Back to the Street is the ninth release of the Christian rock

Christian rock

Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...

 band, Petra

Petra (band)

Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...

. It was released in 1986 and is the first album to be produced by John and Dino Elefante.

The album is also the first to feature new lead singer John Schlitt

John Schlitt

John William Schlitt is known for his career as the lead singer of Christian rock band Petra from 1986 until the band's retirement in late 2005. Prior to joining Petra in 1986, Schlitt was the vocalist for Head East....

, former lead singer of Head East

Head East

Head East is an American hard rock band originally from South Central Illinois. The band was formed by vocalist John Schlitt, guitarist Mike Somerville, keyboardist Roger Boyd, bassist Dan Birney, and drummer Steve Huston. They met and formed the band while studying at the University of Illinois,...

.

While the sound of the album is rather transitional and unlike anything that would be heard by the group for another seven years, it did mark a movement toward the style that would become Petra's most identifiable sound: prominent keyboards backing up hard-edged guitar tones and raspy, near-screaming vocals.

Track listing

All songs written by Bob Hartman

Bob Hartman

Robert Hartman is a Christian artist, guitarist, writer and songwriter. He is the founder of Christian rock band Petra. Hartman was involved with the band from its foundation in 1972 to its end in 2005. He took a break from touring in 1995, but continued to write most of the band's songs,...

, except where noted.

1. "Back to the Street" – 4:14
2. "You Are I Am" – 3:08
3. "Shakin the House" (Words by Hartman and John Lawry) – 4:28
4. "King's Ransom" – 4:18
5. "Whole World" – 4:50
6. "Another Crossroad" – 3:50
7. "Run for Cover" – 3:15
8. "Fool's Gold" – 4:48
9. "Altar Ego" – 4:43
10. "Thankful Heart" (Words by Hartman and Dino Elefante) – 3:17

Petra

• Bob Hartman
  Bob Hartman
  Robert Hartman is a Christian artist, guitarist, writer and songwriter. He is the founder of Christian rock band Petra. Hartman was involved with the band from its foundation in 1972 to its end in 2005. He took a break from touring in 1995, but continued to write most of the band's songs,...
  
   - Guitar
• John Schlitt
  John Schlitt
  John William Schlitt is known for his career as the lead singer of Christian rock band Petra from 1986 until the band's retirement in late 2005. Prior to joining Petra in 1986, Schlitt was the vocalist for Head East....
  
   - Lead Vocals
• John Lawry
  John Lawry
  John Lawry is a Christian musician, composer, producer, and songwriter. He is most remembered for being the keyboardist of Christian rock band Petra during their most prolific years.-Biography:...
  
   - Keyboards, vocals
• Mark Kelly
  Mark Kelly (bassist)
  Mark Dean Kelly is a Christian bass guitarist most remembered for being a member of Christian rock band Petra during the 1980s...
  
   - Bass, vocals
• Louie Weaver
  Louie Weaver
  Louie Weaver III is a Christian drummer most famous for being the long-time drummer of legendary Christian rock band Petra for 22 years. Weaver was controversially dismissed from the band in 2003. He is currently working on several projects. In 2010, Weaver reunited with former members of Petra...
  
   - Drums

Recording

• Recorded and Mixed at Pakaderm Studio, Long Beach, California
  Long Beach, California
  Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
  
  
• Engineered by Dino Elefante, John Elefante and Mike Mireau