Be Thankful For What You’ve Got

Primarily Found On:

Blue Lines

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Also Found On:

The links below will take you either to the Collector section of MASSIVEATTACK.IE, or to an external website - either amazon.com or discogs.com, where you can find out more about all the the album (s)/release (s) that this particular Massive Attack song appears on.

Dancin In The Clubs Vol. 1, Zona De Baile Vol. 2

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First Released On:

1st June 1991

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Duration:

04:08

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Variations/Remixes:

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 commisoned 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.

Instrumental Funky Mix - Exactly like the original Funky Mix sans vocals from Tony Bryan. Included only on a very rare CD promo of Be Thankful For What You've Got.

Extended Funky Mix - This extended version of the Funky mix adds just over a minute to the original's running time. Included only on a very rare CD promo of Be Thankful For What You've Got.

7" No-Rap Version - Another remix produced for American radio promotion by Chris Stokes and Zyrus Melchor. Included only on a very rare cassette promo of Be Thankful For What You've Got.

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Credits:

Written by William DeVaughn

Produced by Grant Marshall, Andrew Vowles, Robert Del Naja and Jonathan Sharp

Recorded at Cherry Bear Studios, London

Mixed at Matrix Studios, London

Mix engineered by Jeremy Allom

See Blue Lines info section for further credit details by clicking here.

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Sampled:

N/A

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Covered:

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.

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Vocalist(s):

Tony Bryan

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Lyrics:

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History:

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.

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Additional Info:

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.

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Live Appearances:

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 sketchey, it is unknown rather Be Thankful For What You've Got was played or not.

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Quotes:

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]