The A-side to the second single from Parliament's 1974 album of the same name, "Up for the Down Stroke" marked a pivotal moment for the band, signaling a shift towards the flamboyant, conceptual P-Funk sound that would define their career.
- The single reached #63 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the R&B chart.
- The song features a prominent clavinet riff and a driving bassline, elements that would become hallmarks of Parliament's sound.
- "Up for the Down Stroke" was the first single released on Casablanca Records, the label most associated with P-Funk's golden age, though this particular single was released on Island Def Jam.
Parliament is a funk band formed in Plainfield, New Jersey, in the early 1970s. The group is best known for its elaborate stage shows and its pioneering work in funk music. In 1974, Parliament was poised to break out of the R&B charts and into the wider popular consciousness.
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