Up for the Down Stroke

Up for the Down Stroke
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 3, 1974
Recorded1973–1974
Genre
Length39:12
LabelCasablanca
ProducerGeorge Clinton
Parliament chronology
Osmium
(1970)
Up for the Down Stroke
(1974)
Chocolate City
(1975)
Singles from Up for the Down Stroke
  1. "Up for the Down Stroke" / "Presence of a Brain"
    Released: June 1974
  2. "Testify" / "I Can Move You"
    Released: November 1974
  3. "The Goose (Part 1)" / "The Goose (Part 2)"
    Released: 1974
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Blender
Christgau's Record GuideA−
Pitchfork8.3/10
Rolling Stone
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide
Spin8/10

Up for the Down Stroke is an album by the American funk band Parliament. It was the band's second album (following 1970's Osmium), 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 "(I Wanna) 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 rekindled 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.