Info → Be Thankful For What You've Got
The Front Cover Of The Be Thankful For What You've Got Promo Single Release.
UK Release: 10th February 1992 (Massive Attack E.P)
UK Highest Chart: #27
Track Duration: 04:08
Formats: CD, Vinyl, Cassette, VHS, Digital. View Discography Entry.
Written By: William DeVaughn
Produced By: Grant Marshall, Andrew Vowles, Robert Del Naja and Jonathan Sharp
Mixed By: Jeremy Allom
Promo Video Directed By: Baillie Walsh
Filming Location: Raymonds Revue Bar, London, UK
Date Of Filming: January 1992
Video Duration: 05:28
Be Thankful For What You’ve Got was Daddy G’s idea to cover one an old R&B’ tune. In fact, most of the covers on Massive Attack’s albums are a direct result of Daddy G’s involvement. What he decided on was William DeVaughn’s Be Thankful For What You’ve Got, which had been a one hit wonder for DeVaughn back in the seventies. Tony Bryan who had just recently sung on Any Love (2) who be again drafted to fulfill the same role here.
The original version of Be Thankful For What You've Got by William DeVaughn released in 1974.
Be Thankful For What You’ve Got was one of the the first four songs produced for Blue Lines. While not being a major criticism, 3D has expressed that he felt Be Thankful For What You’ve Got was a bit to soft and retro for his tastes.
This would be the second and last time Tony Bryan would sing on a Massive Attack song. He would later go on to work with Lee “Scratch” Perry.
Be Thankful For What You’ve Got has never once been played live, at least not since the 1994 soundsystem tour, but because details of this tour are quite vague and sketchy, it is unknown rather Be Thankful For What You’ve Got was played or not.
Paul Oakenfold Mix – A remix undertaken by the famous house DJ Oakenfold who would also remix all the other Blue Lines singles except Daydreaming. This would be his final remix for Massive Attack.
Funky Mix – This rare remix was commissioned by Virgin Records America to promote Be Thankful For What You’ve Got to American radio stations for a possible single release (which ultimately never happened). The remix in question was done by a duo called Chris Stokes and Zyrus Melchor. Included only on a very rare CD promo of Be Thankful For What You’ve Got.
Several cover versions of Be Thankful For What You’ve Got exist but all are based on the original William DeVaughn song and not the Massive Attack recording even though the Massive Attack cover is probably the most well known of them.
3D on how Massive Attack’s cover of Be Thankful For What You’ve Got relates to the period it was made – “It’s a sentiment for the Nineties. What’s the point in killing people for their Nikes? We’re living in a time where nobody can be satisfied with what they’ve got because of the media. You’re bombarded with stuff to desire all the time” [Melody Maker – Febuary 1992]
The promo video was banned on British TV for having full frontal nudity.
Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac. Gangster whitewalls tv antenna in the back. You may not have a car at all. But just remember brothers and sisters. You can still stand tall. Just be thankful for what you’ve got. Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac. Diamonds in the back, sunroof top, diggin the scene. With the gangster lean. For what you’ve got. You may not have a car at all. But just remember brothers and sisters. You can still stand tall. Just be thankful for what you’ve got. Diamonds in the back, sunroof top, diggin’ the scene. With the gangster lean ooh ooh ooh. Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac. Gangster whitewalls TV antenna in the back. You may not have a car at all. But just remember brothers and sisters. You can still stand tall. Just be thankful for what you’ve got. Diamonds in the back, sunroof top, diggin the scene. With the Gangster lean. (x3)
This video for reasons of the full frontal nudity contained in it, recieved an “18” rating from the BBFC. Subsequently it was banned by all TV channels in the UK at the time of it’s release. Somehow, at the time of the release of Eleven Promos, the DVD of it received only a “12” rating from the BBFC in the UK even though the uncensored video for Be Thankful For What You’ve Got was included on it intact.
The version of Be Thankful For What You’ve Got that is used for the video is the Paul Oakenfold mix and not the original album version. In addition, the video also includes samples of Daydreaming and Safe From Harm (heard on the walkman of the girl at the beginning) and Unfinished Sympathy (heard at the very end of the video).
Baillie Walsh had previously directed for Massive Attack the videos for Risingson and Safe From Harm. Be Thankful For What You’ve Got would be his last video he would direct for Massive Attack until the first of theSplitting The Atom videos in 2009.
A joint statement issued by Massive Attack at the time of the video being banned – “All of our videos have occupied particular situations, both geographical and as locations of the mind. When Baillie Walsh presented this idea we realised it challenged us, both as group and as individuals, and felt it was time to confront questions of morality and hypocrisy. Many rock videos are notoriously sexist, this video was put together by a group of people of different genders and mixed sexual preference. It is intended not to offend, but to confront” [NME Magazine – February 1992]