Think (band)

The group released a single, "Once You Understand", on Laurie Records which consists mostly of a dialogue between teenagers and their parents over the growing culture change;[1] the teenagers have liberal viewpoints, while their parents are more conservative. Throughout the record, the words "things get a little easier/ once you understand" are repeated. The song ends abruptly as a policeman calls the father with the news that his 17-year-old son is dead from an overdose.[1]

"Once You Understand" started getting airplay in late 1971, hitting number one at stations KQV in Pittsburgh and WIXY in Cleveland; nationally, it made it to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1972, even though some stations banned the song for its reference to drugs.[2] The flip side of the single, "Gather" is a poem sung about life being short. (In later decades, "Once You Understand" was often sampled by hip hop artists.) The song also peaked at number 76 in Australia.[3]

The record was re-released in early 1974, when the partial broadcast ban was lifted and peaked at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1]

Laurie released another single from Think, "It's Not The World, It's The People" b/w "Who Are You To Tell Me What To Do", as well as an album, Encounter "Once You Understand", but neither was a hit.[1] Stallman later produced a series of educational albums (such as Pre-Drivers' Education Through Music) in the 1970s, while Susser, who had previously helmed recordings by such artists as Trini Lopez and Robert John, has had a fruitful career recording children's songs.

This group is not to be confused with a West Coast-based band of the same name, that recorded two singles for Columbia Records in 1968 and 1969.