Rock me again and again and again and again and again and again

March 17, 2005 6:26 AM

R.I.P. Lyn Collins [NYT, reg. req.] Backing singer for James Brown, whose revue she joined in 1971 (she was also the sister of his band members Bootsy and Catfish Collins), her first hit was the monster Think (About It) in 1972, one of the most sampled records in hip hop, maybe most famously in Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock's It Takes Two. (Extensive, but by no means full, list of Collins samplers here.) Audio sample (mp3) of You Can't Love Me If You Don't respect Me here. Brief obit and full mp3 of a great live version of Do Your Thing here.
posted by Len (9 comments total)

.

We lost Danny Joe Brown yesterday. Bad week for music.
posted by jonmc at 6:48 AM on March 17, 2005

Collins fan page/discography
posted by LinusMines at 6:51 AM on March 17, 2005

More here
posted by the cuban at 7:14 AM on March 17, 2005

No more fun and games.
.
posted by asok at 8:40 AM on March 17, 2005

Another loss of the sort of remarkable person that that the structures and strictures of our increasingly plastic ‘content’ industry cannot ever replace. She had a real voice and real talent, proved in reality before it was marketed. Not synthesised with Pro Tools after someone decided she was pretty.

Now we just get hair models from Dallas who think they can sing because they grew up imitating the nasal tones of Whitney Houston on bloody top 40 radio. Her music means a lot to me –and to many of my family and friends. Sorry to hear of her passing…
posted by The Salaryman at 8:50 AM on March 17, 2005

This saddens me greatly. Two days ago I was listening to my James Brown's Funky People CDs, which feature several tracks by Lynn Collins.

Amen to The Salaryman. Her likes will never be seen again. At least, not on commercial radio.
posted by Monk at 10:59 AM on March 17, 2005

I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms Collins and Martha High two weeks ago. Asking them about how they both got started just underlined what the Salaryman said above, they both spoke with such passion about their music and their careers they were just a joy to talk to, as opposed to some of my more recent interviews where the people involved are less bothered by the quality of their single and more concerned as to how it will help their TV presenting career.

Both of them were touring with a German outfit called Soul Power, who were surprsingly good. I hope they continue to tour with Ms High, and if you get a chance to go and see them then please do, you won't regret it.
posted by ciderwoman at 11:02 AM on March 17, 2005

I was having a good day until I read this link. Soul music loses another shining star.
posted by reeche1 at 9:34 PM on March 17, 2005

So sad. I really loved her music. I got James Brown's Funky People back in the 80s and it changed my life. Music never sounded the same after that. We will miss you Miss Collins. Damn right, you were somebody.
posted by squirrel at 9:40 PM on March 17, 2005