Petra - Collector's Item Celebrating 50 Years of Petra "The Best for Last"

Petra

The Best for Last

May 16, 2025

Girder Music

1.Destiny

2.Right Place

3.Dance

4.Just Reach Out

5.Creed

6.Whole World

7.Jekyll & Hyde

8.Beyond Belief

9.Lord, I Lift Your Name on High

10.Somebody’s Gonna Praise His Name

11.He Came, He Saw, He Conquered

12.All Fired Up

I am very late on this one. This release came out back in May. The label, Girder Music, put out something of a collector's item to celebrate 50 years of Petra's music. It's a greatest hits–type package, put together after the band's shows that were done in honor of their 50th anniversary. These are the songs the band played in concert, and the label says that, “Each release includes a printed, autographed setlist inside the booklet, with songs written in (singer) John Schlitt's own handwriting—complete with a song scribbled out.” Apparently, with the use of technology, AI, and all those things, some people asked if the setlist was really written by hand, and the label has had to confirm again that it is handwritten, not computer-generated. Like I say, this is a collector's item. It’s not new music, but longtime fans and collectors might be interested.  Well, by now, the label has probably run out of copies, but they can always make more if people demand it.

This release can also be a good introduction for audiences not familiar with this band. Petra is one of the most important names of all time in Christian rock, formed in 1972, with a debut album in 1974 that kicked off a long career and discography. They have gone through many personnel and style changes—from '70s rock, to 1980s classic rock and heavy metal, to '90s-style rock, and back again to rock and metal in various forms. Looking over the collection of songs, and taking into account their musical range, it seems that classic rock, hard rock, and heavy metal have won out in terms of popularity with the fans, for the most part.

Recommendation 1: From a contemporary perspective of metal music, 2003's Jekyll and Hyde is the heaviest, with the guitar tone being their chunkiest and most contemporary. Of course, the music and the singing itself are very good. The album is something like American commercial, radio-friendly post-2000s metal music. They also have a Spanish-language version of the album (from time to time the band has released some albums in Spanish). Both versions are very enjoyable.

Recommendation 2: If you like the sound of the '80s, 1988's On Fire! and 1990's Beyond Belief are prime-time classic Petra. Petra fans consider both albums very good. On Fire! features a wonderful '80s arena rock/heavy metal classic energy, while Beyond Belief sounds like a hit-after-hit album, just full of great songs.

Recommendation 3: 1982's More Power to Ya is more like straight classic rock; it's a lot of fun, and so is the follow-up, 1983's Not of This World. Both albums are very good, showing Petra in the '80s incorporating more of a contemporary rock sound. These albums do not have Petra getting as heavy as they would later become in the '80s, but they are very good at classic rock and arena rock—though not yet diving into a real, clear heavy metal sound.

Recommendation 4: On Amazon Music, there is a collection called Power Praise. It sounds like reworked songs in a kind of praise rock style, like a very melodic and upbeat church choir/arena rock blend. It is as catchy as catchy can be, in addition to feeling like a greatest hits medley or reworking of some of Petra's best songs. It’s an awesome collection. Another very enjoyable album is Classic Petra Live, which is both a live album and a live concert video. The sound quality and song selection are great.

Recommendation 5: One of the most curious albums by Petra is called Beat the System (1984). In the '80s, Petra was heading in the direction of arena rock, and then they took a break from hard rock and made—get this!—a techno rock album. It sounds like '80s electronic pop music powered up with hard rock guitars. It's different, for sure! This is not where new fans should start, but for fans who love everything '80s, this album should be a fun and unique experience. At the time the album came out, it must have confused fans quite a bit because fans would have been expecting more arena rock. Then, after this album, the band seemed to have gotten that experiment out of their system and went back to making arena rock and metal-friendly music. Maybe don’t start your Petra journey with Beat the System, but the album is incredibly different, upbeat, and fun—like what you imagine the '80s were like. This album sounds like that, in the form of "electronic pop arena rock," or something close to it.

Anyway, getting back to this particular collection right here called The Best for Last, from this collection I recommend the following two songs for new fans to start.

1. "All Fired Up" from 1988's On Fire!

and 2. "Creed" from 1990's Beyond Belief. This is possibly the clearest, fullest statement of what Petra is all about.

I believe in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ His only son, I believe in the virgin birth.

I believe in the Man of Sorrows, bruised for iniquities.

I believe in the lamb who was crucified, and hung between two thieves.

I believe in the resurrection, on the third and glorious day

I believe in the empty tomb, and the stone that the angel rolled away

He descended and set the captives free

And now He sits at God's right hand and prepares a place for me

This is my creed

The witness I have heard

The faith that has endured

This truth is assured

Through the darkest ages past

Though persecuted it will last

And I will hold steadfast

To this creed

I believe He sent His spirit, to comfort and to reveal

To lead us into truth and light, to baptize and to seal

I believe He will come back, the way He went away and..

Receive us all unto Himself but no man know that day

This is my creed

The witness I have heard

The faith that has endured

This truth is assured

Through the darkest ages past

Though persecuted it will last

And I will hold steadfast

To this creed

I believe He is the judge, of all things small and great

The resurrected souls of men, receive from Him their fate

Some to death and some to life, some to their reward

Some to sing eternal praise, forever to the Lord

And through the darkest ages past

Though persecuted it will last

And I will hold steadfast

To this creed

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