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Thankful
Studio album by Mary Mary
Released	May 2, 2000
Recorded	1999–2000
Genre	Gospel R&B
Length	53:54
Label	Columbia
Producer	Warryn Campbell Rick Cousins Al West Andrew Gouché
Mary Mary chronology
Thankful (2000) Incredible (2002)
Singles from Thankful
"Shackles (Praise You)" Released: February 29, 2000 "I Sings" Released: August 8, 2000

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

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Cross Rhythms

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

• "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

Certifications

References

1. "AddVance Notice / Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1339. February 25, 2000. pp. 84, 92.
2. "AddVance Notice / Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1362. August 4, 2000. pp. 63, 72.
3. ^ Allmusic review
4. ^ "Review: Thankful – Mary Mary – Cross Rhythms". www.crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
5. ^ "American album certifications – Mary Mary – Thankful". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
6. Thankful (liner notes). Columbia Records. 2000.
7. "Australiancharts.com – Mary Mary – Thankful". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Mary Mary – Thankful" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
9. "Lescharts.com – Mary Mary – Thankful". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
10. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2000. 38. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
11. "Norwegiancharts.com – Mary Mary – Thankful". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
12. "Swisscharts.com – Mary Mary – Thankful". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
13. "Mary Mary | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
14. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
15. "Mary Mary Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
16. "Mary Mary Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
17. "Mary Mary Chart History (Top Gospel Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
18. "Mary Mary Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
19. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2000". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
20. "The Year in Music 2000: Top Contemporary Christian Albums" (PDF). Billboard. December 29, 2001. p. YE-102. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via worldradiohistory.com.
21. "The Year in Music 2000: Top Gospel Albums" (PDF). Billboard. December 30, 2000. p. YE-100. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via worldradiohistory.com.
22. "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Best of 2000". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
23. "The Year in Music 2001: Top Contemporary Christian Albums" (PDF). Billboard. December 29, 2001. p. YE-84. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via worldradiohistory.com.
24. "The Year in Music 2001: Top Gospel Albums" (PDF). Billboard. December 29, 2001. p. YE-83. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via worldradiohistory.com.
25. "2002 Year End Charts – Top Contemporary Christian Albums". Billboard. Billboard.biz. December 28, 2002. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2011 – via Wayback Machine.
26. "The Year in Music 2002: Top Gospel Albums" (PDF). Billboard. December 28, 2002. p. YE-98. Retrieved December 26, 2021 – via worldradiohistory.com.
27. "Best of the 2000s: Gospel Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2024 – via Wayback Machine.
28. "British album certifications – Mary Mary – Thankful". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 3, 2024.

• 2000 debut albums
• Mary Mary albums
• Albums produced by Warryn Campbell
• Columbia Records albums