| Testify! | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Jon Stevens |
| Cover: | Testify!_by_Jon_Stevens.jpg |
| Released: | 11 November 2011 |
| Recorded: | Los Angeles, United States |
| Genre: | Rock music, Soul music |
| Label: | Universal Music Australia |
| Producer: | Jon Stevens, John Fields |
| Prev Title: | Changing Times |
| Prev Year: | 2011 |
| Next Title: | Woman |
| Next Year: | 2015 |
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.
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". 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]
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]