Gloria Lavern Collins (June 12, 1948 – March 13, 2005), better known as Lyn Collins, was an American soul singer nicknamed the "Female Preacher." She was discovered in the early '70s along with her relatives Bootsy and Catfish Collins by James Brown and was best known for the influential 1972 funk single, "Think (About It)". Yet, despite her talent and success, her name has barely registered on the country's musical conscious.
Lyn Collins was born in Lexington*, Texas, where she grew
up and
began singing in her teens. She began her recording career at age 14. She played with Charles Pike & the Scholars and waxed a tune called "Unlucky in Love." She married a man who served both as her manager and as the local promoter for the James Brown Revue. Collins sent Brown a demo tape and he responded by essentially putting her on standby in 1970. On Marva Whitney’s leaving the Revue, former vocalist Vicki Anderson elected to rejoin, however, so Brown instead invited Collins to come to Georgia for a recording session in early 1971, which produced the single "Wheel of Life." By the end of that year, Anderson was ready to leave again, and Collins officially joined the James Brown Revue.
began singing in her teens. She began her recording career at age 14. She played with Charles Pike & the Scholars and waxed a tune called "Unlucky in Love." She married a man who served both as her manager and as the local promoter for the James Brown Revue. Collins sent Brown a demo tape and he responded by essentially putting her on standby in 1970. On Marva Whitney’s leaving the Revue, former vocalist Vicki Anderson elected to rejoin, however, so Brown instead invited Collins to come to Georgia for a recording session in early 1971, which produced the single "Wheel of Life." By the end of that year, Anderson was ready to leave again, and Collins officially joined the James Brown Revue.
Being high up in James Brown’s revue meant you got to
release records, and Collins grabbed the chance with both hands. Her recordings
are the most characterful of any singer James Brown produced during that era of
ball-busting funk, yet Lyn had plenty of competition. She accrued nicknames,
awarded by Brown: she was Mama Feelgood and, more often, The Female Preacher,
an apt epithet because she had an arresting presence on record and on stage.
Like a great religious figure delivering a sermon in church, you just had to
listen. Collins came over as sassy and sexy, but also powerful, elegant and
composed.
In 1972, Brown's People Records label released Collins'
self-penned single "Think (About It)"; produced by Brown, it became
her first and biggest hit, made her the most commercially successful female
singer in Brown's camp. The record made No.66 on the Billboard pop charts and
was Top 10 in the R&B listings,
where she became something of a regular, with nine further records charting. It was later sampled for the main vocal hook in the party rap classic "It Takes Two" by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock. Collins' first full-length album, also titled Think (About It), was released later in the year. Collins continued to record singles for Brown through 1973, also fulfilling her heavy touring commitments as a member of the Revue. Her biggest pop hit, ʻWhat My Baby Needs Now Is A Little More Lovin’’, was a duet with the self-styled Soul Brother No.1.
where she became something of a regular, with nine further records charting. It was later sampled for the main vocal hook in the party rap classic "It Takes Two" by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock. Collins' first full-length album, also titled Think (About It), was released later in the year. Collins continued to record singles for Brown through 1973, also fulfilling her heavy touring commitments as a member of the Revue. Her biggest pop hit, ʻWhat My Baby Needs Now Is A Little More Lovin’’, was a duet with the self-styled Soul Brother No.1.
Collins was a strong, proud and powerful woman. But she
needed to be. When you were on Brown’s revue, being produced by him, singing
songs he wrote, you never quite escaped his shadow. Her second album, Check It
Out if You Don't Know Me by Now, was released in 1975. When Collins eventually
left Brown in the mid-70s, she cut no more albums and comparatively few singles. She eventually became a backup session
vocalist for the likes of Rod Stewart and Dionne Warwick. She also appeared on
the soundtracks of the film Dr. Detroit and the TV series Fame. Around the late
'80s/early '90s, Collins attempted a comeback as a dance-club diva, recording
the house single "Shout" for Belgium's ARS label, and a self-penned
track called "Break Your Heart" for an Italian label.
In 1993, Collins' profile was given a boost by female
dancehall reggae 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 Holland. In addition, Collins'
work has appeared on Polydor compilations like James Brown's Funky People and
James Brown's Original Funky Divas, as well as the bootleg singles comp Female
Preacher.
She 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 solo tour. For three
weeks, she performed in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria and
Switzerland.
Not long after returning from the tour Collins passed away on the 13th of March 2005 as a result of complications from a seizure she had suffered the previous Thursday 10th of March. As was always the case during her years with James Brown, a fellow female former member of James Brown’s revue was on hand to support her through these final tough days: the wonderful, sweet-voiced vocalist Martha High who was there holding her hand when she died.
Not long after returning from the tour Collins passed away on the 13th of March 2005 as a result of complications from a seizure she had suffered the previous Thursday 10th of March. As was always the case during her years with James Brown, a fellow female former member of James Brown’s revue was on hand to support her through these final tough days: the wonderful, sweet-voiced vocalist Martha High who was there holding her hand when she died.
Reflecting on her time working with James Brown, she
reportedly said "I would have preferred to sing more and scream
less." Collins had dared to sing of a liberation she would not have
enjoyed at the time, hoping to inspire her sisters in spirit. In retrospect,
now we know how difficult it must have been to be something of a star, yet not
free. These fine records which spoke of a freedom she did not enjoy revealed
just how strong she really was.
(Edited from AllMusic & discovermusic.com) (*not
Abilene as some reports state)
3 comments:
For “Mama Feelgood – The Best Of Lyn Collins” go here:
https://www.upload.ee/files/11867206/LC_-_Mama_Feelgood.rar.html
01 - Think (About It)
02 - Mama Feelgood
03 - Baby, Don't Do It
04 - Don't Make Me Over
05 - Wheel Of Life
06 - I'll Never Let You Break My Heart Again
07 - Rock Me Again & Again & Again & Again & Again & Again (6 Times) [feat. James Brown]
08 - Backstabbers [feat. James Brown]
09 - Things Got To Get Better (Get Together)
10 - We Want To Parrty, Parrty, Parrty (Parts 1&2)
11 - Take Me Just As I Am
12 - Do Your Thing
13 - You Can't Love Me If You Don't
14 - Me And My Baby Got A Good Thing Going
15 - Put It On The Line
16 - Ain't No Sunshine
17 - Give It Up Or Turn It A Loose
18 - How Long Can I Keep It Up
19 - Never Gonna Give You Up
20 - What My Baby Needs Now Is A Little More Lovin' [feat. James Brown]
Thanks for this, much appreciated.
Muchas gracias. Salud para usted
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