Up for the Down Stroke


Up for the Down Stroke is an album by the American funk band Parliament. It was the band's second album, and their first to be released on Casablanca Records. The album was released on July 3, 1974. Its title track was Parliament's first chart hit and remains one of the most well-known P-Funk songs. The album also contains a funk reworking of The Parliaments' song " Testify" under the title "Testify". The original title of the album was Whatever Makes Baby Feel Good, and the cover featured group leader George Clinton hovering over a woman in distress, sporting a black wig and monster-type gloves.
Up for the Down Stroke is notable in that it regenerated George Clinton's professional relationship with bassist Bootsy Collins, who had taken a two-year hiatus from the group. Collins would play a pivotal role in all of the Parliament albums released through Casablanca Records.

Track listing

Side One

  1. "Up for the Down Stroke" – 5:10
  2. "Testify" – 3:49
  3. "The Goose" – 9:13
  4. "I Can Move You " – 2:47

    Side Two

  5. "I Just Got Back" – 4:33
  6. "All Your Goodies Are Gone" – 5:07
  7. "Whatever Makes Baby Feel Good" – 6:01
  8. "Presence of a Brain" – 3:19

    Bonus tracks from 2003 remaster

  10. "Up for the Down Stroke " – 5:39
  12. "Testify " – 4:03
  14. "Singing Another Song " – 3:04

    Personnel