Sunday 19 August 2018

Aretha Franklin - Think


Sunday, time for a classic!

"Think" is a song performed by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released as single in 1968, from her "Aretha Now" album. The song, a feminist anthem, reached No. 7 on Billboard Hot 100, becoming Franklin's seventh top 10 hit in the United States. The song also reached number 1 on the magazine's Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles, becoming her sixth single to top the chart. The song was written by Aretha and then husband Ted White. Franklin re-recorded the song in 1989 for the album Through the "Storm". Pitchfork Media placed it at number 15 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s"

The song is performed by a lead vocalist, backing vocalists, a brass section, organ, piano, two electric guitars, bass, and percussion. The personnel on the original recording included Aretha Franklin on piano, Wayne Jackson on trumpet, Andrew Love and Charles Chalmers on tenor sax, Floyd Newman or Willie Bridges on baritone sax, Spooner Oldham on organ, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Tommy Cogbill and Jimmy Johnson on guitars and Roger Hawkins on drums.

Franklin lip-synched to a new, longer version of the song in a musical sequence of the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. This version appears on the film soundtrack album, and in addition to Franklin's singing features backup vocals from Franklin's sisters, Carolyn and Erma, and a recurring sax riff performed by The Blues Brothers' saxophonist Lou Marini. Because Franklin was not used to lip-syncing, this sequence required a number of takes and considerable editing. Franklin re-recorded the song for Mothers Against Drunk Driving as a public service announcement during the late 1980s. In the 2017 animated film Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Adam Lambert sang the song.




Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. She began her career as a child singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was minister. In 1960, at the age of 18, she embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records but achieving only modest success. After signing to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as "Respect", Think", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", and "Spanish Harlem".

On August 13, 2018, Franklin was reported to be gravely ill at her home in Riverfront Towers, Detroit. She was reported to be under hospice care and surrounded by friends and family. Stevie Wonder, Jesse Jackson, and ex-husband Glynn Turman, among others, visited her on her deathbed. Franklin died at her home on August 16, 2018, aged 76. The cause was reported to be pancreatic cancer.

In a land of giants, Aretha Franklin stood as one of the tallest. She had the soul of a lion, the strength of a warrior and the voice of unparalleled power and conviction. Today's tune is for you Aretha, R.I.P.




Aretha Franklin performing "Think" in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers.



More info @

Official Aretha Franklin Web

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