''Thankful'' is the debut studio album by American singer

Kelly Clarkson Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, author, and television personality. She rose to fame after winning the first season of ''American Idol'' in 2002, which earned her a record deal with RCA. Her debu ...

, released in the United States by

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also A ...

on April 15, 2003. " Miss Independent" was its first single, followed by " Low" and "

The Trouble with Love Is "The Trouble with Love Is" is a song by American singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson, for her debut studio album '' Thankful'' (2003). The song was written by Clarkson with its producers Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken. It was released as the fourth a ...

". Initially, the album had been scheduled to be released in November 2002, however, Clarkson's demanding schedule and difficulty finding tracks that suited her taste and image forced the album to be delayed several times. By the time the album was released, over six months had elapsed since " A Moment Like This" had reached number one. The album debuted at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200 selling 297,000 copies. "Miss Independent" went on to be a top ten hit in the United States. ''Thankful'' has sold 2,800,000 copies in the United States, receiving a 2× platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In Canada, ''Thankful'' was certified platinum for 100,000 copies shipped by the

Canadian Recording Industry Association Music Canada (formerly Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA)) is a non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, manufacture, produce, and distribute music in Canada. It ...

(CRIA).Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Gold & Platinum - January 2004

Background

Two songs originally on the album, "Trace of Gold" and "Today for Me", written by Stephanie Saraco, were replaced just before the album release by "Anytime" and "A Moment Like This". Early released versions of the CD still show the original tracks on players that read the data from the CD itself (such as

Windows Media Player Windows Media Player (WMP) is the first media player (application software), media player and media library application that was developed by Microsoft for playing sound reproduction, audio, video and viewing images on personal computers runnin ...

). The two songs have yet to be heard by the general public. Copies of ''Thankful'' sold during its first year of release contained a computer program that could be loaded, and used with the internet for artist updates and music videos. The program ceased to function when her official

RCA The RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded as the Radio Corporation of America in 1919. It was initially a patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse, AT&T Corporation and United Fruit Comp ...

website was launched. ''Thankful'' included four cover tracks, "

(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" is a 1967 single released by American soul singer Aretha Franklin on the Atlantic label. The words were written by Gerry Goffin from an idea by Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler, and the music was compose ...

" originally by Aretha Franklin, "Some Kind of Miracle" originally sung by

Puff Johnson Ewanya "Puff" Johnson (December 10, 1972 – June 24, 2013) was an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born in Detroit, she emerged on the music scene with her singles " Forever More" and " Over and Over", which experienced commercial success in E ...

, "Anytime" by Mary Griffin and "Just Missed the Train" by

Trine Rein Trine Rein is an American-Norwegian singer. Her album sales have exceeded more than a million records. She was born in San Francisco in 1970, and is married to Norwegian adventurer Lars Monsen. Biography Debut Trine Rein released her first sol ...

. "Just Missed the Train" was previously covered by

Danielle Brisebois Danielle Anne Brisebois (born June 28, 1969) is an American producer, singer-songwriter and former child actress. She is best known for her role as Stephanie Mills on the Norman Lear-produced sitcoms ''All in the Family'' and its spin-off '' ...

and

Carly Smithson Carly Sarah Smithson ( Hennessy; born 12 September 1983) is an Irish soul and pop rock singer who was the sixth place finalist on the seventh season of ''American Idol''. In 2001, Smithson released her first studio album for MCA Records called ...

(then Carly Hennessy), who worked on much of her album with Brisebois.

Critical reception

Critical response for ''Thankful'' was generally positive. On Metacritic, a website that compiles various reviews, the album received a score of 62, indicating generally favorable reviews. ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...

'' noted that "Clarkson glides through octaves with the masterful control of someone who's been doing this for decades". ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...

'' gave the album three out of five stars, praising Clarkson's talent and vocal abilities, while criticizing the album for feeling manufactured. They note that " erhigh notes are sweet and pillowy, her growl is bone-shaking and sexy, and her midrange is amazingly confident for a pop posy whose career is tied for eternity to the whims of her American Idol overlords". On the other hand, '' Q'' gave the album a very negative review, stating that the album "has her trilling like Mariah Carey on fluffy R&B tunes."

Commercial performance

Release of the album was preceded by the single " Miss Independent", which became a top 10 ''Billboard'' Hot 100 hit and a number one

top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or "cont ...

smash. In thanks to the success of the single, as well as buzz from her ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...

'' win (Clarkson also appeared several times on the show's second season to promote ''Thankful''), the album sold well in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. It managed to debut at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 with 297,000 copies sold. The album sold over 1 million copies in six weeks. According to Nielsen SoundScan, ''Thankful'' has sold 2,800,000 copies to date in the US. Further single releases " Low" and "

" did not replicate the success of the first single. "Just Missed the Train" and "You Thought Wrong" had been planned for possible single releases, but after the underperformance of "Low" and "The Trouble with Love Is", they were canceled.

Track listing

Personnel

Musicians

* Kelly Clarkson – lead vocals, backing vocals (2, 4, 5, 11) *

Carl Sturken Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers are New York–based songwriters and record producers. They have produced hits for Ruben Studdard, Wild Orchid, Christina Aguilera and Evelyn Champagne King and helped build the career of Rihanna. In addition to ...

– keyboards (1, 5), drum programming (1, 5), guitars (5) *

Rhett Lawrence James Everett "Rhett" Lawrence is an American record producer and songwriter. He has produced, mentored, and helped launch the career of 5 artists amongst the top 200 artists to be featured on Billboard magazine's top charts from 1955-2012, who ...

– programming (2, 4), guitars (2), scratching (2), arrangements (2, 4) * Clif Magness – keyboards (3, 6), acoustic piano (3, 6), programming (3, 6), acoustic guitar (3, 6), electric guitars (3, 6), bass (3, 6), arrangements (3, 6) * Kenneth Crouch – organ (4) *

Matthew Wilder Matthew Wilder ( Weiner; January 24, 1953) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. In early 1984, his single " Break My Stride" hit No. 2 on the ''Cash Box'' chart and No. 5 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. He also wrote t ...

– acoustic piano (7), programming (7), guitars (7) *

Babyface Babyface or Baby Face can refer to: Nicknames * Lester Joseph Gillis a.k.a. Baby Face Nelson, an infamous 1930s bank robber * Roosevelt "Baby Face" Willette (1933–1971), an American hard bop and soul-jazz musician * "Baby Face", Jimmy McLarnin ...

– instruments (8, 9) * Harvey Mason Jr. – instruments (8, 9) *

Louis Biancaniello Louis John Biancaniello is an American songwriter and record producer. Career Biancaniello's skills were developed while working alongside producer Narada Michael Walden with whom he produced hits for Shanice '' I Love Your Smile'', Whitney ...

– keyboards (10), programming (10), arrangements (10) * Steve Mac – keyboards (11) * Jeremy Ruzumna – organ (11) * Doug Emery – keyboards (12), programming (12), arrangements (12) * Jim Gasior – acoustic piano (12) *

Olle Romo Olle Romö is a Swedish music producer, songwriter, and drummer. Romo rehearsed with Swedish progressive rock group Kaipa in early 1982, however he left the group after a few weeks to join Eurythmics, and he was a drummer for them from the mid-to ...

– guitars (2) *

Tim Pierce Tim Pierce (born 1959 in Albuquerque) is an American session guitarist. He has worked for artists such as Joe Cocker, Crowded House, Goo Goo Dolls, Michael Jackson, Beth Hart, Roger Waters, Alice Cooper, Johnny Hallyday, Phil Collins, and the ...

– guitars (4) * James Harrah – guitars (7) *

Corky James Corky James (born February 10, 1954) is a Los Angeles-based session guitarist and bassist who has appeared on a considerable number of music albums and motion picture soundtracks. His genres encompass rock, pop, country, singer-songwriter, and f ...

– guitars (8) * Chris Camozzi – guitars (10) * Pathik Desai – guitars (11) * Paul Gendler – guitars (11) * Fridrik Karlsson – guitars (11) * Dan Warner – guitars (12) *

Tommy Sims Tommy Sims is an American bassist, songwriter, record producer and bandleader. Music career From 1987 to 1989 Sims was the bassist for the Christian rock band White Heart, which he left to become a studio musician and producer. During 1992 ...

– bass (4) *

Mike Elizondo Mike Elizondo (born October 22, 1972) is an American producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. A protege of Dr. Dre, Elizondo has worked with 50 Cent, Eminem, Carrie Underwood, Fiona Apple, Mastodon, Ry Cooder, Skylar Grey, Twenty ...

– bass (7) * Reggie Hamilton – bass (8, 9) * Steve Pearce – bass (11) * Randy Jackson – bass (12) * Steve Ferrera – drums (1, 2, 4, 11), percussion (11) * Josh Freese – drums (3) *

Abe Laboriel Jr. Abraham Laboriel Jr. (born March 23, 1971) is an American session drummer. He is the son of Mexican bass guitarist Abraham Laboriel, nephew of Mexican rocker Johnny Laboriel, and brother of record producer, songwriter, and film composer Mateo ...

– drums (7) * Teddy Campbell – drums (8) * Lee Levin – drums (12) * Wayne Rodrigues – scratching (2) * Dave Arch – string arrangements (11) * Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (1) *

Evan Rogers Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers are New York–based songwriters and record producers. They have produced hits for Ruben Studdard, Wild Orchid, Christina Aguilera and Evelyn Champagne King and helped build the career of Rihanna. In addition to ...

– backing vocals (1) * Suzie Benson – backing vocals (2) *

– backing vocals (3, 6) * Sherree Ford – backing vocals (4) * Sharlotte Gibson – backing vocals (4) * Lorenza Stopponi – backing vocals (5) * Rebekah Jordan – backing vocals (7) * Tamyra Gray – harmony vocals (8) * Mary Griffin – backing vocals (10) * Conesha Owens – backing vocals (10) *

Sam Watters Samuel Joshua Watters (born July 23, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and record executive. Watters was a member of the multi-platinum selling 1990s R&B group Color Me Badd and co-authored many of their hits including "I ...

– backing vocals (10), arrangements (10) *

Debra Byrd Debra Byrd (born 19 July 1951, Cleveland, Ohio) is an American vocalist who has worked with Barry Manilow in and after Lady Flash and Bob Dylan, appeared on Broadway, and serves as the head vocal coach for ''American Idol'' and '' Canadian Ido ...

– backing vocals (11) * Leslie Smith – backing vocals (11) * Gina Taylor – backing vocals (11) *

Chris Willis Christopher Kevin Willis (born February 26, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Although initially a gospel singer, he later received international attention for his collaborations with house music artist David Guetta, ...

– backing vocals (12), BGV arrangements (12) * Aisha Wright – backing vocals (12) * Betty Wright – backing vocals (12) * Jeanette Wright – backing vocals (12) Strings (Tracks 1 & 5) * Larry Gold – arrangements and conductor * James Cooper III – cello (1, 5) * Jennie Lorenzo – cello (1) * Alexandra Leem – viola (1) * Peter Nocella – viola (1) * Daniela Pierson – viola (5) *

David Yang David Yang (born 1967) is an American violist born in New York City. Biography David Yang's principal studies were with Martha Strongin Katz, Heidi Castleman, Karen Ritscher, and Stephen Wyrczynski. He is known mainly as a chamber musician an ...

– viola (5) * Charlene Kwas – violin (1) * Emma Kummrow – violin (1, 5) * Charles Parker Jr. – violin (1) * Igor Szwec – violin (1, 5) * Gregory Teperman – violin (1) * Ghislaine Fleischmann – violin (5) * Gloria Justen – violin (5) Strings and French horn on "Before Your Love" * David Campbell – arrangements and conductor * Suzie Katayama – orchestra manager * Bette Ross-Blumer – musical assistance * Joel Derouin – concertmaster * Richard Todd –

French horn The French horn (since the 1930s known simply as the horn in professional music circles) is a brass instrument made of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. The double horn in F/B (technically a variety of German horn) is the horn most ...

* Larry Corbett and Dan Smith – cello * Bob Becker and Darrin McCann – viola * Charlie Bisharat, Bruce Dukov, Berj Garabedian, Peter Kent, Michele Richards, John Wittenberg and Ken Yerke – violin

Production

* Clive Davis – executive producer * Andrea Derby – production coordinator (1, 5) * Jolie Levine-Aller – production coordinator (8, 9) * Brian Coleman – production manager (12) * Frank Harkins – art direction * Brett Kilroe – art direction * Tony Duran – photography Technical * J.D. Andrew – engineer (1) * Rich Balmer – engineer (1) * Al Hemberger – engineer (1, 5) * Rhett Lawrence – Pro Tools engineer (2, 4), mixing (2) * Steve McMillan – Pro Tools engineer (2, 4), mixing (2) * Olle Romo – Pro Tools engineer (2, 4) * Jim Watts – Pro Tools engineer (2, 4) * Andy Zulla – Pro Tools engineer (2, 4), engineer (11), mixing (11), additional recording (12) * Clif Magness – engineer (3, 6) * Csaba Petocz – engineer (7) * Paul Boutin – recording (8, 9) * Dave Russell – recording (8, 9), mixing (8, 9) * Louis Biancaniello – engineer (10), mixing (10) * Sean Tallman – engineer (10) * Sam Watters – engineer (10) * Matt Howe – engineer (11) * Chris Laws – engineer (11) * Robin Sellars – engineer (11) * Carlos Alvarez – recording (12), mixing (12) *

Steve Churchyard Steve Churchyard is an English record producer, recording engineer and mixer who began his career at Sir George Martin’s AIR Studios in London. He currently resides in the United States. He has been nominated for 15 Grammy awards. In 2008 he wo ...

– recording (12) * Jules Gondar – recording (12) * Craig Lozowick – recording (12) * Dan Bucchi – assistant engineer (1) * John Ishizeki – assistant engineer (1) * Kevin Harp – assistant engineer (3, 6) * Cesar Ramirez – assistant engineer (3, 6) * Quentin Dunn – second engineer (7) * Kevin Mahoney – assistant engineer (8, 9) * Joel Sheppard – assistant engineer (8, 9) * Daniel Pursey – assistant engineer (11) * Cosbie Cates – second engineer (12) * Jimmy Hoyson – second engineer (12) * Jeff Kanan – second engineer (12) * Greg London – second engineer (12) * Marcelo Marulanda – second engineer (12) * Doug Emery – additional recording (12) * Conrad Golding – additional recording (12), second engineer (12) * Dino Hermann – additional recording (12) * Lee Levin – additional recording (12) * Jeff Chestek – string engineer (1, 5) * Gordon Goss – assistant string engineer (1) * Vincent Dilorenzo – assistant string engineer (5) * Tony Maserati – mixing (1, 4, 5) * Dave Pensado – mixing (2) *

Bob Clearmountain Bob Clearmountain (born January 15, 1953) is an American recording engineer, mixer and record producer. He has worked with many major acts, including Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Toto (band), Toto, Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams, with whom he ...

– mixing (3, 6) *

Mike Shipley Michael Shipley (6 October 1956 – 25 July 2013) was an Australian mixing engineer, audio engineer, and record producer. Shipley's music career spanned more than 30 years – mostly working in Los Angeles. At the Grammy Awards of 2012 he ...

– mixing (7) * Steve Ferrera – mixing (11) * Brendan Kuntz – mix assistant (1) * Matt Snedecor – mix assistant (1, 5) * Jim Briggs – mix assistant (5) * Pat Woodward – mix assistant (5) * Dabling Harward – vocal editing (8, 9) *

Stephen Marcussen Stephen Marcussen is the founder and chief mastering engineer at Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California, United States. He has been mastering music since 1979. Biography Marcussen's introduction to music recording happened in 1976 when, at ...

– mastering

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

{{Authority control 2003 debut albums Albums produced by Babyface (musician) Albums produced by Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers Albums produced by Desmond Child Albums produced by Matthew Wilder Albums produced by Sam Watters Albums produced by the Underdogs (production team) Albums with cover art by Tony Duran Kelly Clarkson albums RCA Records albums 19 Recordings albums Contemporary R&B albums by American artists