Lyn Collins (June 12, 1948 – March 13, 2005) – Mama Feelgood (1973)
Lyn Collins (June 12, 1948 – March 13, 2005) – Mama Feelgood (1973)
Collins and James Brown co-wrote this superb funk anthem for the Black Caesar soundtrack.
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Lyn Collins, aka the Female Preacher, released several influential funk records in the early 70s while signed to James Brown’s People Records label. She is the most-sampled female artist of all time. Parts of her songs can be heard on more than 3,500 other recordings.
Gloria Lavern Collins began recording at age 14. She started working with James Brown after sending him a demo tape, and became the lead female vocalist in his touring band.
Her debut album Think (About It) came out on People Records in 1972. The title track was written and produced by Brown, and hit #9 R&B and #66 on the Billboard Hot 100. It featured Brown and Bobby Byrd on backing vocals, and the J.B.’s featuring Jabo Starks on drums.
“Think (About It)” accounts for most of Collins’ samples, over 3000 of them. Part of the reason why it became as frequently sampled as it did was because the track was later included on the 1986 compilation LP Ultimate Breaks and Beats Vol. 16, released the year before the E-mu SP-1200 sampler was first sold.
In 1973, for the Black Caesar soundtrack, Collins and Brown co-wrote the superb jam “Mama Feelgood,” a track that was arguably even funkier than “Think.” It was produced and arranged by Brown, and released as a single b/w “Fly Me To The Moon.” It peaked at #37 R&B later that year.
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