Testify (Parliament song)
"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.
| "Testify" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Parliament | |
| from the album Up for the Down Stroke | |
| B-side | "I Can Move You" |
| Released | November 1974 |
| Genre | R&B/Funk |
| Length | 3:45 |
| Label | Casablanca 811 |
| Songwriter(s) | George Clinton/Daron Taylor |
| Producer(s) | George Clinton |
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.