Think (The "5" Royales song)

"Think" is a rhythm and blues song written by Lowman Pauling and originally recorded by his group The "5" Royales. Released as a single on King Records in 1957, it was a national hit and reached number nine on the U.S. R&B chart.[1]

"Think"
Single by The "5" Royales
B-side"I'd Better Make a Move"
Released1957
Recorded1957
GenreRhythm and blues
Length2:35
LabelKing
5053
Songwriter(s)Lowman Pauling
The "5" Royales singles chronology
"Thirty Second Lover"
(1957)
"Think"
(1957)
"Messin' Up"
(1957)
"Think"
Single by James Brown and The Famous Flames
from the album Think!
B-side"You've Got the Power"
ReleasedMay 1960 (1960-05)
RecordedFebruary 20, 1960, United Studios, Hollywood, CA
GenreRhythm and blues
Length2:46
LabelFederal
12370
Songwriter(s)Lowman Pauling
Producer(s)Unknown
James Brown charting singles chronology
"I'll Go Crazy"
(1960)
"Think"
(1960)
""You've Got the Power" (B-side of "Think")"
(1960)
"Think"
Single by Vicki Anderson and James Brown
B-side"Nobody Cares" (Vicki Anderson only)
Released1967 (1967)
GenreSoul, funk
Length3:22
LabelKing
6091
Songwriter(s)Lowman Pauling
Producer(s)James Brown
James Brown charting singles chronology
"Kansas City"
(1967)
"Think"
(1967)
"Let Yourself Go"
(1967)
"Think"
Single by James Brown
B-side"Something"
ReleasedApril 1973 (April 1973)
GenreFunk
Length3:14
LabelPolydor
14177
Songwriter(s)Lowman Pauling
Producer(s)James Brown
James Brown charting singles chronology
"The Boss"
(1973)
"Think"
(1973)
"Think"
(1973)
"Think"
Single by James Brown
B-side"Something"
ReleasedJune 1973 (June 1973)
GenreFunk
Length3:18
LabelPolydor
14185
Songwriter(s)Lowman Pauling
Producer(s)James Brown
James Brown charting singles chronology
"Think"
(1973)
"Think"
(1973)
"Sexy, Sexy, Sexy"
(1973)

James Brown & The Famous Flames version

In 1960, James Brown and The Famous Flames recorded a cover version of "Think". The song's instrumental backing featured a pronounced rhythmic attack that anticipated Brown's later funk music. Critic Peter Guralnick described Brown's version of the song as a "radical reworking... Sung rapid-fire with the kind of sharp prompting from the Famous Flames that was the aural equivalent of their precision steps, 'Think' embodied an approach different from any in the past, with not only the song but the structure of the song turned inside out and a classic shuffle blues rhythmically and melodically transformed."[2] Douglas Wolk called it "[Brown's] first great dance record."[3]

"Think" was released as a single on the King Records subsidiary label Federal Records and charted #7 R&B and #33 Pop. ("Think"'s B-side, "You've Got the Power", was also a hit, reaching #14 R&B and #86 Pop.)[4] It was Brown and The Famous Flames' first recording to enter the Pop Top 40, and their next-to-last single for the Federal label before they switched to King. "Think" was also included on Brown's 1960 album of the same name.

Personnel

and The Famous Flames:

with the James Brown Band

  • Alfred Corley alto saxophone
  • J.C. Davis tenor saxophone
  • Bobby Roach guitar
  • Bernard Odum bass guitar
  • Nat Kendrick drums[5]

Other James Brown versions

James Brown & The Famous Flames recorded an extremely fast live rendition of "Think" for their 1963 album Live at the Apollo. Brown also performs the song on Live at the Apollo, Volume II in a duet with Marva Whitney.

In 1967, Brown recorded "Think" in the studio as a duet with Vicki Anderson. The version grazed the bottom of the Pop chart, peaking at #100. Brown returned to "Think" again in 1973, when he released two different solo performances of the song as singles on the Polydor label, both of them backed with his cover of The Beatles' "Something". Both versions charted, the former at #15 R&B and #77 Pop, the latter at #37 R&B and #80 Pop.

Other cover versions

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 205.
  2. Guralnick, P. (1986). Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom, 233. New York: Back Bay Books. ISBN 0-452-26697-1.
  3. Wolk, Douglas. (2004). Live at the Apollo, 50. New York: Continuum Books.
  4. White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
  5. Leeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
  6. "Ike & Tina Turner - Revue Live". Discogs. 1964.
  7. "Both Sides Of People". Meetjesushere.com. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  8. "The Best Of People". Meetjesushere.com. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
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