Beyond its initial success, "Think" saw major rebirths, most notably in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers , where Franklin famously performed it as Mrs. Murphy.
Aretha Franklin's is more than just a soul classic; it is a three-minute masterclass in musical defiance. Released in May 1968 as the lead single from her album Aretha Now , the song reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the R&B charts for three weeks. Musical Composition and Vocal Performance Aretha Franklin - Think [1968] (Original Version)
Released less than a month after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , the insistent refrain of "Freedom" mirrored the era's sociopolitical calls for justice and resilience. Beyond its initial success, "Think" saw major rebirths,
Aretha’s delivery is characterized by "fiery intensity". Unlike the more polished 1980 Blues Brothers re-recording, the 1968 original has a raw, urgent quality. Released in May 1968 as the lead single
Musically, the original version is a "pulsating swinger" built on a foundation of Southern soul.
The song’s emotional climax occurs during the call-and-response bridge, where Franklin belts out "Freedom!" alongside the Sweet Inspirations (featuring Cissy Houston). Lyrical Themes and Cultural Impact
Co-written by Aretha and her then-husband/manager , the lyrics are often viewed through the lens of their turbulent marriage.