Born in Lee County, Texas, U.S.A., she began her recording career aged 14. Her biggest solo hit was the James Brown-produced gospel-style song "Think (About It)", from her 1972 album of the same name on People Records. The song contains five breaks which have been widely sampled in hip-hop and drum and bass, most famously, the "Yeah! Woo!" and "It takes two to make a thing go right" loops in Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock's "It Takes Two" which is composed almost completely from samples of Think including a few lines of Collins' vocals. Furthermore, it was used in the early sociocritical eurodance classic I Can't Stand It by Twenty 4 Seven. Another album followed in 1975 Check Me Out If You Don't Know Me by Now. After the release of this album, she returned to performing mainly as a back-up vocalist.
In the late 1980s and early '90s, Collins attempted a comeback as a dance/club diva, recording the house single "Shout" for Belgium's ARS label. In 1993, Collins' profile was given a boost by female dancehall singer Patra, who invited Collins to perform on her hit remake of "Think (About It)"; partly due to the resulting interest, her two official albums were reissued in England and the Netherlands. Collins continued to tour and perform, most notably at the European Jazz/Funk Festival (in both 1998 and 1999) and the Montreux Jazz Festival.
In February 2005, Collins embarked on her first ever solo tour. For three weeks, she performed in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The tour was produced by the Soulpower organization. Shortly after returning from her European tour, Collins died aged 56 in Pasadena, California, of cardiac arrhythmia.
In 2006, Paris-based Hi&Fly Records released a live album entitled Mama Feelgood, which included recordings from her European tour and some interview clips. This release was produced by German-born DJ Pari, who has also produced for Marva Whitney and who has managed Collins' last tour. An official anthology CD, also called Mama Feelgood, was released on Universal Music that same year.
Trivia[edit]
In October 2004, "Rock Me Again And Again" and "Think (About It)" featured on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack, playing on fictional radio station Master Sounds 98.3.
"Rock Me Again And Again" was covered by synth band The Human League on their 1984 album Hysteria.
Bruce Springsteen's song "Shackled and Drawn", from his 2012 album Wrecking Ball, and Ludacris' song "Southern Fried Intro", from his 2003 album Chicken-n-Beer, both feature an excerpt from Collins' song "Me And My Baby Got Our Own Thing Going."
Contrary to some reports, she is not related to Bootsy and Catfish Collins.
This biography originally appeared on the back of the UK re-release of "Check Me Out If You Don't Know Me By Now".
Following in the high-heeled footsteps of Yvonne Fair, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Anna King, Vicki Anderson and Marva Whitney, throughout the first half of the seventies Lyn Collins - "Mama Feelgood, The Female Preacher" - was the principal voice of the James Brown Revue.
Lyn was born in Abilene, Texas on June 12th 1948. During her late teens she sang proffessionally locally but didn't get an outside break until, after seeing the James Brown show a time or three, she decided to hone in on the Godfather sending a demo to him c/o King records. At first he didn't react but there must have been something memorable about the demo, for when Marva Whitney left his show in January 1970 he contacted Lyn and instructed "Be ready".
It still wasn't immediate acceptance because Vicki Anderson, who had been with the revue in the mid sixties, rejoined the team for a further two years. During this period James first recorded five tracks on Lyn at Bobby Smith's Studio in Macon, Georgia, February 15th 1971. Two cuts from the session, Wheels of Life and Just Won't Do Right, were twice scheduled for release on the King and People labels but only finally emerged on Polydor in December 1971, when it was clear that Vicki was packing up and shipping out again.
(This is a recurring pattern with James, and an object lesson for all aspiring band/revue leaders. Always have a replacement - whether a singer, an appropriate musician or an entire band - on hold in the wings, ready to immediately forward to fill a void.) When Vicki left again, Lyn Collins stepped into the spotlight to become soul sister No. 1.
The most commercially succesful of all of James Brown's funky femme fatales, Lyn's JB-produced hits included Think (About It) and, in duet with James What My Baby Needs Now (both 1972); Mama Feelgood, How Long Can I Keep It Up, Take Me Just As I Am and We Want to Parrty, Parrty, Parrty, (1973).
This album, her second, contains several of her most popular recordings a fine mix of funk and soul balladry. If you don't know her by now, check it out. And watch the announcement columns: at the time of writing it seems likely that Lyn Collins will be back to party very soon.
Cliff White
January 1988
http://www.thefunkateers.com/lyncollins/biography.html
Think About It
Lyn Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm talking to you, you and you too
Do you guys know who I'm talking to?
Those of you who go out and stay
Out all night and half the next day
And expect us to be home
When you get there
But let me tell you something
The sisters are not going for that no more
'Cause we realize two things
That you aren't doing anything for us
We can better do by ourselves
So from now on, we gonna use
What we got to get what we want
So, you'd better think, think
Now's the time when we have
That's the thing I never will forget
Now baby, I got a whole lot to give
And a whole lotta loving
That a woman could give, yeah
But before I give it up, I gotta think, think
Think what the future holds for me
Just go ahead and see
I don't need no heartache
I can't stand no misery
Let me think, think
It takes two to make a thing go right
It takes two to make it outta sight
All right, yeah
Don't say it's easy
Just plain living
Sometimes it's kinda tough
If it's not in your vision
Don't make no decision
Hey, yeah, all right
So, I'm laying the cards on the table
When it comes to taking care of me
I know I'm able
You may not call it true
But I won't do nothing that you won't do
Said I won't do nothing that you won't do
So think about the good things
Come on and think about the right things
You got to think about me too
Come on and think, think about you
Come on and think about the good things
Come on and think about the right things
Come on and think about me too
The song "Think" by Lyn Collins is a call to action for women to take control and stand up for themselves. Through the powerful lyrics, Collins criticizes men who go out all night and expect their partners to be home waiting for them. She urges women to use what they've got to get what they want and not settle for less. Collins emphasizes the importance of thinking before acting, prioritizing self-care, and not accepting heartache and misery.
The chorus of "Think" is the most memorable part of the song. Collins repeats the simple instruction to "think" several times throughout the song, using it as a motivational mantra. The repeated use of the word emphasizes the importance of taking the time to reflect and consider before acting on impulse.
One of the most interesting facts about "Think" is that it was used as a sample in several popular songs, including "It Takes Two" by DJ EZ Rock and Rob Base, "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and "The Power" by Snap!. The song has also been featured in several films, including "The Blues Brothers" and "Dead Presidents." Additionally, "Think" was covered by Aretha Franklin, who released her version in 1968.
Chords: Em7 - A7 - B7 - Em7
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, fellas
The singer is addressing a group of men.
I'm talking to you, you and you too
The singer is including every man in the group she is addressing.
Do you guys know who I'm talking to?
The singer wants to make sure that every man she is addressing is listening to her.
Those of you who go out and stay
The artist is referring specifically to the men in the group who go out and stay out all night.
Out all night and half the next day
The artist is describing the behavior of the men she is addressing.
And expect us to be home
The men expect their female partners to be home when they return.
When you get there
The men expect their female partners to be home when they return from their night out.
But let me tell you something
The artist is about to deliver an important message to the men she is addressing.
The sisters are not going for that no more
The women are no longer accepting this behavior from their male partners.
'Cause we realize two things
The women have come to two realizations.
That you aren't doing anything for us
The men are not fulfilling the women's needs.
We can better do by ourselves
The women have come to the conclusion that they can take care of themselves better than the men can.
So from now on, we gonna use
The women are going to use their own resources to achieve their goals.
What we got to get what we want
The women are going to use their own skills and assets to get what they want.
So, you'd better think, think
The men need to think carefully about their behavior and how it affects their partners.
Now's the time when we have
The women feel empowered to take control of their lives.
That's the thing I never will forget
The artist will never forget the feeling of empowerment she is experiencing now.
Now baby, I got a whole lot to give
The singer has a lot to offer in a relationship.
And a whole lotta loving
The singer is full of love and affection.
That a woman could give, yeah
The artist is confident in her ability to love and care for a partner.
But before I give it up, I gotta think, think
The artist will not give her love and affection freely without careful consideration.
Think what the future holds for me
The artist is considering the long-term implications of her actions.
Just go ahead and see
The singer is confident that she will make the right decision.
I don't need no heartache
The artist does not want to experience heartache or pain in a relationship.
I can't stand no misery
The singer does not want to be unhappy in a relationship.
Let me think, think
The singer needs time to think before making any decisions.
It takes two to make a thing go right
Both partners need to be invested in a relationship for it to succeed.
It takes two to make it outta sight
A successful relationship requires effort and commitment from both partners.
All right, yeah
The artist is expressing agreement and enthusiasm for a successful relationship.
Don't say it's easy
The singer acknowledges that relationships are not easy.
Just plain living
Living an ordinary, simple life can be challenging.
Sometimes it's kinda tough
Life can be difficult at times.
If it's not in your vision
If a relationship does not align with your goals or values,
Don't make no decision
The best course of action may be to avoid making a decision.
Hey, yeah, all right
The singer is expressing agreement or approval.
So, I'm laying the cards on the table
The artist is being open and honest about her thoughts and feelings.
When it comes to taking care of me
The singer is prioritizing her own needs and well-being.
I know I'm able
The singer is confident in her ability to take care of herself.
You may not call it true
The men may not agree with the singer's statements or actions.
But I won't do nothing that you won't do
The artist will not engage in any behavior that her partner is not willing to engage in as well.
Said I won't do nothing that you won't do
The artist is reaffirming her commitment to equality in the relationship.
So think about the good things
The singer is urging her partner to focus on the positive aspects of their relationship.
Come on and think about the right things
The singer wants her partner to consider what is truly important in their relationship.
You got to think about me too
The artist is reminding her partner to consider her feelings and needs as well.
Come on and think, think about you
The artist is encouraging her partner to consider his own feelings and needs as well.
Come on and think about the good things
The artist is reminding her partner to focus on the positive aspects of their relationship.
Come on and think about the right things
The singer wants her partner to consider what is truly important in their relationship.
Come on and think about me too
The artist is reminding her partner to consider her feelings and needs as well.
Lyrics Β© Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HenriqueMelo1989
Every single second of this song has become a sample in different songs
@gaiusbaltar7122
Right!
@nostalgiaof98
I still think the Amen beat is more common
@aswadsaswad1759
Snoop dogg Doggystyle brought me here π.
@jazzymars30
Give me some of them
@haydenscott8009
N.W.A
@AlexandraStarr1974
Great tune, someone should sample this π
@killtheradio2999
they really should.....lol
@misdinformation
This been sampled like 10 times. Ice Cube Poor Righteous Teachers Kwame Yo-yo Rakim and a few others
@damien5881
@@misdinformation that's the joke, the think break even has it's own wikipedia page :)