Thankful (CD - 2000)

Personnel: Jarvis E. "BBJ" Cooper (rap vocals); Wayne "Baby Dubb" Campbell (various instruments, programming); Al West (various instruments); John "Juba" Smith, Charles "Little Charlie" Bereal (guitar); Charles Veal, South Central Chamber Orchestra (strings); Warryn "Arc" Campbell (Fender Rhodes piano); Tim "Spirit" Carmen (organ); Andrew Gouche (bass); Derrick Rydell Walker (drums); Destiny's Child, Joi Campbell, Gormyko Collins, Keisha Ealy, Jacquelin Gouche-Ferris, Trecina Atkins, Thomasina Atkins, Chris Bolton, Eric Dawkins (background vocals).

Producers: Wayne "Baby Dubb" Campbell, Al West.

Engineers include: Wayne "Baby Dubb" Campbell, Anthony A.J. Jeffries, Kevin Crouse.

THANKFUL won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.

Personnel: Mary Mary (background vocals); Destiny's Child, Jo Campbell, Eric Dawkins, Erica Atkins, Trecina Atkins, Chris Bolton, Warryn Campbell (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Manny Marroquin.

Recording information: Bakcroom Studio, Glendale, CA; EMI Studios, Santa Monica, CA; Hartman Way Sound Studios, West Hills, CA; Hit Factory, NY; The Backroom Studio, Glendale, CA; The Enterprise Studio, Burbank, CA; The Hit Factory, New York, NY; Track record; Trac-Ken Place, Hollywood, CA.

Photographer: Kwaku Alston.

Though still in their twenties, Erica and Tina Atkins, who make up the duo Mary Mary, have had an apprenticeship as songwriters with several cuts on R&B and gospel albums over the past few years, and before that were gospel singers. 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, as indicated by the success of the lead-off single, "Shackles (Praise You)," prior to the album's release. In part, this is because, writing with producer Warryn Campbell, the sisters have come up with a group of songs that will appeal musically no matter what the listener's religious beliefs, but a second important reason is the vocal quality of the two singers. Just as Columbia act Lauryn Hill expanded the audience for hip-hop with her The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album in 1998, Mary Mary is likely to push back the barriers for gospel, an event that has been in the making for some years, especially in the work of Kirk Franklin, and that is long overdue. Campbell employs many conventional hip-hop rhythmic ideas and usually is credited with playing "all instruments" on the tracks, but that wouldn't matter if the sisters' melodies and lyrics weren't so effective or their singing so compelling. Even when they take on a traditional tune like the album-closing "Wade in the Water," for which guest producer Andrew Gouché has disingenuously taken the songwriting credit, they reinvigorate the song, turning it into a tour de force of vocalizing. Thankful is a powerful debut by a duo that deserves to be gathering platinum records and Grammy Awards in the near future. ~ William Ruhlmann

Singer/songwriters Erica and Tina Atkins, the duo that makes up Mary Mary, combine modern R&B textures and spirituality in their debut album THANKFUL, produced by Warryn Campbell (Brandy, Boyz II Men). You can hear the joy, hope, and religious overtones in songs like "Joy," "Can't Give Up Now," and "Be Happy," while label mates Destiny's Child are featured on "Good to Me." Mary Mary display their unshakeable faith throughout this collection with a vibrant and joyous celebration of songs.

Other notable songs are the dance floor funk of "Shackles," "I Got It," and "What a Friend," a slower track depicting the Lord's grace. Erica and Tina contribute to all but one of the tracks, Andrew GouchT's "Wade In the Water." THANKFUL is uplifting, bright and extremely catchy. minimize