No comments about New Song.

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No comments about Best of Resurrection Band.

No comments about Big Mouth.

5 comments about Come & Join Us.

1. After entering the scene in 1974 Petra returned three years later with a giant step away from their scattered, uneven and under produced self-titled debut. On Come And Join Us Petra gave us hints of things to come, including the debut of "guest vocalist" Greg X. Volz, who would go on to become the band's frontman for the next nine years. Most of the tracks on Come And Join Us lack the cohesiveness and punch of later efforts. The gem (unpolished as it is) on the project is "God Gave Rock And Roll To You."
   
   This album is a worthy addition for true Petra fans and CCM music collectors. The casual fan who is familiar with Petra's later projects will not find much that is recognizable here. A better starting point would be 1979's breakthrough Washes Whiter Than.
   
   -Mike



2. "Come and Join Us" may not be as polished as some of Petra's later work, but it's infinitely better than the stuff they cranked out after Greg X. Volz left the band (no offense to his replacement). "God Gave Rock 'n Roll to You" is, without a doubt, the best song on the album. It's a classic that ranks right up there with many of the legendary, secular songs of the 70's. As another reviewer mentioned, this album was particularly amazing when you considered the kind of "Christian Music" that had been put out up until that time. The late 70's was the the birth of true Christian rock (Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Keith Green and others were either exloding on to the scene or hitting their prime). This is a must-have for any die-hard Petra fan, and a great suggestion for anyone who loves classic rock.



3. Don't get me wrong . . . I prefer early Petra. I believe that they really began to hit their stride with "Never Say Die," and I never really dug what they produced after Greg X Volz left the band. (Nothing against John Schlitt.)

   HOWEVER . . . this album is an uneven release; the band clearly is still figuring out a lot of things- musically, lyrically, theologically. "Sally," a song about a girl who "used to be so nice" but now is "smokin' weed and drinkin' and probably fooled around" is embarrassing all around. The vocals on "Ask Him In" are overly smarmy (who gave THAT guy the mike?), and the "Star Wars laser sound solo" on one of the songs- I forget which- possibly "Holy Ghost Power," is disco-era excess at its best.

   Despite these criticisms, I have to say that "God Gave Rock and Roll To You," is a classic. The album-opening performance here is better than the "Beat the System" rendition, and far preferable to the cover version by KISS (used in the sequel to "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure") The guitar work is a premonition of the great inter-locking guitar parts we'd hear on later tunes like "Chameleon." If the album were more like the title track, I probably would still own it. Instead, I gave my copy away to a fan who was curious about their earlier stuff

   If you're a diehard Petra fan, go ahead and collect this one for interest and for the couple of truly great tracks. Otherwise, start with "Washes Whiter Than" and work your way forward.




4. Contrary to the last review of this CD, my personal opinion is that this album ushered in what was to be Petra's best years.

   The title track, with the dual guitar riffs, was groundbreaking for its time. Christian rock music didn't sound this good. To appreciate this album's sound, you need to have been a Christian teen at the time of its release in 1977 and know what pitiful music we had to listen to from the Christain side of the house. With this album, Petra gave us Christains something to be proud of. It had the message AND it had a sound and production value that you didn't feal ashamed to put it on for friends.

   This album is for the hardcore fan of today who wants to have all of Petra's music. And it is for oldtimers like me to be able to listen again to the music that helped to lay the foundation for which every single Christain rock band travels today.

   I challenge anyone to find another Christian rock album put out in 1977 that even comes close to this album. I have no doubt you won't.




5. I do not know what these other people are writing about. This is the worst Petra album ever. The only good song is "God gave rock and roll to you." There is a better version of that song on the album "Beat the system." If you want to hear Petra try On Fire, Not of this world, Wake up call, or No Doubt. Do not waste your money on this trash. If you must have it buy it at a used cd store.

2 comments about Enter In - Live Worship at Blessed Hope Chapel.

1. i've just smashed my copy with a hammer
   
   PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



2. One of the best independently produced praise & worship albums on the market today! You won't be disappointed by the quality or the song variety on this CD, plus it's over an hour long! Well worth the price... and praise!

No comments about Blood.

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No comments about Obey Acts 2:38.