Thankful (Mary Mary album) explained

Thankful
Type:	studio
Artist:	Mary Mary
Cover:	MaryMaryThankful.jpg
Released:	May 2, 2000
Recorded:	1999–2000
Length:	53:54
Label:	Columbia
Producer:	Warryn Campbell Rick Cousins Al West Andrew Gouché
Next Title:	Incredible
Next Year:	2002

Thankful is the debut studio album by American duo Mary Mary. It was released on May 2, 2000, through Columbia Records in the United States. Chiefly produced by Warryn Campbell, the album is gospel music with stylings of contemporary R&B. It produced the smash crossover hit "Shackles (Praise You)", which reached the top ten in seven countries and the single "I Sings", which was also a significant hit. Thankful established Mary Mary as one of the leading artists in contemporary Christian music, and won the duo the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album at the 43rd awards ceremony as well as a Dove Award, a Lady of Soul Award, and a Stellar Award. It is one of the best-selling gospel albums of all time.

Critical reception

The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics. William Ruhlmann from AllMusic gave Thankful a grade of four and a half out of five stars. He wrote that "Thankful is pure gospel music, a series of praise songs and cautionary tales with religious messages, but it is likely to have a broader appeal than most gospel music." Cross Rhythms felt that Mary Mary "look set for big things both on the secular and gospel market. That's because they have very attractive vocals and the use the very same musical styles and beats currently popular within secular R&B. But somehow, even though their lyrical content is very much gospel-based, they've managed to appeal equally to the secular market."

Chart performance

Thankful peaked at number one on the US Top Gospel Albums, number twenty-two on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number fifty-nine on the US Billboard 200. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 2 million copies in the United States.

Track listing

Samples^[1]

• "Shackles (Praise You)" contains a replayed bass sample from "Don't Look Any Further", performed by Dennis Edwards & Siedah Garrett.
• "Can't Give Up Now" contains a replayed sample from "I Don't Feel No Ways Tired", performed by Rev. James Cleveland.
• "Good to Me" contains a replayed sample from "Give Me Your Love", written & performed by Curtis Mayfield.

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2000)	Position
US Billboard 200^[2]	196
US Christian Albums (Billboard)^[3]	10
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)^[4]	2
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[5]	92

Chart (2001)	Position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)^[6]	7
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)^[7]	3

Chart (2002)	Position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)^[8]	34
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)^[9]	10

Decade-end charts

Notes and References

1. Thankful . liner notes . . . 2000.
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20180103053140/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-billboard-200-albums. January 3, 2018. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2000. Billboard. December 26, 2021. Wayback Machine.
3. The Year in Music 2000: Top Contemporary Christian Albums. YE-102. Billboard. worldradiohistory.com. December 29, 2001. December 26, 2021.
4. The Year in Music 2000: Top Gospel Albums. YE-100. Billboard. worldradiohistory.com. December 30, 2000. December 26, 2021.
5. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20180103053405/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums/. January 3, 2018. R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Best of 2000. Billboard. December 26, 2021. Wayback Machine.
6. The Year in Music 2001: Top Contemporary Christian Albums. YE-84. Billboard. worldradiohistory.com. December 29, 2001. December 26, 2021.
7. The Year in Music 2001: Top Gospel Albums. YE-83. Billboard. worldradiohistory.com. December 29, 2001. December 26, 2021.
8. https://web.archive.org/web/20121009174537/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2002/illtitl.jsp. October 9, 2012. 2002 Year End Charts – Top Contemporary Christian Albums. Billboard. Billboard.biz. December 28, 2002. September 21, 2011. Wayback Machine.
9. The Year in Music 2002: Top Gospel Albums. YE-98. Billboard. worldradiohistory.com. December 28, 2002. December 26, 2021.
10. Best of the 2000s: Gospel Albums. January 6, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100106051824/http://www.billboard.com/charts-decade-end/gospel-albums?year=2009#/charts-decade-end/gospel-albums?year=2009. dead. Billboard. February 11, 2024. Wayback Machine.