Beat the System (album)

Beat the System
Studio album by
Released1984
StudioMama Jo's, North Hollywood
GenreChristian rock
Length41:15
LabelStarSong, A&M
ProducerJonathan David Brown
Petra chronology
Not of this World
(1983)
Beat the System
(1984)
Captured in Time and Space
(1986)
Professional ratings
Review scores
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AllMusic

Beat the System is the seventh studio album of the Christian rock band Petra. It was released in late 1984.

It is the first album to feature John Lawry on keyboards, although he only joined towards the end of the recording process; his contributions were limited to some overdubs on the songs "Beat the System", "Clean" and "Adonai". Most of the keyboards on the album, as well as all the bass and drum parts, were performed by session musician Carl Marsh; Petra members Mark Kelly (bass) and Louie Weaver (drums) did not perform on the album. Fairlight programmer Rhett Lawrence added some elements to "Clean" and "Hollow Eyes". Carl Marsh's programming, under the direction of producer Jonathan David Brown, veered the sound of the album more in the synth-rock genre of music. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group in 1986.