Thankful

Natalie Cole | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 1996)
• Original Release Date: 1977
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capital
• ASIN: B000002R26
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,498 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1977 album from the Soul and Pop vocalist including one bonus track. Like its predecessors, the LP was produced by the Chicago team of Chuck Jackson & Marvin Yancy and contained a number of Natalie's own compositions. Thankful was certified platinum and boasted the U.S. million-selling R&B #1 and #15 Pop single, "Our Love." Key cuts on the album include the Gospel-driven title track; the smooth 'quiet storm'-flavored Cole fan favorite, 'La Costa' (co-written by Natalie and her then-musical director Linda Williams); the jazzy "Lovers" (another tune co-penned by Natalie); and the Cole composition, the heartfelt 'Keeping A Light.' In addition to saxophonist and co-producer Gene Barge, Jackson & Yancy assembled an 'A' list of musicians for the album including guitarists Lee Ritenour and Ray Parker Jr., drummers James Gadson and Paul Humphrey and keyboardists Sonny Burke and Michael Boddiker. SoulMusic.com. 2011. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply gorgeous, October 12, 2002

By 

Jazysol79 (Germantown, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thankful (Audio CD)

Natalie Cole was in rare form in 1977 - she had three Grammys, four No. 1 R&B hits and three hit albums. With each, Natalie showed signs of real musical maturity. "Thankful," released in the latter half of '77 is, in my opinion, the best album she ever did. A gorgeous mix of soul, R&B, gospel and jazz, "Thankful" captured Natalie at her "R&B it girl" peak. Boasting a No. 1 smash in "Our Love" and another hit in "Annie Mae," "Thankful" is the earliest evidence of Natalie's trademark versatility, as well as her skill at leaning toward jazz. The former has since become a classic, with Natalie singing the praises of love and affection in all their glory. She really wraps herself around the lyric and gives it her all, pushing the song to a level she rarely reached after that. "Annie Mae" is the emotional tale of a runaway girl, which is grim territory compared to many of Natalie's flowery tales of love from that time. A driving melody takes the song to dramatic, sweeping levels, as Natalie's wails make the song almost palpable. The singles weren't the only treats on this album. The gospelish "Be Thankful" is Natalie at her soul shouting best. The upbeat, jazzy "Lovers" is one of my favorites. Natalie breezes through the song like she's having a ball, as she scats and dips through four minutes of jazzy fun. You can almost imagine her prancing around on stage and getting into it. She really hits her jazzy stride on "La Costa," a tropical journey complete with lush orchestration, birds chirping and ocean waves. That song, as well as many others is a prime example of what made this record work - it has a true ambience to it. It moves from track to track, and brings you in for a musical experience like no other. This is long out of print, but if you track down a CD copy, snatch it up. It's beautiful, simply beautiful!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite simply, this is music!!!!, June 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Thankful (Audio CD)

I was about 10/12 when this "album" was out and disco was in. My oldest sister and her friends would listen to this and other artist of that era all the time!!! This was music and the songs on this "album" make you cry, laugh and remember the way it use to be. It is a must to this in your collection from the disco reign!!!! It's funny, because now, I listen to all of the songs from then wish I was grown then...smile.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SOOOOO- THANKFUL, October 1, 2008

By 

Garnell Williams ""G-MAN"" (Douglasville,GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thankful (Audio CD)

Where do I began, The year was 1977 and I had just got my first serious job. I was a Detroit Fireman. That's when I first met my soon to be wife. She was a EMT for the fire department. Now this happened to be Natalie's fourth lp. The first four lp's are now known as the "Love Collection", and if you own them you will see why. This was the time when she met and married her producer. It was a splendid time indeed, those "70's". So she was so full of life & love to give and he brought out the best of her love in every project they did together. So, hence the "Love Collection". Now My wife to be was 25 and I was 24. We met at and audition for a singing group. She loved music and so did I. So, when I invited her to my bachelor pad for the first time the first thing she noticed was my extensive lp collection and the first thing she grabbed was this lp and wanted to hear it since it had just come out. She said she had all of Natalie's other lp's. Now this was the only one I had at this time. I was a P-Funk allstar at the time. We made sweet music I through the night and was married six months later. My wife has since passed on due to Cancer in 1999. But she would be so proud to know I found all four lp's plus the Live lp on disc.