Hendrix biographer Harry Shapiro describes his guitar parts for the song as "churning, hard-hitting rhythm chords and fluid blues-inspired solo breaks". The Isley Brothers were one of the first groups that Hendrix recorded and toured with after relocating to New York's Harlem neighborhood from Nashville, Tennessee. Although it missed the record charts, it later gained wider exposure as one of the first recordings featuring guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Due to its length of nearly six minutes, "Testify" was split into two parts for release as a single. Ronald Isley provides the lead vocals, with Rudolph Isley and O'Kelly Isley Jr. The Isley Brothers respond, imitating the singing styles of Ray Charles, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Jackie Wilson and the Beatles. All it takes is a rhythm in your feet, don't worry about the music baby, you gotta have a beat, now you got soul"ĭuring the song, others are called upon and testify briefly, including "Raymond, the genius, Ray", "James from Augusta, Georgia", "our friend Stevie", "another friend that lives in Detroit called Jackie", and "across the water. For their song, the Isleys parody the practice: īrothers and sisters and to all this song may concern, if you want to have some soul, if you want to be a witness I want you to listen while I testify . The practice of "testifying" is used in churches in the American South to express belief in Christian faith and experiences. Jimi Hendrix provided the guitar parts, which Unterberger identifies as one of the best examples of his pre-Experience recordings. Music critic Richie Unterberger describes "Testify" as "a delightful track, one that worked as a both an out-and-out raver and a novelty", praising it as "tremendously exciting uptempo soul music". Written by the Isleys and recorded in 1964, it followed several successful singles by the group and was the first single to appear on their own T-Neck record label. " Testify" is an uptempo soul song by the American rhythm and blues group the Isley Brothers. 1964 single by The Isley Brothers "Testify (Part I)"
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