · On Fire! · Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out · Beyond Belief · Unseen Power · Wake-Up Call · No Doubt · Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus · God Fixation · Double Take · Revival · Jekyll and Hyde · Petra Farewell Spanish albums Petra en Alabanza · Jekyll & Hyde en Español Compilations Petrafied: The Best of Petra · The Early Years · The Ultimate Collection Videos Captured In Time and Space · On Fire! Video Event · Beyond Belief · Backstage Pass · Wake-Up Call Video Collection · Revival · Farewell · Captured In Time & Space DVD Related articles Discography · Project Damage Control · Vertical Expressions