Petra Praise: The Rock STILL Cries Out..20 Years later

[pethead97]

Hey guys,

I don't know if you know this, but Petra's first praise album ("Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out") came out 20 years ago this year. Sheesh, 1989 seems like it was yesterday.

This album which was an experimental album would be a landmark album for future "modern" praise and worship albums (and / or) groups yet to come.

Anyone care to "opine" their thought concerning this album?

[Jonathan]

I like the album.

What I most remember about 1989 was going to a Detroit Tigers game and having then-Royal Bo Jackson yell at me. I also remember that I couldn't believe a baseball team could lose 100 games in a season. I was less surprised in 1996, 2002 and 2003.

But this is about the The Rock Cries Out. Pretty groundbreaking I guess in that it was a rock-praise record. I remember wishing we'd do songs like "Jesus Jesus Glorious One" in church. And I remember hearing "Hallowed Be Thy Name" on the radio late at night when I was half asleep and being somewhat creeped out by it.

Insert disparaging comment towards "Friends" here.

[crossways]

I had know about Petra for only a couple of years at that point. I think I had seen them once or twice, they were getting ready to do the Beyond Belief Tour. I had On Fire! and maybe that was it, I can't remeber if I had gotten BB before or right after TRCO. But I was at Cornerstone '90. What an experience! First time I encountered people who loved Jesus, who didn't wear a suit to church. It was a crazy week of camping, tons of rain. I saw petra and headed to a tent wear John was doing some type of Q & A. I was in awe that my favorite singer was a few steps away. I clumsily asked some really dumb question just to speak to him.

As soon as the festival was over my dad was picking me up and we drove to St. Louis where some of my family was and then we were moving to NC (dad was in the navy). So I popped in my newly purchased cassette tape (yes, remember those?) and gave TRCO a listen. At first I was disappointed. Where are my vs/ch/vs/ch/bridge/chorus songs that I have come to love from Petra?? "What IS this?", but I listened, and listened and listened.... Soon I was singing this stuff all the time. The crazy thing was that in Church, I would hear a passage of scripture and start singing one of the tunes. I realized then how powerful this new "praise and worship" could be. I am proud to say that I was playing in a P&W band on Sunday nights in '91 loonnngg before the Sonic Floods et al

I am very fond of that album, it always brings back such vivid and important memories for me. I don't know that it was their best cd or even their best "praise" album, but it has a place in my heart!

Thanks Petra!