Never Say Die [Import]

[MY RATING: 4 1/2 STARS]

"Never Say Die" was the album that finally brought this pioneering Christian rock band to a level of musical and lyrical sophistication that could compete with the best of the secular rock bands. Many listeners will be familiar with some of these songs from later hits compilations such as "Rock Block," but you should really get the original album to hear the songs in context with lesser-known songs.

"The Coloring Song" opens the album with a beautiful and poetic devotion, which makes allusions and allegories inspired by colors. The vocals, organ, acoustic guitar, and mixolydian mode give the song a refreshing, folklike flavor.

The next two tracks "Chameleon" and "Angel of Light" showcase some outstanding electric guitar work and fierce vocal performances by Greg X Volz, whose voice has a more gospel / soul orientation than his successor John Schlitt, who has more of a hard-rock voice.

"Killing My Old Man" was a controversial song because on the surface, many people took it as a horrible ode to patricide (instead of a song about the biblical admonition to crucify our old selves), and Petra's label actually didn't let them release this song for a few albums. It's a catchy tune.

"Without Him We can do Nothing" closes out side one with a powerful, rocking praise number. Exhortation at its best.

Side 2 is a little weaker than Side 1. "I Can Be Friends with You," and "Father of Lights" are okay, but nothing special. The same could be said of the title cut, although its lyrics are very encouraging and positive, and the guitar hook is admirable.

"[Too Late] For Annie" is a well-known song about a girl who commits suicide because she feels that nobody cares (the message being that Christians could have told her that Jesus loves her, cares for her, etc., and her untimely death could have been averted.) Whether or not people liked the song or its message, it challenged listeners- and with unsentimental realism- in a way that CCM had seldom done before or since.

"Praise Ye the Lord" closes out the side with the same rock-solid praise of "Without Him We Can Do Nothing."

I heartily recommend this album to any fan of Petra (or Kansas, or 70s progressive rock for that matter). You'll enjoy it.

The first thing to note about this release is that it contains all tracks from the two albums except "(Couldn't Find Love) Without You" and "Magic Words" (both from Washes Whiter Than). It's been quite a while since I listened to my vinyl copy of that album, but I don't remember those as particularly outstanding songs. The 18 tracks you do get (the Amazon track listing shows only the tracks from Never Say Die) make this release a solid value, though.

Never Say Die was always among my favorite Petra albums (the first of three solid albums with lead singer Greg X. Volz), but as a young man Washes White Than didn't impress me at all. Listening to it now, I'm able to appreciate it as a well-executed example of the mellow pop (not disco!) stylings of the 1970s. I also disagree with the reviewer who claims you need to be a pre-teen religious fanatic to enjoy these albums. I'm neither young nor a Christian, but I enjoy it all the same. In fact I suspect that older listeners who are nostalgic for the music of this era will enjoy Washes Whiter Than far more than their kids will! (And, sure, the lyrics to a few songs are insipid; but that's true of so much pop music that it hardly seems fair to fault Petra simply because their lyrics are also Christian.)

These two albums aren't masterpieces. But if you're a former Petra fan nostalgic for their old music, or an open-minded listener who appreciates pop music from the 70s and 80s, there's much to like here.

This is a great Christian band and what a way to start. Washes whiter than is a little slower but it does show the softer side until they perfected their sound then out comes Never Say Die!!!!! This one set the stage for the awesome list of albums that came out after it!!!!! You can definately hear the progression as they went from one time period to another!!! Definately the Best Christian rock band that ever came out, You guys did it with the help of God of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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