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Parliaments "(I Wanna)Testify" appreciation post

The_Hook_UpThe_Hook_Up 8,182 Posts
edited July 2007 in Strut Central
not only one of the greatest soul tunes of all time, one the greatest songs of all time. I dont know anyone who hates on this tune. Appreciate!also on a related note, I just picked up the Soultown 45 of this with "All Youre Goodies Are Gone" on the flip...what year is this release from? This vinyl pressing beats the shit outta my mangled styrene Revilot press....

  Comments

  • tallbobsmoketallbobsmoke 715 Posts
    I can't answer your question, but I just want to testify that I appreciate the shit out of "(I Wanna) Testify".
  • SoulhawkSoulhawk 3,197 Posts
    I think the 'Soultown' might be a Canadian pressing?

    either that or a bootleg/ quasi-legal thing intended to take advantage of Revilots small-label distribution difficulties.

    btw the Revilot flipside 'I can feel the ice melting' is real nice too.

  • CosmoCosmo 9,768 Posts
    I appreciate it like a motherfucker. My copy (on Revilot) was my moms from back in the day.
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    Besides, when's the last time you heard a song with the word "inquisitive?" That is one of many reasons why I'll testify for "Testify."

    I love when simple rock & soul songs like these incorporate these huge five-dollar words. That's right up there with the time Laura Lee announced that she no longer needed her mama's jurisdiction[/b] in "Separation Line."
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    Besides, when's the last time you heard a song with the word "inquisitive?" That is one of many reasons why I'll testify for "Testify."

    I love when simple rock & soul songs like these incorporate these huge five-dollar words. That's right up there with the time Laura Lee announced that she no longer needed her mama's jurisdiction[/b] in "Separation Line."


    Wow, you would love Bad Religion's "Suffer" album
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    Also, while we're appreciating this song (which
    is on some serious GOAT status) how about Derek Martin,
    "Soul Power" on Volt - which hijacks the chorus of
    "(I Wanna) Testify" (itself hijacked from a gospel tune
    anyway, of course) and does it with style and soul.

    Total Memphis heat via Detroit hit!
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    ... and just to post threee times in a row,
    let's give it up for the Johnnie Taylor version
    on Stax, which is fire, and I have a hot rock
    cover by Pacific Ocean, Edward James Olomos' band
    from the Sunset Strip days ... any other good covers
    I'm forgetting?
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    Besides, when's the last time you heard a song with the word "inquisitive?" That is one of many reasons why I'll testify for "Testify."

    I love when simple rock & soul songs like these incorporate these huge five-dollar words. That's right up there with the time Laura Lee announced that she no longer needed her mama's jurisdiction[/b] in "Separation Line."


    Wow, you would love Bad Religion's "Suffer" album

    It's not the same when (relatively) contemporary acts do it. Or when more "intellectual" guys like Bob Dylan do it. I like it when it's done in pure 1960's-era AM radio music (rock OR soul) because it's so unexpected, like when Bob Kuban & the In-Men warn "make way for the foolhardy[/b] clown" in their hit "The Cheater."

    JUST SO THIS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A THREAD HIJACK...[/b]

    ...I'm gonna finish off by saying that I'm surprised the Parliaments didn't get an album behind this single, since it was a soul hit that crossed over pop. Hey, Alvin Cash got an album off of "Twine Time" and his record label was just as small!
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    Also, while we're appreciating this song (which
    is on some serious GOAT status) how about Derek Martin,
    "Soul Power" on Volt - which hijacks the chorus of
    "(I Wanna) Testify" (itself hijacked from a gospel tune
    anyway, of course) and does it with style and soul.

    Total Memphis heat via Detroit hit!

    Wasn't Derek Martin's song recorded in Detroit?
  • SoulhawkSoulhawk 3,197 Posts
    Derek Martin "Soul Power" on Volt

    this originally came out on 'Tuba' - a local Detroit label - same label as Richard's People 'Yo Yo' - a label co-run by Mr Fine Wine's uncle actually...

    ---
  • The_Hook_UpThe_Hook_Up 8,182 Posts
    Also, while we're appreciating this song (which
    is on some serious GOAT status) how about Derek Martin,
    "Soul Power" on Volt - which hijacks the chorus of
    "(I Wanna) Testify" (itself hijacked from a gospel tune
    anyway, of course) and does it with style and soul.

    Total Memphis heat via Detroit hit!

    Joni Wilsons tune on Volt, "Losers Seat(let Me Put You in)" uses the backing track for "all Your Goodies Are Gone"
  • SoulhawkSoulhawk 3,197 Posts
    a bunch of Stax/ Volt / Enterprise stuff was recorded in Detroit - like Issac Hayes 'Hot Buttered Soul' for example...

    ---
  • The_Hook_UpThe_Hook_Up 8,182 Posts
    BTW,I need a nice minty copy of Joni's "Loser's Seat" if anyone has one, this one doesnt exsist around here for some reason...plaese to notify me if you do....
  • Dj_Coma_ToastDj_Coma_Toast 874 Posts
    Ill ride for testify, but I prefer "the goose that laid the golden egg".
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    Derek Martin "Soul Power" on Volt

    this originally came out on 'Tuba' - a local Detroit label

    Actually, I did know this - but re-reading my post
    I can't deny it seemed like I didn't ... what a great
    tune, though.
  • funky16cornersfunky16corners 7,175 Posts
    ... and just to post threee times in a row,
    let's give it up for the Johnnie Taylor version
    on Stax, which is fire, and I have a hot rock
    cover by Pacific Ocean, Edward James Olomos' band
    from the Sunset Strip days ... any other good covers
    I'm forgetting?


    Bobby Bryant on Pacific Jazz....
  • drewnicedrewnice 5,465 Posts
    Also, while we're appreciating this song (which
    is on some serious GOAT status) how about Derek Martin,
    "Soul Power" on Volt - which hijacks the chorus of
    "(I Wanna) Testify" (itself hijacked from a gospel tune
    anyway, of course) and does it with style and soul.

    Total Memphis heat via Detroit hit!

    Joni Wilsons tune on Volt, "Losers Seat(let Me Put You in)" uses the backing track for "all Your Goodies Are Gone"

    Cosign on this thread and I just want to note that The Dells' 1978 rendition of "All Your Goodies Are Gone" (producted by G. Clinton) on their New Beginnings effort is also most excellent; esepcially the background when they're comping, "(hurt put you?) in the loser's seat". Coppable for cheap.

  • soulmarcosasoulmarcosa 4,296 Posts
    That's right up there with the time Laura Lee announced that she no longer needed her mama's jurisdiction[/b] in "Separation Line."

    Coincidentally, our man Johnnie Taylor recorded both "I Wanna Testify" and "Separation Line" on his THE JOHNNIE TAYLOR PHILOSOSPHY CONTINUES album on Stax.
  • johnshadejohnshade 577 Posts
    Derek Martin "Soul Power" on Volt

    this originally came out on 'Tuba' - a local Detroit label

    Actually, I did know this - but re-reading my post
    I can't deny it seemed like I didn't ... what a great
    tune, though.

    i prefer the flip on that derek martin, "sly girl," which seems to take from a four tops track itself.

    and on the "i can feel the ice melting" tip. mid-tempo with that piano solo!!!
  • goodwill_huntinggoodwill_hunting 324 Posts
    never really cared for this tune, always preferred the flipside
  • SIRUSSIRUS 2,554 Posts
    great song, but "in the rain" is my fav parliaments jam from the early years.
  • macacamacaca 278 Posts
    i play 'testify' and/ or 'all your goodies are gone' whenever i dj,
    or just make a mix for someone. essential.
  • PATXPATX 2,820 Posts
    never really cared for this tune, always preferred the flipside

    Never ever?
  • tallbobsmoketallbobsmoke 715 Posts
    never really cared for this tune, always preferred the flipside
    Uh....

    This is the Parliaments "(I Wanna) Testify" appreciation" thread.

  • drewnicedrewnice 5,465 Posts


    The Dells - All Your Goodies Are Gone

  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    how about Derek Martin, "Soul Power" on Volt

  • bull_oxbull_ox 5,056 Posts


    The Dells - All Your Goodies Are Gone


    Wow, thats cool - thanks

    Surprised I haven't seen/heard of this record before
  • JroamJroam 257 Posts
    I appreciate it like a motherfucker. My copy (on Revilot) was my moms from back in the day.
    my aunt gave me hers.
  • longtallsimonlongtallsimon 45 Posts
    Plenty of appreciation here too.

    That Joni Wilson is extremely tough to find, especially considering it's on Volt. I had one years ago and have been asked for it many times since, have not seen another since.

    My favorite word from an older song might have to be the use of "altruist" on that Love Experience track!
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