Thankful (Natalie Cole album)

Thankful
Studio album by Natalie Cole
Released	November 16, 1977
Recorded	August–November 1977
Studio	ABC, Los Angeles
Genre	R&B soul
Label	Capitol
Producer	Chuck Jackson Marvin Yancy Larkin Arnold (exec.)
Natalie Cole chronology
Unpredictable (1977) Thankful (1977) Natalie Live! (1978)
Singles from Thankful
"Our Love" Released: November 6, 1977 "Annie Mae" Released: February 8, 1978

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B− [2]

Thankful is the fourth album by the American singer Natalie Cole. It was released on November 16, 1977, by Capitol Records. In 1978, the album's first single, "Our Love", peaked at No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot R&B chart.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy, except where noted

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Lovers"	Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancy, Natalie Cole	3:47
2.	"Our Love"		5:22
3.	"La Costa"	Natalie Cole, Linda Williams	3:50
4.	"There Ain't Nothing Stronger Than Love"		4:54

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"Be Thankful"		3:49
6.	"Just Can't Stay Away"		5:23
7.	"Annie Mae"	Natalie Cole	4:00
8.	"Keeping a Light"	Natalie Cole	4:06

Personnel

• Natalie Cole – lead vocals
• Linda Williams – acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes
• Marvin Yancy – acoustic piano, organ, clavinet
• Reginald "Sonny" Burke – organ
• Michael Boddicker – synthesizers
• Criss Johnson, Ray Parker Jr., Lee Ritenour – guitars
• Larry Ball – bass guitar
• James Gadson, Donnell Hagan, Paul Humphrey, Teddy Sparks – drums
• Alan Estes – percussion
• Hal Brooks, Chuck Jackson – handclaps
• Gene Barge – alto saxophone solo (6), arrangements
• Richard Evans – arrangements
• The Colettes – backing vocals (1-4, 5, 7, 8)
• The "N" Sisters – backing vocals (1-4, 5, 7, 8)
• Anita Anderson – backing vocals (6)
• Yasmine "Sissy" Peoples – backing vocals (6)

Production

• Executive Producer – Larkin Arnold
• Producers – Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy
• Co-Producer on Track 5 – Gene Barge
• Engineer – Barney Perkins
• Assistant Engineers – Zollie Johnson and Lester Smith
• Mixed by Barney Perkins, Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy at Westlake Audio (Los Angeles, CA), assisted by Dean Rod.
• Mastered by John Golden and Barney Perkins at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA).
• Art Direction – Roy Kohara
• Illustration – Craig Nelson

Notes

• R&B/pop group En Vogue recorded a cover of "Just Can't Stay Away", which appears on their 1990 debut album Born to Sing .
• Singer Mary J. Blige recorded a cover version of "Our Love" for her 1997 album Share My World .

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1977–1978) Peak position US Billboard 200 [3] 16 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [4] 5

Year-end charts Chart (1978) Position US Billboard 200 [5] 24 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [6] 6

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions
		US [7]	US R&B [7]	US A/C [7]
1977	"Our Love"	10	1	33
1978	"Annie Mae"	—	6	—

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [8]	Platinum	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Hogan, Ed. Thankful > review at AllMusic. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved February 23, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
3. "Natalie Cole Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
4. "Natalie Cole Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
5. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
6. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
7. "US Charts > Natalie Cole". Allmusic . Retrieved April 27, 2013.
8. "American album certifications – Natalie Cole – Thankful". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Thankful at Discogs