God Fixation

God Fixation
Studio album by Petra
Released	April 21, 1998
Genre	Christian rock
Length	43:02
Label	Word, Epic
Producer	John and Dino Elefante
Petra chronology
Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus (1997) God Fixation (1998) Double Take (2000)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	link
HM Magazine	link

God Fixation is the seventeenth studio album of the Christian rock band, Petra. It was released on April 21, 1998.

The album features 3 new members: guitarist Pete Orta guitarist/keyboardist Kevin Brandow and bassist Lonnie Chapin. All new members worked on the music and lyrics of the new songs contributing heavily to the sound of this album, which is more modern and less driving than most of their previous work.

Album background

God Fixation came to be after another major lineup change within the band. After the departure of guitarist David Lichens, bassist Ronny Cates, and keyboardist Jim Cooper, lead singer John Schlitt recruited guitarists Pete Orta and Kevin Brandow, who had been playing with him on his solo tour. They joined new bassist Lonnie Chapin in the recording of the album. According to Schlitt, the three new members worked closely with band founder Bob Hartman in the writing and recording of the album for six weeks.

Hartman, who handled most of the songwriting, was open to collaborations from the new members. Schlitt said in an interview with HM that "the music has been totally affected by the three new guys and [drummer] Louie [Weaver]. They came in with ideas, and they showed Bob, and Bob said, 'Great, I don't have to write songs anymore... All I gotta do is come up with the words.' So there were a lot of ideas from the new guys." As a result, most of the music was written by Orta, Brandow, and Chapin, along with musician Brian Wooten and producer John Elefante.

When questioned about the change in style of the band, Schlitt said "Petra wasn't selling worth a stink. Petra was going down the drain (because of internal problems), and I don't want to go down the drain yet. Personally, if it means kids are interested in a new style, I believe we can do it. If it means getting three new members to do it, I guess it has to be done." ^[1]

Track listing

All songs written by Bob Hartman, except where noted.

1. "If I Had to Die for Someone" (Music by Chapin and John Elefante) – 4:39
2. "Hello Again" (Music by Brian Wooten and Elefante) – 3:40
3. "A Matter of Time" (Music by Hartman, Elefante and Wooten) – 3:24
4. "Falling Up" (Music by Orta and Elefante) – 4:25
5. "Over the Horizon" (Words by Chelsea Brandow, Music by Orta and Elefante) – 4:37
6. "God Fixation" (Music by Orta, Chapin and Elefante) – 2:54
7. "Set for Life" (Music by Kevin Brandow, Wooten and Elefante) – 3:55
8. "Magnet of the World" (Music by Hartman and Elefante) – 3:44
9. "Shadow of a Doubt" (Music by Hartman and Elefante) – 3:27
10. "St. Augustine's Pears" – 3:48
11. "The Invitation" (Music by K.Brandow, Wooten and Elefante) – 4:29

Awards

God Fixation was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Gospel Album at the 41st Grammy Awards in 1999. ^[2]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[4]

The album received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. It has a rating of 3 stars at AllMusic, ^[5] while Victor Sambu, of Jesus Freak Hideout, gave it 4 out of 5 stars calling it "one of Petra's most underrated albums". ^[6] However, HM wrote about the album "there are a few rockers here, but pale in comparison to the band's hard rock glory days of On Fire! . Nowadays, Petra seems to remain Christian rock for kids whose parents don't let 'em listen to rock & roll." The review closes saying that "nothing groundbreaking is heard. While some may receive encouragement from the content, many a learned listener will hear a typical confirmational drivel that soaks most of Christian radio." ^[7]

Personnel

Petra

• John Schlitt – lead vocals, backing vocals
• Pete Orta – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Kevin Brandow – guitars, backing vocals
• Lonnie Chapin – bass, backing vocals
• Louie Weaver – drums

Additional musicians

• Jeff Roach – keyboards, organ
• Bob Hartman – guitars
• George Marinelli – guitars
• Brian Wooten – guitars
• John Elefante – backing vocals

Production

• John Elefante – producer
• Dino Elefante – producer
• Bob Hartman – executive producer
• J.R. McNeely – engineer, mixing (1-10)
• Richie Biggs – mixing (11)
• Tim Coyle – assistant engineer
• Todd Gunnerson – assistant engineer
• Matt Weeks – assistant engineer
• Ken Love – mastering
• David Estes – A&R direction
• Linda Bourne Wornell – A&R coordinator
• Beth Lee – art direction
• Kevin Tucker – design, additional photography
• Robert Ashcroft – photography
• Mike Atkins Management, Inc. – management

Studios

• Recorded and Mixed at The Sound Kitchen (Franklin, Tennessee).
• Additional recording at The Snack Bar (Brentwood, Tennessee).
• Mastered at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee).

References

1. The truth about Petra: John Schlitt answers the tough questions Archived 2011-06-10 at the Wayback Machine on HM ; Muttillo, David (2003)
2. Nominees announced Tuesday for the 41st annual Grammy Awards on Daily News through FreeLibrary.Net; Associated Press (1999)
3. AllMusic review
4. Jesus Freak Hideout review
5. Petra - God Fixation on AllMusic
6. Petra God Fixation Review on Jesus Freak Hideout; Sambu, Victor (1/4/07)
7. Album reviews on HM (issue 72)