Cissy Houston, Think It Over | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 167th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Think It Over” by Cissy Houston.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 167^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Think It Over” performed by Cissy Houston.

“Some people say you’ve been messing around.” Uh-oh… “I’m not too sure, but you’re just not the same / We got to find us a way.” Oh, snap! Sadly, in 2024, the world lost a musical giant. Cissy Houston (1933 – 2024) was not only the mother of a late icon (Whitney Houston) but was also a gifted vocalist. Among my favorite songs performed by Cissy is her rendition of “The Lord is My Shepherd” from the hit, multiplatinum soundtrack, The Preacher’s Wife.  However, Houston dropped some fantastic music long before “The Lord is My Shepherd.” In 1978, she commenced her album, Think It Over with the scintillating disco bop, “Think It Over”.  “Think It Over” was written by Houston, Alvin Fields, and Michael Zager.  While “Think It Over” didn’t earn her pop success, it impacted the R&B and dance charts.

“Think It Over” features a funky instrumental that is idiomatic of the disco-infused sound of the late 1970s. The accompaniment is groovy, while the horn riffs are exuberant and punchy. Cissy delivers commanding, dynamic, and energetic lead vocals.  Further providing a lift are infectious, tuneful melodies. “Think It Over” is catchy. Additionally, the background vocals singing the titular lyric up the ante.  What is it that Cissy wants him to think over? Per the chorus:

“Think it over

Before you do something to tear us apart

Think it over

All this talk is breaking my heart

Think it over

Before you go out and do it again

Think it over

Just get together before it all ends

Think it over, think it over.”

So, he better remember how good the love shared is before he goes and messes up a good thing! Cissy showcases a forgiving spirit: “I’m not too proud to forgive and forget / But baby, what about you?” Word.  “Think It Over” didn’t get its just due as a soul classic but it deserved far more recognition.  Well-sung, well-produced, and well-written, this disco joint is the sugar honey iced tea.

Cissy Houston // Think It Over // Private Stock // 1978

Cissy Houston, Think It Over: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 167 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Private Stock; OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]