Testify (Parliament song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Testify

| cover = TestifySingle.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Parliament

| album = Up for the Down Stroke

| B-side = I Can Move You

| released = November 1974

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = R&B/Funk

| length = 3:45

| label = Casablanca 811

| writer = George Clinton/Daron Taylor

| producer = George Clinton

| prev_title =

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}}

"Testify" is a song by the band Parliament. It is a funk reworking of the song "(I Wanna) Testify", which was originally recorded in 1967 by The Parliaments and reached #3 on the Billboard R&B chart. This new version was the second single released from the 1974 album Up for the Down Stroke, and the second track on the album.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

This version included a clavinet track by keyboardist Bernie Worrell and vocals by guitarist Eddie Hazel.{{Cite news |last=Junior |first=Chris M. |date=June 19, 2009 |title=Parliament's 'Up for the Down Stroke' revisited |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/274919373 |access-date=2024-12-29 |work=Goldmine |id={{ProQuest|274919373}}}}

Original mix

The version of "Testify" included on early pressings of Up for the Down Stroke featured a mix that highlighted the group vocals and deemphasized the instrumental sound. On later pressings this was replaced by a version with different, more rhythm-intensive mix – the version heard on the song's single release. The original mix of the song was included as a bonus track on the 2003 CD reissue of the album.

The version of this song on the original album release also deleted a small portion of the clavinet introduction. This was restored on the 1993 compilation release Tear the Roof Off 1974–1980.

References

Category:Parliament (band) songs

Category:1974 singles

Category:Songs written by George Clinton (funk musician)

Category:Casablanca Records singles

Category:1974 songs