Testify! (album)

Testify! is the eighth studio album by the New Zealand singer-songwriter Jon Stevens. The album was released on 11 November 2011 and is a collection of soul covers and originals.

This article is about the Jon Stevens album. For other albums, see Testify (disambiguation).

Testify!
Studio album by
Jon Stevens
Released11 November 2011
RecordedLos Angeles, United States
GenreRock music, Soul music
LabelUniversal Music Australia
ProducerJon Stevens, John Fields
Jon Stevens chronology
Changing Times
(2011)		 Testify!
(2011)		 Woman
(2015)
Singles from Testify!
  1. "(I Wanna) Testify"
    Released: October 2011

Background and content

Stevens was raised in a small town in New Zealand, the youngest of 11 children of a music loving family. He said one of his earliest musical memories "was his mother Millie playing Mahalia Jackson, Staple Singers and other gospel 78s on the family stereo".[1] Stevens said he grew up listening to Blues music, artists that influenced him include: Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown, Etta James, Little Richard, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, Tom Jones, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and The Kinks. He sees Testify! as "a culmination of the many and varied musical influences that have been with him since his childhood".[1]

Reviews

Ian Cutherbertson of The Australian gave the album 3 1/2 out of 5 praising Stevens' natural talent, but thought the album wouldn't be a 'hit'. He thought the best of the original songs was "Be Like Me""[2]

Jamie Horne from The Border Mail believed Stevens' voice suited this style and said Sam Cooke’s aching "A Change Is Gonna Come" "is a true album highlight." In a word, Horne said the album was "authentic".[3]

Track listing
CD/download
  1. "(I Wanna) Testify" (George Clinton, Deron Taylor) - 3:23
  2. "Private Number" (William Bell, Booker T. Jones) (featuring Vanessa Amorosi) - 3:02
  3. "A Change is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke) - 3:09
  4. "All Or Nothing" (Jon Stevens) - 2:57
  5. "That's How Strong My Love Is" (O. V. Wright) - 2:58
  6. "Fire" (Etta James) - 2:25
  7. "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" (Homer Banks, Allen Jones) - 2:53
  8. "Freedom" (Jimi Hendrix) - 3:05
  9. "Open to Ideas" (Faces) - 3:11
  10. "You Can’t Do Anything To Hurt Me" (Jon Stevens/Vanessa Amorosi/John Fields) - 4:05
  11. "Be Like Me" (Jon Stevens/Vanessa Amorosi/John Fields) -3:19

Release history
Region Date Format Label Catalogue
Australia 11 November 2011
Universal Music Australia 2787035

References
  1. "Jon Stevens to release 'Testify!' on 11/11/11". May the rock be with you. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  2. "Testify! (Jon Stevens)". The Australian. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  3. "Jon Stevens - Testify (Universal)". Border Mail. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  4. "Testify! by Jon Stevens (CD)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  5. "Testify! by Jon Stevens - iTunes". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
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