Up for the Down Stroke [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster]

Performer: Parliament
Engineer: Ralph
Producer: George Clinton; George Clinton
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Parliament: William Nelson (guitar); Peter Chase (whistle); Cordell Mosson, Bootsy Collins (bass instrument); Eddie Hazel , Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins, Gary Shider, George Clinton , Grady Thomas, Ramon Tiki Fulwood, Raymond Davis, Bernie Worrell, Ron Bykowski, Gary Bronson, Calvin Simon. Personnel: Eddie Hazel , Gary Shider (vocals, guitar); Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins, George Clinton , Grady Thomas, Raymond Davis, Calvin Simon (vocals); Peter Chase (whistling); Bootsy Collins (guitar, drums); Willie Nelson, Billy "Bass" Nelson, Ron Bykowski (guitar); Bernie Worrell (keyboards); Man In The Box, Ramon Tiki Fulwood, Gary Bronson (drums). Liner Note Author: Jason Chervokas. Recording information: Crystal Sound Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Hollywood Sound, Los Angeles, CA; United Sound, Detroit, MI. Photographers: Leandro Correa; Tom Terrell. Arrangers: George Clinton ; Eddie Hazel ; Bernie Worrell. Though the heavier, harder, and more psychedelic Funkadelic was George Clinton's main outfit in the early '70, the creation of Parliament (named for Clinton's '60s soul group, The Parliaments, which included many core members of Parliament/Funkadelic) is at least as important in the history of P-Funk. In contrast to Funkadelic's acid-rock freak-outs, Parliament emphasizes vocals and horn riffs while highlighting tunes and melodies. Early efforts of the brilliantly creative songwriting team of George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Bernie Worrell (who would achieve apotheosis on MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION) are on display here. Many of these tracks are textured, psychedelicized rewrites of such Parliament songs as "(I Just Wanna) Testify," the group's first #1 hit. The deeply soulful, multi-part vocal version of this track is pure genius and is arguably the album's highlight. The title cut--another hit for the band--is one of Parliament's most infectious booty-movers, and it would be a staple of their live acts for years to follow. While not essential, UP FOR THE DOWN STROKE is an interesting peek at the beginnings of funk's finest ensemble. Kicking off with one of prime funk's purest distillations -- the outrageously great title track, with a perfect party chorus line and uncredited horns (presumably the Horny Horns were involved somehow) adding to the monster beat and bass -- Up for the Down Stroke finds Parliament in rude good health. As was more or less the case through the '70s, Parliament took a slightly more listener-friendly turn here than they did as Funkadelic, but often it's a difference by degrees. Just listening to some of Bernie Worrell's insane keyboard parts or Bootsy Collins' bass work here is enough to wake the dead. As always, Worrell in particular can suddenly surprise with his delicacy -- the soft, understated flow of "I Just Got Back" may have lyrics that could be sung by Jon Anderson, at least at points, but the piano lines have subtle, dreamy grace, the antithesis of Rick Wakeman's masturbations. For that matter, Peter Chase's whistles are downright delightful, goofy, and sweet all at once. Slightly more oddball is "All Your Goodies Are Gone," which has a bit more upfront bite and some downright strange lyrics, delivered with a stoned, breathless tone and backed by unearthly choir arrangements. Eddie Hazel is still listed as present and contributing, though unfortunately not for long after, with Ron Bykowski, Gary Shider, and William Nelson also chipping in as needed. Hazel co-writes two of the songs; it's a pity "The Goose" runs out of steam toward the midpoint of its nine minutes, but it makes for pleasant background music if not Parliament at its unfettered best. In the meantime, Clinton and various familiar voices like Fuzzy Haskins and Grady Thomas keep the weird wigginess of the lyrics flowing. In a nod to the group's past, "(I Wanna) Testify," here simply called "Testify," gets a 1974-era work over. [The 2003 reissue contains remastered sound, new liner notes and three bonus tracks: alternate mixes of "Up For the Down Stroke" and "Testify" as well as the unfinished and previously unreleased "Singing Another Song".] ~ Ned Raggett

The first of P-Funk mastermind George Clinton's many bands, Parliament was formed in the 1950s as a doo-wop group called the Parliaments. In the early 1970s it became one of several outlets for Clinton's outrageous blend of funk, rock, and the absurd. Originally intended as the more traditional foil to Funkadelic's progressive leanings, Parliament was eventually enveloped by the same over-the-top theatrics as all of Clinton's other projects.

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