| Nitty Gritty | |
| Type: | Studio |
| Artist: | Gladys Knight & the Pips |
| Label: | Soul |
| Released: | 1969 |
| Recorded: | 1969 at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit |
| Length: | 42:13[1] |
| Prev Title: | All In A Knight's Work |
| Prev Year: | 1968 |
| Next Title: | Greatest Hits |
| Next Year: | 1970 |
Nitty Gritty is the sixth studio album by Gladys Knight & the Pips, released in 1969 on Motown's Soul Records imprint.
The album had three singles that became a hit. "Didn't You Know (You'd Have to Cry Sometime)" peaked at No. 63 on the pop chart, and No. 11 on the R&B chart.[2] "The Nitty Gritty", originally recorded by Shirley Ellis, peaked at No. 19 on the pop charts, and on No. 2 on the R&B charts.[3] [4] "Friendship Train" peaked at No. 17 on the pop charts, and No. 2 on the R&B charts.[5] It was later nominated for a Grammy Award.[6]
John Lowe of AllMusic stated "One of the reasons was their association with writer/producer Norman Whitfield, whose grittier, funkier style proved to be a key to Motown's counterattack to the rawer soul sounds that emerged in the latter part of the decade."[1]
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 (Billboard)[7] | 81 |
| US Hot Soul LPs (Billboard)[8] | 11 |
| Song Title | US Pop Charts[9] [10] | US R&B Charts[11] | Canada CHUM/RPM[12] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Didn't You Know (You'd Have to Cry Sometime) | 63 | 11 | - | |
| "Friendship Train" | 19 | 2 | 27 | |
| "The Nitty Gritty" | 17 | 2 | 29 |
. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 330.