Oops!

[charl]

What exactly was the signifigance of the crap version of GGR&RTY? Is it that it set the precedent of re-recording inferior versions of their classic songs?

The Come and Join Us version was the signifigant one. If, IF, Bob did choose them (I smell an evil record company conspiracy myself) he must have been coaxed into certain songs, and away from others.

[Michael]

So, let's see...a "greatest hits" collection that does not include ANY songs from 4 albums...COME AND JOIN US, PETRA PRAISE: THE ROCK CRIES OUT, GOD FIXATION, and REVIVAL.

Ahem.

Maybe there were no "hits" from those albums?

What exactly was the signifigance of the crap version of GGR&RTY? Is it that it set the precedent of re-recording inferior versions of their classic songs?

The Come and Join Us version was the signifigant one.

Are you NUTS? Petra was barely even heard of back then. When they re-recorded it on Beat the System, all hell broke loose. For one thing, there were no Scripture references in the liner notes for the song ("OH NO, IF THERE ARE NO SCRIPTURE REFERENCES IT MUST BE OF THE DEEEEE-VIIIIIILLLL!!!!"), and for another thing... "GOD DID NOT GIVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU! THE DEEEEE-VIL GAVE ROCK AND ROLL TO YOU! GOD JUST PUT CHRISTIAN WORDS TO IT SO THAT KIDS WHO CAN'T RESIST THE EEEEE-VIL OF ROCK AND ROLL COULD LISTEN TO THE BIBLE WORDS!!!!!"

Seriously. The "significant" one was the later recording. Maybe you don't happen to like it... I do happen to... but if you seriously think the earlier version was more historically significant, pony up and tell us why. I'll freely admit that the guitar work is much nicer on the CJU version.

[charl]

Why did they record the song a second time? because it was already a classic that they played all the time. How could it have already been a favorite without the first version? There you go.

[St_Augustines_Pears]

So, let's see...a "greatest hits" collection that does not include ANY songs from 4 albums...COME AND JOIN US, PETRA PRAISE: THE ROCK CRIES OUT, GOD FIXATION, and REVIVAL.

Ahem.

Maybe there were no "hits" from those albums?

What I was trying to say is...if you're going to release a compliation album and call it an "ultimate collection" and promote it as "spanning the band's entire career", you need to have at least ONE song from each album represented on the compliation.

Plus, I agree with the opinion if Bob did pick the songs, he had a record label executive peering over his shoulder and "suggesting" the songs he should pick.

[chris]

After 40 years and 25 albums or whatever, can't everyone just agree that you can't make everyone happy when it comes to choosing 30 songs? Many of my favorites are left off too. But that's certainly not the reason I'm not going to buy it. I think it's a fine collection for *new* fans (if there are any) to discover the older Petra music. After I bought and fell in love with "Rock Cries Out" in 1992, I purchased "Petra Means Rock" so I could get a good feel for past Petra projects.

As far as having 1 song on each album to fully represent the career... poor idea. I thought the material on God Fixation and Revival good for the times they came out, but as far as representing the career, I don't think anything there stood out the same way "Beyond Belief" and "Creed" did. If there was 1 song from every album, they'd have to choose between those... who'd want to do that?

[p-freak]

I think you guys should stop dissing this compilation.

I know there have been some bad collections in the past, but I think we must take in mind that this is the FIRST collection that actually has the participation of none other than Bob Hartman. He has chosen songs that were important in Petra's history and I doubt if any songs from e.g. God Fixation or Revival really did break any ice for Petra.

And I think we know Bob well enough to be sure that he would not allow any record executive to decide which songs Bob had to pick for this compilation.

So let's give Bob a break and stop being so negative about this compilation.

And if you don't believe that Bob did pick the songs for this record, e-mail him yourself and ask him, instead of doubting two members of this zone who have heard it from Bob himself.... Like I'm making this kind of information up! Thanks for not believing me...

[Michael]

I think "span" means to stretch across something... like a bridge can span a gorge or whatever. As long as it has songs from the first album and the last album, it technically does "span" the band's lifetime.

So why is nobody arguing that in order to "span their career" it would have to have a track from Farewell?

[chris]

same reason no one is arguing that they should have included the studio produced "Praise Medley" from the "Power Praise" compilation...

[Michael]

same reason no one is arguing that they should have included the studio produced "Praise Medley" from the "Power Praise" compilation...

...because it hasn't occurred to them yet?

[Jonathan]

There isn't anything new on Farewell. Live isn't new, in my opinion.

In my opinion, it was an error to avoid Come and Join Us. While it isn't listenable to the majority of Petra fans who love the "Dream Team," CAJU has a lot of substance, improvisation, and incredible musicianship. With each listen, there's always something new I catch that changes what my favorite song is. Including Come and Join Us would show a broader range of tastes as well as give a greater sense of the history of the band.