Description
Back to the Street is the eighth studio album by the American rock band Petra, released on StarSong Records in August 1986, manufactured and distributed by both Word and A&M Records. The album was recorded and mixed by Dino Elefante, John Elefante, and Mike Mierau at Pakaderm Studio in Long Beach, California; with the Elefante brothers producing. The album garnered a nomination for a GRAMMY Award for Best Gospel Performance.
Petra’s lead singer Greg X. Volz had recently left the band to pursue a solo career, and Back to the Street was the first Petra effort to feature the band’s new lead singer, John Schlitt. (Schlitt, formerly of the mainstream rock act Head East, sang his first Petra show on February 3, 1986, beginning a career that would span nearly two decades fronting Petra.) It was as well the first of numerous Petra albums produced by brothers John and Dino Elefante.
‘Back to the Street’, the eighth studio album from Christian music’s favorite rock band, finds Petra flexing some musical muscle. The title song which opens the record tips its hat to ‘Beat the System‘ with a synth-drenched intro, but soon the arrangement opens to a full AOR radio format a la Journey and Kansas. Bigger and bolder, Petra’s sound now relies heavily on Bob Hartman’s guitar rhythms; the punchy “live” feel of the rhythm section, Mark Kelly and Louie Weaver; and the voice of newcomer John Schlitt, John Lawry’s keyboard touches, stripped back from their central role on ‘Beat the System’, add subtly to the overall sound,
While the overall effect here is one of a new Petra, many of the familiar features remain. Schlitt’s voice adds a darker, gutsy quality to Hartman’s melodies on the verses, but the chorus of background voices outlines the comfortable feel of Hartman’s hooks. This is the Petra we always expected to hear, hoped to hear, and now do hear. With the aid of producers John and Dino Elefante, ‘Back to the Street’ is the best culmination and expression of Petra’s talents to date. From start to finish, this outing presents Petra as a rock band, something previous efforts only suggested. With ‘Back to the Street’ Petra rocks, and they do it pretty well.
Lyrically, Hartman’s songs tend to deal with the same kinds of issues he’s always written about. «You Are I Am», «King’s Ransom», «Thankful Heart» and «Whole World» have the now familiar power pop praise focus. «Another Crossroad», «Fool’s Gold», and «Altar Ego» encourage individual faithfulness while «Run for Cover» suggests the need for pastors for many of Petra’s younger listeners.
«Back to the Street» is perhaps prime in Petra’s refocused vision, directing Petra listeners to be serious in taking the gospel to the highways and byways. Complete with Scripture references and direct, often biblical language, the tunes again remind one of sermons aimed to be heard again and again and even sung along with. To many, this very quality is what “Christian” songs should be; others, including this reviewer, are moved by more relational and emotive forms of expression. ‘Back to the Street’ breaks no new ground here.
Where Petra is new is in the music. Louie Weaver’s drums are punchy and ever-present, Hartman stretches out on the guitar in ways reminiscent of Kansas, John Schlitt adds a certain grit and warmth, and the band’s feel is big and full. Interestingly, there are no soft acoustic tracks to gain the album Christian radio airplay, a fact which seems to say it’s time for Petra to be a rock band and time for the church to take rock bands more seriously. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, October 1986]
Girder Music Promo, 2022
Very few bands have had more than one lead singer in which the later singers saw as much, if not more, success than the previous. Those exceptions would be Sammy Hagar of Van Halen, Brian Johnson of AC/DC, Dio with Black Sabbath and John Schlitt with Petra. Back To the Street, John’s first album with the band and their 8th overall album, gave PETRA new life and even more success than they could have dreamed of garnering a Grammy Nomination for best Gospel Group (1987) and a long line of Dove Awards and Grammy Awards to come. When you start this strong you are either doomed for failure or as in John’s situation, you have something to prove. The band was stronger and tighter thanks to the work of producers John and Dino Elefante, who demanded excellence if they were going to stamp their name on it. Petra fans were delighted. Melodic Rock with guitar hooks, catchy lyrics, soaring vocals, AOR ear-candy like no other. The new vocalist fit like a hand in a glove. It was strong musically, and powerful lyrically. Everything about this album just worked.
Everything that can be shakin’ will be shakin’ within, better have your house in order when the shakin’ begins. (From the song «SHAKIN THE HOUSE»)
Remastered from original sources with an 8-page booklet with lyrics in a jewel case. It also comes with an LTD collector’s card inside.
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/back-to-the-street/723892728)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Back To The Street” – 4:14
A2. “You Are I Am” – 3:08
A3. “Shakin’ The House” – 4:28
A4. “King’s Ransom” – 4:18
A5. “Whole World” – 4:50
Side Two
B1. “Another Crossroad” – 3:50
B2. “Run For Cover” – 3:15
B3. “Fool’s Gold” – 4:48
B4. “Altar Ego” – 4:43
B5. “Thankful Heart” – 3:17
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette (“digitally mastered on high performance Chrome tape”), 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by StarSong Records. Remastered by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound and re-issued on both 12-inch vinyl LP (pressed on Clear/Burgundy Splatter Vinyl) and CD in 2022 by Girder Music (through Limited Run Vinyl/Limited Run Music).
Back to the Street, Remastered and pressed on Clear/Burgundy Splatter Vinyl, Girder Music 2022
A full-page advertisement for Petra’s album Back to the Street was featured in the September 1986 issue of CCM Magazine.
The October 1986 issue of CCM Magazine featured a cover story on Petra.
“Whole World” (MUSIC VIDEO)
CREDITS. Produced by Dino and John Elefante for Firstborne Productions, Inc. Recorded and mixed at Pakaderm Studio, Long Beach, CA. Engineered by Dino Elefante, John Elefante and Mike Mierau. Arrangements by John and Dino Elefante and Bob Hartman.
Musicians: John Schlitt (Lead Vocals), John Lawry (Keyboards, Fairlight Programming), Bob Hartman (Guitars), Mark Kelly (Bass), Louie Weaver (Drums). Background Vocals: Mark Kelly, John Schlitt, John Lawry, John Elefante. Guest Musician: John Elefante (Additional Keyboards).
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