Description
More Power to Ya is the fifth album by the American rock band Petra, released on StarSong Records in September 1982, distributed by Word. Later also manufactured and distributed by A&M Records. The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by Jonathan David Brown at Indian Creek Recording in Uvalde, Texas; and at Rivendell Recorders in Pasadena, Texas. All songs written by Petra guitarist Bob Hartman except “Let Everything that Hath Breath” written by the band’s lead vocalist Greg X. Volz and the ballad “Road to Zion” written by Mike Hudson. (Volz and Hudson actually were former bandmates from E Band.)
More Power to Ya was included among the Best Albums of 1983 by CCM Magazine, voted number eight on a list featuring eleven albums released from the last quarter of 1982 through the last quarter of 1983. – Released during the last quarter of 1982, ‘More Power to Ya’ wasn’t available for voting in last year’s top selections. Stribling reviewed the album in November of ’82: “Petra proves you can worship God with an electric guitar. So many groups reserve the big axe for songs condemning Satan or sin. Petra gives sinners little slack and yet they can rock out in worship and praise as well.” According to CCM Magazine, More Power to Ya was the 9th best selling album of 1984 in the Christian music market.
Opening with the arena rock anthem «Stand Up», this release solidifies Petra’s emergence and domination of the Christian rock scene. This is straight-ahead rock, musically unpretentious and energetic. The title track is a pleasant ballad with chiming guitar and flute-like keyboard sounds underneath Greg X. Volz’s powerful vocal cords. The album’s dark-horse favorite is «Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows» – one of the few times the band ever gets cynical. The lead vocals are by bassist Mark Kelly on another dark-horse track, the closer, «Disciple». The only weak one to speak of is «All Over Me», which plods along like a camel in the desert. A remarkably fun album by a legend in the CCM genre. [Mark Allender, AMG]
Ever since ‘Washes Whiter Than‘, the “new” Petra has been working out the bugs of polished poprock sound. With their latest release, ‘More Power to Ya’ (Star Song SSR-0045), say goodbye to bugs.
Petra has crafted a style that could easily lock horns with anything on the industry charts and win. Musically, the album is a tribute to every killer hook of the past few years. You’ll pick out strains of Foreigner, 38 Special, Journey and even Crosby, Stills and Nash interwoven in this 44-plus-minute music package. Not too original, but then what best selling poprock group is?
Originality is found in the lyrics. And Petra proves you can worship God with an electric guitar. So many groups reserve the big axe for songs condemning Satan or sin. Petra gives sinners little slack («Judas Kiss», «Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows») and yet they can rock out in worship and praise as well («Disciple», «Let Everything That Hath Breath»).
And then there’s Greg Volz‘ lead vocals. Though he could bring listening excitement by singing the Wall Street Journal, instead he has brought eleven dynamite tunes to life. There’s something for everyone: and old “e” tune (Greg’s earlier band), an “old” Petra concert favorite, and plenty of premiere material. For «Coloring Song» fans, «Road to Zion» and the title track will gladden the heart.
A special word for MPTY’s album cover:It’s a continuation of Petra’s spiritual warfare theme of ‘Never Say Die‘, this time a la Star Wars. This has to be the best Christian cover art for 1982. Let kids put this kind of artwork on their lunchboxes instead of Ozzy Osbourne or Darth Vader.
‘More Power to Ya’ is a well-rounded product of exhortation, encouragement and worship. It’s a musical and artistic treat destined to point ya to the Power. [Tom Stribling, CCM, November 1982]
Girder Music Promo, 2021
More Power to Ya was Petra’s fifth album and the album that changed everything. Previously sounding similar to Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Eagles, with some laid back Southern Rock vibes, Petra had been working out the bugs to perfect a polished progressive-rock sound. Petra finally crafted a style that could easily lock horns with anything on the industry charts and stand toe to toe with bands like Styx, Boston, and Journey. Their new progressive(ish) rock sound began receiving attention from the mainstream music industry. In case you wondered if this was a significant change, BILLBOARD dubbed More Power to Ya a “Top Album Pick” and praised the band’s “surging music, tough lyrics and effective vocals.”
Hot on the heels of the success of Never Say Die, Petra’s return featured an even more polished production, intentional and disciplined composition, and a sweeping scale. More Power to Ya rivaled mainstream albums by groups like Journey, Boston, or Styx in style and sound, but brought an unabashed message of encouragement to Christian listeners. Christian radio had a field day with the title track, while rock fans thrilled to the stripped-down riff (and creepy backwards message) of «Judas’ Kiss». «Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows» dared to challenge complacency within the church, while «The Road To Zion» struck an epic, almost Zeppelinesque tone both lyrically and musically. More Power to Ya checked all the boxes, rose to even higher sales levels, and saw Petra become one of the biggest touring spectacles in Christian music.
ABOUT THE REISSUE: Although this album was released nine years ago as a 25th Anniversary Edition in 2012, it lacked the punch, low-end, and definition that remastering now affords, leaving fans wanting more. But now in the hands of Rob Colwell, it is truly a masterpiece and sounds new, fresh and somehow relevant, again.
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/more-power-to-ya-30th-anniversary-edition/715759135)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Stand Up” – 3:33
A2. “Second Wind” – 4:32
A3. “More Power to Ya” – 3:37
A4. “Judas’ Kiss” – 4:43
A5. “Rose Coloured Stained Glass Windows” – 4:16
Side Two
B1. “Run for the Prize” – 4:31
B2. “All Over Me” – 5:51
B3. “Let Everything that Hath Breath” – 4:21
B4. “Road to Zion” – 3:59
B5. “Disciple” – 3:29
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by StarSong Records. Later re-issued on CD. Digitally Remastered by StarSong in 2012 and rereleased as More Power To Ya (30th Anniversary Edition), featuring three live recordings as bonus tracks; “Stand Up” (1:58), “Judas’ Kiss” (2:47), and “More Power To Ya” (2:39). Remastered by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound and re-issued on both 12-inch vinyl LP (pressed on Radiant Blue Vinyl) and CD in 2021 by Girder Music (through Limited Run Vinyl/Limited Run Music).
More Power to Ya, Remastered and pressed on Radiant Blue Vinyl, Girder Music, February 2022
A full-page advertisement for Petra’s album More Power to Ya was featured in the November 1982 issue of CCM Magazine.
A full-page advertisement for Petra’s album More Power To Ya was featured in the October 1982 issue of CCM Magazine, while a review of the album appeared in the following issue.
The seven studio albums of Petra released during the 1980s were remastered and re-issued on both vinyl and CD by Girder Records in 2022 as a part of the label’s Legends of Rock Series.
CREDITS. Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Jonathan David Brown. Technical assistance by Brian Tankersley. Track Arrangements by Petra and Brown. Recorded at Indian Creek Recording, Uvalde, Texas, and Rivendell Recorders, Pasadena, Texas. Mixed at Rivendell Recorders. Mastered by Steve Hall at MCA/Whitney. Art Direction by T&T Designs. Illustration by Randy Rogers. Layout by Lisa Williams. Sleeve Photos by Bob Thigpen. Sleeve Illustration by Petragram.
Musicians: Petra – Greg X. Volz (Lead Vocals), John Slick (Keyboards, Synthesizer Programming and arrangements, Backing vocals), Bob Hartman (Guitars), Mark Kelly (Bass, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals on track B5), Louie Weaver (Drums).
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