Petra's Dream Team Sound

[BriGuyPEI]

I was thinking about the different factors at play in the evolution of Petra's sound from Back to the Street through the "Dream Team" era. Who do you think is most responsible for Petra's sound becoming what it was?

[Boray]

Who on earth is Mutt Lange?

[Boray]

I chose John Schlitt, but I think it's hard to point out just one factor. John & Dino Elefante would be my second choice.

[DeSoto]

The one who writes the songs makes the sound.

[Boray]

The one who writes the songs makes the sound.

In what way? If you play a Bob Hartman song on an ukulele, would it then be his sound?

[Preacherman777]

The interesting thing about this question is trying to think of even two Petra albums from the Schlitt years that really have the same sound, in order to say that there really was a sound. I suppose the closest you might get is BB and UP, but even those are not exactly the same. The sound was always changing, so it's hard for me to say that there even was a sound that remained constant through those years.

[DeSoto]

The one who writes the songs makes the sound.

In what way? If you play a Bob Hartman song on an ukulele, would it then be his sound?

When John joined the Band Bob wrote Songs, that fitted more to Johns voice. Johns versions of the pre-John-Petra-Era are nice to hear, but would he have been the leadsinger instead of Greg in the earlsy 80s, I would not have listened too long. It didn´t fit. I think, thats why PETRA changed it´s style into a more guitarsounding Rockstyle. Gregs voice wouldn´t fit the John-song. I think thats why they only recorded the old songs from when Greg was leadsinger. I don´t think they will perform oder record songs from Johns time. And I also guess, when Bob writes new songs, they will not be so rocky, as why heard John singing. Gregs voice and the This means war/Wakeupcall/Jekyll&Hyde-sound? No way...
Bobs songs are not written to be played on a ukulele. They are written to sound they way they do. He is responsible. Clearly the producer influences the sound as well, but he can´t change a ongs completly. He has to go with what is written or he has to change the song.
Take the coveralbum Never say dinosaur or the Double Take album. THere the sound is changed...but thats not PETRAs sound. Thats not how it was meant to be. Bob wrote the songs how they were meant to be. In my eyes he made the typical sound while Greg was singing and then while John was singing by simply changing his songwriting.

[Boray]

DeSoto, so what do you think about "2 guys from Petra" then? Was the songs written to sound like two guys an a guitar? Seems like Bob thinks that is okay...

[executioner]

The only thing that stayed the same was the voice; like Preacherman said each album sounded different music/style wise but the voice stayed the same dominate.

[DeSoto]

DeSoto, so what do you think about "2 guys from Petra" then? Was the songs written to sound like two guys an a guitar? Seems like Bob thinks that is okay...

Sorry, II Guys from PETRA is everything but it´s not PETRA. I have my own opinion about all these sideprojects. If they do new songs ok. If they do the old ones they do acoustic versions...Thats not PETRA. Thats not the typical sound of PETRA. As for my opinion, PETRA - the musicband - is gone. Classic PETRA is in my eyes nothing more than a way of bringing back old times with the oportunity to make some money. There is nothing bad in this. But PETRA as we now it is gone. I like it, but it´s not PETRA.
If they want to revive PETRA of the eigthys they should do that with new material.
You can see that in the ways it comes back: there was PETRA...then there where "II Guys of PETRA" (why not going with their names?), now there is Classic PETRA. I think thats because the name "PETRA" sells and opens doors. But it´s not even classic PETRA. They choose a line-up that existed 2 years. And thats classic? I guess "II guys from PETRA" can´t use the name PETRA alone the same way that Classic can´t use the name for law-reasons.
That all raises one really interesting Question: who was PETRA? And why do they not come back simply as PETRA? I think the problem might be, that John is the one, who owns PETRA these days. Bob got out of the buisness and ministry at some point (just writing songs). The only constant part of PETRA since 1986 ´til the Farewelltour is John Schlitt. He´s bee in the band für 19 years. Bob was 24 years, Louie 22 years.

[Muleya]

Well, you see, it depends so much on perspective. In my eyes, when Greg left, that was the end of Petra! The new version with John had some great songs and a very long and successful run, but it wasn't the Petra I had come to love.

And when you look at it that way, there were so many changes in personnel throughout the years (whether band or producer or what have you)...you can't really pick one and say THIS is the true Petra! We each have our favorites, but that's all they are...favorites!

However, it's always been Bob's baby. While he may not have been "in" the band always, he was always involved in the songwriting and played in the studio. And honestly, by the time Bob had stopped touring or having his picture on the albums, Petra was hardly more than a stepping stone for young musicians trying to get into the industry...join Petra, do an album or two, then move on!

[DeSoto]

Well, you see, it depends so much on perspective. In my eyes, when Greg left, that was the end of Petra! The new version with John had some great songs and a very long and successful run, but it wasn't the Petra I had come to love.

And when you look at it that way, there were so many changes in personnel throughout the years (whether band or producer or what have you)...you can't really pick one and say THIS is the true Petra! We each have our favorites, but that's all they are...favorites!

However, it's always been Bob's baby. While he may not have been "in" the band always, he was always involved in the songwriting and played in the studio. And honestly, by the time Bob had stopped touring or having his picture on the albums, Petra was hardly more than a stepping stone for young musicians trying to get into the industry...join Petra, do an album or two, then move on!

Yey you´re right. Thats why I thought at Bob leaving: That´s it. That´s PETRAs End. I came to PETRA with "Back to the street". So that´s my PETRA-era until Jekyll & Hyde. And Jekyll & Hyde was the point I thought they should put an end to the band.
But I see it like u: PETRA is Bob Hartmann. I was just wondering why they didn´t come back as PETRA but had to name it Classic PETRA.

[executioner]

Well, you see, it depends so much on perspective. In my eyes, when Greg left, that was the end of Petra! The new version with John had some great songs and a very long and successful run, but it wasn't the Petra I had come to love.

And when you look at it that way, there were so many changes in personnel throughout the years (whether band or producer or what have you)...you can't really pick one and say THIS is the true Petra! We each have our favorites, but that's all they are...favorites!

However, it's always been Bob's baby. While he may not have been "in" the band always, he was always involved in the songwriting and played in the studio. And honestly, by the time Bob had stopped touring or having his picture on the albums, Petra was hardly more than a stepping stone for young musicians trying to get into the industry...join Petra, do an album or two, then move on!

Yey you´re right. Thats why I thought at Bob leaving: That´s it. That´s PETRAs End. I came to PETRA with "Back to the street". So that´s my PETRA-era until Jekyll & Hyde. And Jekyll & Hyde was the point I thought they should put an end to the band.
But I see it like u: PETRA is Bob Hartmann. I was just wondering why they didn´t come back as PETRA but had to name it Classic PETRA.

Because Bob is the sole owner of the Petra name and songs. In ClassicPetra each of the 5 members have a share of ownership.
I don't think anyone of us knows the whole reason why they chose to do it this way, and the only thing that I know for a fact is ClassicPetra was started and generated by Greg and all the management came via Greg; so you could probably say that this is more Greg's Baby than anyone's. Nothing against Greg but this is one reason why some around here has been doubting on how this is going to work. This is all I will say about this in public forum.

[Boray]

Sorry, II Guys from PETRA is everything but it´s not PETRA. I have my own opinion about all these sideprojects. If they do new songs ok. If they do the old ones they do acoustic versions...Thats not PETRA. Thats not the typical sound of PETRA.

I think you missed my point. If Bob think it's okay to play his songs with just a guitar, then of course the "Petra sound" isn't just because of his songwriting. That is what I meant.

[rexreed]

In all likely hood the "sound" is due to the producer. Unless Bob was recording the album by himself I have to give credit to the Elefantes, since they did the bulk of the albums.