"Testify" is the seventh solo studio album by English musician Phil Collins, released on November 11, 2002. The album debuted at No. 30 on the US Billboard 200, marking its peak position. It also became Collins' second album in his career where no track charted in the American top 40 singles chart. Additionally, Testify was his lowest-charting album in the UK, as it became the only solo effort of his not to reach the Top 5. Despite these challenges, the album enjoyed some success in Continental Europe. It was also notable for being Collins' second album not co-produced by Hugh Padgham, who had worked on many of his previous successes.
The album was reissued as a deluxe edition in 2016, which included bonus tracks on a second disc, available in CD, vinyl, and digital formats.
Testify was produced over a two-year period at Collins' home in Switzerland, with recording taking place in France and Los Angeles. Many of the album's twelve tracks originated from demos Collins created in his bedroom studio, which were then developed with the assistance of producers Rob Cavallo and James Sanger, as well as engineer Allen Sides. Collins, who had worked without drum machines on his previous album Dance into the Light, returned to using them on Testify, which is evident in the album's sound.
The album opens with "Wake Up Call," an up-tempo track that began as a 16-bar doodle Collins wrote before expanding it into a full song in the studio. The title track is the longest and most complex song on the album, which Collins described as "one of the most direct and most personal love songs" he had ever written. Another up-tempo track, "Don't Get Me Started," continues Collins' tradition of social and political commentary, a theme that he had explored on previous songs like "Another Day in Paradise" and "Both Sides of the Story."
"It's Not Too Late" is a soulful track that reflects on lost faith in dreams, with the message that "it's never too late to make your dreams come true." "Driving Me Crazy" is another upbeat number that Collins said explores the fine line between love and obsession.
The songs "Testify" and "This Love This Heart" were inspired by Collins' then-wife, Orianne, while tracks like "Come with Me" and "Swing Low" were inspired by his first child, Nicholas. "Come with Me" had originally been a lullaby Collins sang to his daughter Lily while on tour in 1990, and he later reworked the lyrics after Nicholas was born.
Collins also collaborated with longtime associate Daryl Stuermer on "The Least You Can Do," with Stuermer contributing music and lead guitar, while Collins provided lyrics and arrangement. Stuermer also played guitar on "Can't Stop Loving You," a cover of Leo Sayer's 1978 hit. Collins gave the song a modern twist, drawing inspiration from hearing it on vacation. "Can't Stop Loving You" became the album's first single and reached No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary charts.
The album closes with "Thru My Eyes" and "You Touch My Heart," both of which were inspired by Collins' son Nicholas. (Note: "Thru My Eyes" is distinct from Collins' song "Look Through My Eyes," which he recorded for the Brother Bear soundtrack in 2003.)
