Aretha Franklin - Think [1968] (original Version) (2026 Update)

Backed by the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section —including Jimmy Johnson on guitar and Roger Hawkins on drums—the track features a driving, propulsive beat that bridges the gap between gospel and emerging funk.

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. Backed by the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

Co-written by Aretha and her then-husband/manager , the lyrics are often viewed through the lens of their turbulent marriage. Musical Composition and Vocal Performance Released less than

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’s delivery is characterized by "fiery intensity". Unlike the more polished 1980 Blues Brothers re-recording, the 1968 original has a raw, urgent quality.