The Petra Zone

Just curious as to what everyone rates as the top 5 best Petra songs with John as the lead vocalist.

Hard to say...

I am on the Rock
Mine Field
Keneniah
Perfect World
Prayer

ALL of my favorite Petra songs are with John as vocalist!! So it's hard to pick, and also they change from time to time. But today, I will say these are my favorites, not in order:
1. This Means War
2. Mine Field
3. Just Reach Out
4. Get On Your Knees (YouTube video, not the recording)
5. No Doubt

Hit You Where You Live
All The Kings Horses
He Came, He Saw...
Prayer
Sacred Trust

Hard to pick just five.

It is hard to pick 5 so I will pick the first five I can think of that he was excellent at:
Shakin' the House
Alter Ego
This Means War
You Are My Rock
All The King's Horses

This is really hard but...

1. Just Reach Out.
2. Life As We Know It.
3. Sacred Trust.
4. No Doubt.
5. St. Augustine's Pears.

1. Mine Field
2. Shakin the House
3. Be of Good Cheer
4. This Means War!
5. Sacred Trust

Shakin was the first song I ever heard John sing and was blown away. Sacred Trust is one of the greatest Petra songs and doesn't get enough credit.

I'm glad to see some other people picked Sacred Trust as well. I did know how much the song had stood out for people. I think it's Bob's comment of the state of Christian music today and a very apt one at that.

Sacred Trust is really a good song and I like both versions: English and Spanish. In just a song, Mr. Bob Hartman summed up what a true Christian should be and do...
Definitely one of the all-time best songs in the long history of Petra.

Jan wrote:ALL my favorite Petra songs are with John as vocalist!

Same here, Jan.

Judas priest! I'm supposed to pick just 5? Okay, here goes...

1. "St. Augustine's Pears" (from GOD FIXATION). If you haven't yet, read the book this song is based on, The Confessions Of St. Augustine. It hits a little too close to home for me, which is probably why it's my all-time favorite Petra song.

2. "Mine Field" (from ON FIRE!). From John's opening scream to the line where he sings, "Step off the path, and you could end up dead!"...this song always sends chills down my spine.

3. "Dead Reckoning" (from THIS MEANS WAR!). Love it when John sings the line, "There's got to be a reckoning, when you feel the Spirit beckoning!".

4. "Perfect World" (from JEKYLL & HYDE). John sounds like he's trying to push his lungs up through his throat on the line, "This is my Father's world, and He can fix it...our hopeless band-aids are all counterfeit!".

5. "The Noise We Make" (from REVIVAL). Of the three praise albums Petra released, REVIVAL is my favorite. When the band started playing this song at the show I saw on the JEKYLL & HYDE tour, I was stoked, but most of the crowd had a "WTF?" look on their faces.

This was really hard to narrow it down to five. Too many great Petra songs with John as vocalist I had to leave on the table. "Counsel Of The Holy"..."Creed"..."Whole World"..."Open Book"..."Dance"..."Seen And Not Heard"..."Think Twice"..."Jesus, Friend Of Sinners"..."Somebody's Gonna Praise His Name"..."Just Reach Out"..."The Water Is Alive"...the list could go on forever.

Hit you Where you Live
Jekyll & Hyde
Mine Field
Beyond Belief
Underground

I'm sorry, but I have to pick 6, I could not leave one out. So, in no particular order:

Just Reach Out
Prayer
First Love
Jeckyl & Hyde
Amazing Grace (Farewell version)
Somebody's Gonna Praise His Name

I don't know that I could pick five, but the ones that stand out to me - for personal reasons - are

Think Twice
In The Likeness of You
St. Augustine's Pears
Love

Everything else is very, very good - but these four songs have personal meaning to me.

Everyone loves these "what's your favorite song" lists!
I love John's vocals in many, many songs. Here's my top 5:
1. Just Reach Out - this one has meant so much to me since it was released many years ago. I have to list it first for that reason.
2. Sacred Trust - it really is cool to see that several others of you agree that this is a powerful song with a very moving, powerful message.
3. Destiny - another one that has encouraged me beyond my ability to verbalize.
4. Good News - great vocals!
5. Think Twice

Andy

1) Sacred Trust- I've listened to this one over and over- If it is possible to wear out a single track on a cd then I'm in trouble.
2 ) Just Reach Out- even thought I constantly gripe about this soft sounding album I really love this song. In a way it reminds me of something the Beatles might right, it is simple, beautiful and catchy , and they repeat it over and over building up each time. The gospel choir at the end totally makes the song.
3) Beyond Belief- It's fast and fun- my first favorite Petra song.
4) Falling Up- I'm not sure why I listed it other than the chorus bg vocals- I love em!
5) Sight Unseen- I love Johns voice in this. The song was killer when it was released, all except for the lack of a guitar solo. The song is begging for one and we never get it. However the vocals are spot on!