Xavier – Xavier – 1982

This is an interesting album historically speaking. In 1979 Petra recorded their Washes Whiter Than album at the Bee Jay Recording Studio. That studio is owned by Eric Schabacker. The story goes that Eric was impressed with Greg X. Volz’s vocals and subsequently wanted Greg to record an album of songs written by him. Apparently it took a few years for the idea to work itself out but here is Greg doing a selection of songs written by Eric Schabacker. The album even featured Chip Meyers and Joel Balin who worked on the Washes Whiter Than album. The album was released using Greg’s middle name as the title and artist name and only 1000 copies were printed making it very rare. Eric produced the project but for some reason used the name Jonathan Fitzwilliam. Putting aside all the strangeness of the album it’s a pretty straight forward secular pop album. It’s actually pretty good and I think it might have sold well as a proper release but given the legalities of record deals and contracts it probably could never be properly released.

Tracklist
1 – Outside Lookin’ In – 3:09
2 – Heart Songs – 4:23
3 – The Next Move Is Yours – 3:38
4 – If You Come To Me – 4:27
5 – Falling In Love With Me Again – 4:02
6 – Don’t Look Back – 3:25
7 – Someone Needing Someone – 3:09
8 – Last Song – 3:57
9 – Who Loves You – 3:18
10 – You Still Got The Time – 3:10
11 – Waiting For You – 3:31
12 – I Believe In You – 4:47

Credits
Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Carol Becker Yarian, Teresa Atwell, Tracey Balin
Bass – Chip Meyers
Cover [Cover Art] – John Beardsley
Design Concept [Cover Concept] – Jonathan Fitzwilliam
Drums – Randy Nichols
Engineer – Andy deGanahl, Bill Vermillion, Dana Cornock
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Bill Vermillion
Guitar [Guitars] – Joel Balin
Keyboards, Arranged By [String Arrangements] – George Atwell
Lead Guitar [2nd Lead Guitar] – Bruce Brookshire
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Xavier
Mastered By – Jack Hunt, Larry Boden
Producer – Jonathan Fitzwilliam
Producer [Produced By … With Special Assistance From] – George Atwell, Xavier
Written-By – Jacqueline St. Laurent (tracks: A1), Jonathan Fitzwilliam

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – BeeJay Recording
Recorded At – Bee Jay Recording Studio
Mastered At – JVC Cutting Center
Published By – Schabraf

Greg X Volz – The Exodus – 1991

Greg describes this album as “A loosely-bound concept album beckoning the listener ‘out of Egypt'”. I can hear that the album has a “concept” kind of flow but I struggled to hear the message he is trying to portray. I really have no idea how well this album was received but I’ll be honest, I’m just not feeling this album. I’m not saying it’s a bad album just not one of his best but maybe I’m just being picky. There are a couple really good tracks but I’m missing that Rock & Roll feel of his previous solo albums. But I’m just thinking now that perhaps that’s what Greg was aiming for. Anyway the album definitely does deserve to be listened to and individually there are some real good tracks.

Tracklist
1 – What Then – 5:24
2 – Set Up (To Take A Fall) – 4:08
3 – Man Overboard – 3:23
4 – In The Course Of Time – 5:48
5 – Marching On – 4:35
6 – Freedom Train – 4:41
7 – The Exodus – 4:38
8 – On Bended Knees – 5:07
9 – Come To Me – 4:37
10 – Standin’ – 3:51

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Chris Rodriguez
Arranged By – Carl Marsh
Backing Vocals – Dan Keen, GXV, John Hodge
Bass – Gary Lunn, Jimmy Lee Sloas
Co-producer – Greg X Volz
Design [Cover Design & Logo] – Jolly Design
Drums – Marvin Steinberg
Guitar – Chris Rodriguez, Jerry McPherson
Guitar [Guitar Solo] – J. R. McNeely
Keyboards – Carl Marsh, Gary Lunn
Layout – Becky Volz
Mastered By – Ken Love
Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Jonathan David Brown

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – River Records
Copyright © – River Records
Distributed By – Spectra, Inc.
Distributed By – Christian Marketing
Distributed By – Christian Marketing Limited
Distributed By – Maranatha Record Company
Recorded At – Johnny dB’s Basement
Recorded At – Scrimshaw Sound
Recorded At – Allies Recording Studio
Mixed At – Asaph Recording Studio
Mixed At – Duckworth Studio
Mastered At – Mastermix
Published By – Xavier Music
Published By – Scripture In Song
Published By – Maranatha Music
Published By – Meadowgreen Music
Published By – GIA Publications, Inc.
Published By – Dimension Music

Greg X Volz – No Room in the Middle – 1989

This was Greg’s 3rd solo album and his first on what I suspect is his own label “River Records”. I am actually quite impressed how well he did with a new label release. You can’t argue with an album with 4 top 20 CCM chart hits with “Waitin’ On Someday” doing the best making it to #5. Now we know that CCM chart hits do not translate into sales so I would love to hear some sales numbers for this album as it did struggle with distribution. Anyway let’s get to the album itself. Greg’s excellent vocals dominate as usual. CCM chart numbers mean nothing to me so I think the best track is “Gethsemane”. Unfortunately because it is 7:40 long it will not end up in my regular rotation as quite frankly I get bored with it at about the 5 minute mark. I feel I need to address the “Feelings” track as I can’t decide if it was intentionally quirky or just a bad musical decision. But that’s the end of my criticisms because this is a great album and is a must listen to.

Tracklist
1 – Walk Toward The Light – 4:51
2 – No Room In The Middle – 3:48
3 – Love Moves In A Different Circle – 4:13
4 – The Carpenter – 4:05
5 – I’m Yours – 5:58
6 – Servants And Witnesses – 5:05
7 – Feelings – 5:18
8 – Frontline – 4:19
9 – Gethsemane – 7:38
10 – Waitin’ On Someday – 5:46

Credits
Arranged By – George Atwell, Michael Atwell
Bass – Gary Lunn, Matt Pierson
Co-producer – Greg X. Volz
Design – Camille Engel
Drums – Marvin Steinberg
Guitar – Kirk Henderson, Paul Brannon, Tom Hemby
Keyboards [Additional] – Jonathan David Brown
Keyboards, Arranged By – Carl Marsh
Mastered By – Ken Love
Mixed By, Producer, Recorded By – Jonathan David Brown
Photography By – Russ Harrington
Saxophone – Mark Douthit
Synthesizer – Joe Hogue
Vocals – Greg X. Volz

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – GMI Records
Recorded At – Johnny dB’s Basement
Mixed At – Johnny dB’s Basement
Mastered At – Mastermix
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – River Records
Copyright © – River Records

CD Case Front
CD Case Back
CD Inside
Disc

Greg X. Volz – Come Out Fighting – 1988

This was Greg’s second solo album and was well received but it wasn’t as strong as his first. I think Myrrh thought the same as he was dropped by the label after this album. The album did have 2 singles on the ACC charts. “Take Me To The End” and “Will You Take Me Back?”. Both only made it to #29 on the charts. That said I will make the point again that an albums representation on this chart has nothing to do with whether it was a good album or not but usually was closer connected to home many easy listening tracks the album had. All that aside I think this is a pretty good album. I like the Pop leaning Rock tracks but the slow tracks are probably the stronger part of the album.

Tracklist
1 – I Come Out Fighting – 3:34
2 – I Don’t Know Why – 4:01
3 – Take Me To The End – 4:51
4 – Let The Mountains Fall – 4:14
5 – Dream On – 5:11
6 – What Will Remain – 4:16
7 – Back Burner – 4:44
8 – Will You Take Me Back? – 4:11
9 – I Know You By Heart – 3:24
10 – Up To The Mountain – 3:34

Credits
Arranged By [Track Arrangements] – George Atwell, Greg X. Volz, Michael Atwell, Mike Schmitz
Arranged By [Vocal Arrangements] – Greg X. Volz
Art Direction – Camille Engle
Booking [Concert] – Jeff Roberts
Design – Barbara Keller, Camille Engle
Drums, Drum Programming – Michael Atwell
Engineer – Andy de Ganhal, Dana W. Cornock, Jonathan David Brown
Guitar – Kirk Henderson
Keyboards – George Atwell, Michael Atwell
Management [Personal] – Ron C. Volz
Mastered By – Chris Bellman
Other [Hair And Grooming] – Michelle Kebre
Photography By, Illustration – Empire Studio
Producer – George Atwell, Greg X. Volz, Michael Atwell
Programmed By [Fairlight And Bass Programming] – Michael Atwell
Programmed By [Synclavier Programming] – Michael Atwell, Rich Head
Tape Op [Tape Transfers] – Gary Platt, Robert Knox
Typography [Typesetting] – D&T Typesetting
Vocals, Backing Vocals – Greg X. Volz

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Rare Form Studio
Recorded At – Wolf’s Head Studios
Recorded At – Parc Studios
Recorded At – Starke Lake Studios
Overdubbed At – OmniSound Studios
Overdubbed At – The Pond
Mixed At – Parc Studios
Mixed At – Criteria Recording Studios
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering

Petra – Washes Whiter Than – 1979

Washes Whiter Than is the third studio album by Petra and ther first with Greg X. Volz as a band member. This album turned it down a notch from their previous albums and many refer to this as the “mellow” album. This softer sound gave the album more airplay on Christian radio. The album had 2 singles. “Why Should the Father Bother” made it to #3 on the CCM AC charts and stayed on the charts for 25 weeks. “Yahweh Love” made it to #20 on the CCM AC charts and stayed on the charts for 4 weeks.

Tracklist
1 – I’m Thankful – 2:41
2 – Why Should The Father Bother? – 3:46
3 – Morning Star – 4:47
4 – Magic Mirror – 3:27
5 – Mary’s Song – 4:00
6 – Yahweh Love – 5:38
7 – (Couldn’t Find Love) Without You – 4:19
8 – Taste And See – 3:23
9 – Magic Words – 3:31
10 – Deep Love – 3:57

Credits
Arranged By [Tracks Arranged By … With], Arranged By [Strings And Horns Arranged By], Conductor [Strings And Horns Conducted By] – George Atwell
Arranged By [Tracks Arranged By] – Bob Hartman, Robert Frazier
Bass – Chip Meyers
Design [Album Design], Artwork – George Werth
Drums, Percussion – Randy Nichols
Engineer – Andy deGanahl
Guitar – Gerald “Jit” Byron, Joel Balin
Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals – Robert Frazier
Keyboards – George Atwell
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals – Bob Hartman
Lead Vocals [Uncredited] – Greg X. Volz (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 8), Rob Frazier (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 7, 9, 10)
Management [Personal Management], Booking [Concert Scheduling] – Dan Brock Associates
Mastered By – Allen Zentz Recording
Musician [“The Crown Of Sound”] – Bob Prince
Producer – George Atwell
Producer [Album Direction] – Dan R. Brock
Vocals – Greg X. Volz

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Star Song Records
Copyright (c) – Star Song Records
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Published By – Dawn Treader Music
Recorded At – Bee Jay Recording Studio
Mastered At – Future Disc

Petra – Beat The System – 1984

Petra’s Beat The System was released in 1984 into a musical age that was dealing with the first generation of electronic sounds, video games, and mainstream home computers.

Petra continues to build on their sing-along arena rock style with even more synthesizer and electronic drum sounds. Their updated version of “God Gave Rock’n’Roll To You” brings that forward but without the acoustical drama of the original. Its inclusion on this album helped maintain the song as a CCM anthem for yet another generation.

This is the last of Greg X. Volz’s albums with the band before Jon Schlitt took over as lead vocalist. Greg joined Petra for their third album, Washes Whiter Than in 1979, then billed as the “New Improved Petra.”

Beat The System had several tracks that stayed with the band as classics, including “Clean” and “Adonai.”

Track Listing:
1 – Beat The System – 4:22
2 – Computer Brains – 4:01
3 – Clean – 3:01
4 – It Is Finished – 3:52
5 – Voice In The Wind – 4:30
6 – God Gave Rock And Roll To You – 3:54
7 – Witch Hunt – 4:34
8 – Hollow Eyes – 4:03
9 – Speak To The Sky – 4:16
10 – Adonai – 4:42

Credits:
Bass Guitar, Synthesizer [Synthesizer Bass], Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Mark Kelly
Drums, Percussion – Louie Weaver
Keyboards, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – John Lawry
Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Bob Hartman
Lead Vocals – Greg X. Volz
Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Jonathan David Brown

Phil Keaggy – Ph’lip Side – 1980 / 1982

Ph’lip Side generally doesn’t get a lot of mention by fans but it honestly deserves to.

The set up of the album is novel in that one side is acoustic guitar and the other electric. The album jacket represents this by having an acoustic guitar on one side and an electric on the other. A novel approach and idea for an album which I like.

Keaggy’s guitar work is flawless as usual and this album gives us examples of his varying styles. The original album was released in 1980 and then re-released in 1982 with a substitute song as well as the order being changed. The 1982 release has stickers on the jacket to represent the changes. Piece of trivia – Greg X. Volz and Matthew Ward both do some backing vocals on this album.

Playlist Includes “Send Out Your Light” courtesy of Elisha Belcher

Track Listing:
1 – Just A Moment Away – 4:00
2 – Sunday School – 4:32
3 – A Royal Commandment – 5:46
4 – Pulling Down – 5:28
5 – A Child (In Everyone’s Heart) – 3:55
6 – Little Ones – 4:27
7 – Spend My Life With You – 4:13
8 – I Belong To You – 4:10
9 – In Your Keep – 3:28

Credits:
Backing Vocals – Dan Collins, Greg X. Volz, Jamie Owens-Collins, Matthew Ward (2)
Bass [Electric Synthisized] – Leon Gaer
Coordinator [Production] – B. Charlyne Hinesley
Drums – Paul Leim
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Phil Keaggy
Engineer – Jack Joseph Puig
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Piano, Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer – Richard Souther
Producer – Dan Collins, Phil Keaggy

Greg X. Volz – The River Is Rising – 1986

Greg X. Volz was the lead singer of Petra from 1979 to 1985 and was part of the Classic Petra project Back to the Rock.

This was his first solo effort and it was well received. It is a very heavily produced keyboards and guitar rifts affair that fit relatively well in 1986.

Lyrics were good but not outstanding but quality instrument tracks make up for it. This playlist includes “Break Out Of The Trance” which was a bonus release on the CD reissue.

Track Listing:
1 – Barrier – 4:34
2 – Joyous Grave – 4:26
3 – Livin’ For The Bell – 3:51
4 – Still Waters – 5:04
5 – All I Can Do – 4:40
6 – Heaven Is Within You – 4:38
7 – The River Is Rising – 5:17
8 – Hold On To The Fire – 5:07
9 – Man Like You – 5:32
CD Bonus Track
10 – Break Out Of The Trance – 3:38

Credits:
Bass – Jimmy Lee Sloas
Engineer, Mixed By, Cymbal [Overdubs] – Jonathan David Brown
Guitar – Kirk Henderson
Piano, Synthesizer, Keyboards [Fairlight], Drum Programming [Fairlite Drums] – Carl Marsh
Producer – Greg X. Volz, Jonathan David Brown
Vocals, Backing Vocals, Cymbal [Overdubs] – Greg X. Volz

Petra – More Power To Ya – 1982

This album was the fifth offering from Petra.

It was one of the heaviest rock albums of the time, Ressurection band still held that title at the time.

Judas kiss features some supposed backmasking but in reality it was just a backwards sound track that said “What are you lookin’ for the devil for when you oughta be lookin’ for the Lord?”. It was a cute gimmick, but didn’t suit the song or make any sense attached to it. All in all a darn good Rock and Roll album that was very edgy for the time.

Track Listing:
1 – Stand Up – 3:33
2 – Second Wind – 4:32
3 – More Power To Ya – 3:37
4 – Judas Kiss – 4:43
5 – Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows – 4:16
6 – Run For The Prize – 4:31
7 – All Over Me – 5:51
8 – Let Everything That Hath Breath – 4:21
9 – Road To Zion – 3:58
10 – Disciple – 3:29

Credits:
Arranged By – Jonathan, Petra (9)
Bass, Vocals – Mark Kelly (8)
Drums – Louie Weaver
Guitar – Bob Hartman
Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer [Programs & Arrangements] – John Slick
Lead Vocals – Greg X. Volz
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Jonathan David Brown
Technician [Technical Assistance] – Brian Tankersley
Written-By – Bob Hartman (tracks: A1 – B2, B5), Greg X. Volz (tracks: B3), Mike Hudson (2) (tracks: B4)

Classic Petra – Back To The Rock Live – 2011

Petra recorded this album (using the name Classic Petra) on November 20th, 2010 at Trinity City Music Hall in Hendersonville TN.

Picking 12 songs to perform and record out of a catalog as large as theirs must have been a difficult process however I think they did a great job. The choices are a wide variety of their material and I believe they left out some of their biggest hits quite intentionally. Because of that, this retro release is just about perfect.

Track Listing:
1 – Bema Seat – 4:38
2 – Clean – 3:32
3 – Angel Of Light – 4:45
4 – Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows – 4:43
5 – Godpleaser – 5:07
6 – Second Wind – 4:55
7 – More Power To Ya – 3:37
8 – Let Everything That Hath Breath – 4:29
9 – Grave Robber – 5:24
10 – Adonai / Back To The Rock – 9:21
11 – Too Big To Fail – 4:50

Credits:
Art Direction, Coordinator [Project Coordinator] – Mark Kelly
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Mark Kelly
Booking – H2O Artist Agency
Design [Art Design / Creation] – Julie Sturgeon
Drums – Louie Weaver
Engineer [2nd Engineer] – Jon Blass
Engineer [Live Tracking Engineer] – Greg Malenovsky
Engineer [Mix Engineer] – John Jaszcz
Guitar, Vocals – Bob Hartman
Keyboards, Vocals, Producer, Edited By [Studio Editing], Engineer [Tracking Engineer], Engineer [2nd Engineer] – John Lawry
Lead Vocals – Greg Volz
Legal [Legal Counsel] – Lannie J. Cates
Management [Band] – Bob Bender Productions
Management [Business] – Kim Hartman
Photography By – Jon LeMay