Wake-Up Call (1993)

Wake-Up Call is the fourteenth studio album by the Christian rock band Petra, released on November 9, 1993 by DaySpring/Word Records. This is their final album to be released on the DaySpring label as future albums will be released directly to Word Records.

The album marks a dramatic shift in tone for the band. The sound is more raw, there are fewer driving rock songs, and it concludes with three consecutive ballads. Wake-Up Call also has a change in producer, as Brown Bannister takes over the production duties for this album, thus continuing their arena rock sound.

This is also the last time the personnel line-up will change as long-time member and songwriter Bob Hartman and keyboardist John Lawry will leave the group after the release of this album.

Hartman will continue to contribute songs for future Petra albums as Hartman announced his retirement from touring as he wanted to spend time with his family. Hartman turned over his administrative duties to lead singer John Schlitt. Future Petra member Jim Cooper co-wrote the song "Praying Man" with Lawry, whom Cooper will replace. Wake-Up Call peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. In 1994, Petra won a Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 25th GMA Dove Awards and in 1995, won their third Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album at the 37th Grammy Awards. Petra released a collection of music videos on VHS titled Wake-Up Call Video Collection featuring music videos for "Midnight Oil" and "Just Reach Out," select music videos from Beyond Belief and Unseen Power, and band interviews.

Track listing

All songs are written by Bob Hartman, except where noted.

1. Midnight Oil -3:16

2. Good News -4:29

3. Strong Convictions -3:54

4. He's Been in My Shoes -4:22

5. Praying Man (John Lawry, Jim Cooper) -4:27

6. Underneath the Blood (Bob Hartman, Ronny Cates) -3:32

7. Sleeping Giant (Bob Hartman, Ronny Cates) -5:29

8. Believer in Deed -4:06

9. Marks of the Cross (Bob Hartman, Ronny Cates) -4:36

10. Just Reach Out (John Schlitt, Rich Gootee) -4:29

Personnel

Petra:

Bob Hartman -lead guitar

John Schlitt -lead vocals

Ronny Cates -bass guitar

John Lawry -keyboards

Louie Weaver -drums

Accolades

Grammy Award -Best Rock Gospel Album (Wake-Up Call)

Dove Award - Rock Album of the Year (Wake-Up Call)

Radio singles

1993 -1994 "Just Reach Out" -#1 Christian CHR for 6 weeks, #12 Christian AC

1994 "Marks of the Cross" -#1 Christian CHR for 3 weeks, #11 Christian AC

1994 "He's Been in My Shoes" -#12 Christian CHR, #32 Christian AC

1994 "Praying Man" -#9 Christian CHR

Previous release: Petra en Alabanza (1992)

Next release: No Doubt (1995)

Watch the full-length video Wake-Up Call Video Collection here: