Beyond Belief (album) explained

Beyond Belief
Type:	studio
Artist:	Petra
Cover:	Petra Beyond Belief.jpg
Released:	June 20, 1990
Genre:	Christian rock, hard rock
Length:	44:00
Producer:	John and Dino Elefante
Prev Year:	1989
Next Title:	Unseen Power
Next Year:	1991

Beyond Belief is the twelfth studio album of the Christian rock band, Petra. It was released on June 20, 1990.

In this album the band continues to polish the hard rock/arena rock sound the band had been working on their previous efforts before their praise album (On Fire! and This Means War!).

As of late 2011, this is the band's most successful album both critically and commercially, and it is considered by most to be the peak of their discography. The album won the band their first Grammy after five previous nominations, and was certified gold on October 3, 1995.^{[1] [2]} The album was listed at No. 71 in CCM Magazines The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.^[3] The band also released a mini-movie of the same title.

Track listing

All songs written by Bob Hartman, except where noted.

1. "Armed and Dangerous" – 4:06
2. "I am on the Rock" (Hartman, John Elefante) – 4:37
3. "Creed" – 4:36
4. "Beyond Belief" – 5:06
5. "Love" – 4:10
6. "Underground" (Hartman, J. Elefante) – 4:33
7. "Seen and Not Heard" – 3:54
8. "Last Daze" – 5:04
9. "What's in a Name" – 3:34
10. "Prayer" (Hartman, J. Elefante) – 4:15

Awards

• Won Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album in 1991.
• Won Dove Award for Long Form Music Video in 1990.
• Won Dove Award for Rock Album in 1991.
• Won Dove Award for Rock Recorded Song ("Beyond Belief") in 1991.
• Won Dove Award for Recorded Music Packaging in 1991.

Personnel

Petra

• John Schlitt – lead vocals, backing vocals
• Bob Hartman – guitars, arrangements
• John Lawry – keyboards
• Ronny Cates – bass
• Louie Weaver – drums

Additional musicians

• John Andrew Schreiner – additional keyboards
• John Elefante – background vocals, arrangements
• Dino Elefante – background vocals, arrangements
• Dave Amato – background vocals
• Walt Harrah and the Los Alamitos Congregational Choir – background vocals on "Love"

Production

• John Elefante – producer, engineer, mixing at Pakaderm Studios, Los Alamitos, California
• Dino Elefante – producer, engineer, mixing at Pakaderm Studios
• Lynn Keesecker – A&R direction
• Mike Mireau – engineer
• Jeff Simmons – assistant engineer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering at Masterdisk, New York City
• Amy Linden – art production coordination
• Buddy Jackson – art direction
• Beth Middleworth – design
• Mark Tucker – photography
• Carol Buckley-Frazier – hair, make-up
• Susan Wakulsky – stylist

Short film

Beyond Belief
Director:	Stephen Yake
Starring:	Tony Leech Jason Rogers
Producer:	Stephen Yake
Distributor:	Dayspring
Runtime:	50 minutes
Country:	United States
Language:	English

Prior to the release of the album, Petra released a short film also called Beyond Belief. The film was produced and directed by Stephen Yake and written by Yake, Tom Newman, Andrea Jobe, and Jeff Bates.

The film features six videos of songs featured on the Beyond Belief album intercalated in the plot of the film. The members of the band also make cameo appearances during the film. The project was filmed on location in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Phoenix and Sedona, Arizona, Coos Bay, Oregon, Miami, Florida and Lima, Perú.^[4]

Plot

The film follows Chad Warren (Tony Leech), a young senior in high school, who must face the illness of his brother, David (Jason Rogers) during the summer.

While David is diagnosed with cancer, Chad must compete in a huge track and field competition to get a scholarship at Angelo State. David also insists on Chad mending his relationship with their father, who recently walked out on their family.

Music videos

The music videos included are:

• "Creed"
• "Seen And Not Heard"
• "Love"
• "Beyond Belief"
• "I Am On the Rock" (Words and music by Bob Hartman and John Elefante)
• "Armed and Dangerous"

All songs are included in the band's album Beyond Belief, and were written by the band's guitarist/founder Bob Hartman, except where noted.

Cast

• Tony Leech - Chad Warren
• Jason Rogers - David Warren
• Vicci Jo Witty - Mrs. Warren
• Bob Maras - Mr. Warren
• Monte Light - Young Chad
• Adam Maras - Young David
• Larry Smith - Coach
• Tom Holder - Chris

Notes and References

1. Web site: Past Winners Search. Grammy. June 14, 2014.
2. Web site: RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database. RIAA. June 14, 2014.
3. Book: Granger . Thom . The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music . . 2001 . 0-7369-0281-3 . 202–203.
4. Web site: Petra Beyond Belief. CFDB: Christian Film Database. June 14, 2014.