"Think" is a song written by American singer Aretha Franklin and Ted White, and first recorded by Franklin. It was released as a single in 1968, from her ''

Aretha Now ''Aretha Now'' is the thirteenth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on June 14, 1968, by Atlantic Records. Quickly certified Gold, it eventually reached a million in US sales. It hit No. 3 on ''Billboards album chart. In 19 ...

'' album. The song reached No. 7 on the ''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 The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

, becoming her sixth single to top the chart. The song was written by Franklin and her then husband Ted White. Franklin re-recorded the song in the Atlantic Records New York studio for the soundtrack of the 1980 film ''

The Blues Brothers The Blues Brothers are an American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by comedians Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on ''Saturday Night Live''. Belushi and Aykroyd fronted the band, in character, respecti ...

'' and in 1989 for the album '' Through the Storm''. ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...

'' placed it at number 15 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s". '' Billboard'' described the single as a "pulsating swinger with another wild performance" that had a similar feel to " Respect" and which it expected would quickly reach a million sales. '' Cash Box'' said it has "wailing lyrics of a hard-luck love affair" and "tremendous rhythmic drive."

Chart performance

Sales and certifications

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of ''

''. Musicians * Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, piano *Willie Bridges,

Floyd Newman Floyd Newman (born August 17, 1931) is a saxophonist, session musician and bandleader. As a baritone sax player, he was long associated with Stax Records, and as a member of The Mar-Keys’ horn section and the Memphis Horns. Born in Memphis, in ...

– baritone saxophone *Charles Chalmers, Andrew Love (musician), Andrew Love – tenor saxophone *Tommy Cogbill, Jimmy Johnson (session guitarist), Jimmy Johnson – guitar *Roger Hawkins (drummer), Roger Hawkins – drums *Wayne Jackson (musician), Wayne Jackson – trumpet *Jerry Jemmott – bass guitar *Spooner Oldham – Hammond organ *The Sweet Inspirations – background vocals Production *Jerry Wexler – producer *Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin – arrangements *Tom Dowd – engineer

Versions

Franklin lip-synched to a new version of the song in a musical sequence of the 1980 film ''

''. Because Franklin was not used to lip-syncing, this sequence required a number of takes and considerable editing.''Stories Behind the Making of The Blues Brothers'', documentary feature on 1998 DVD and 25th Anniversary DVD (2005). The 3:15 version of the song appears on the soundtrack album, and in addition to Franklin's singing features the Blues Brothers band and backup vocals from Franklin's sister Carolyn Franklin, Carolyn and cousin Brenda Corbett. Franklin recorded an updated 3:38 version titled "Think (1989)" for her 1989 album '' Through the Storm''. It was produced and arranged by Arif Mardin with his son Joe Mardin. She re-recorded the song for Mothers Against Drunk Driving as a public service announcement during the late 1980s.

Cover versions

Katharine McPhee's version of the song was released as a limited single from the ''American Idol Season 5: Encores#Season 5: Encores, American Idol 5: Encores'' (2006) album. The song became a minor Internet hit for McPhee—it was her first song to chart in the Pop 100, where it peaked at No. 90 due to download sales.

References

External links

Song Review
at AllMusic {{Authority control 1968 singles 1968 songs 2006 singles Aretha Franklin songs Atlantic Records singles Katharine McPhee songs Songs with feminist themes Song recordings produced by Jerry Wexler Songs written by Aretha Franklin