Thankful could be subtitled the finest hour for
Natalie Cole and the songwriting/production duo of
Chuck Jackson and
Marvin Yancy. The album flows from track to track. It boasts the beautiful number one R&B/Top Ten pop million-selling ballad "Our Love," as well as radio-aired tracks: the rousing, gospel-ish "Be Thankful," " Just Can't Stay Away," the lushly orchestrated torch number "Aint Nothing Stronger Than Love," and the smooth tropical-flavored "La Costa." The driving, dramatic-themed "Annie Mae" became a steppers favorite.
Thankful went platinum and was later issued both as a high-quality audiophile pressing from Mobile Fidelity and as a 1996 CD from One Way. Some of the LP's tracks are on The Collection, the 1995 EMI-Capitol CD I've Got Love on My Mind, This Will Be: Natalie Cole's Everlasting Love, and the HOL CD Sophisticated Lady. ~ Ed Hogan