Maps of Music

Thank You (2021)

Where the lyrics of Thank You take you, and where it was really made.

Written in lockdown and recorded in Ross's home studio, the album's credits still list sessions at studios from London and Los Angeles to New York and Miami.

Key places

AIR Studios in London (2021)

Recording site AIR Studios — The credits list AIR Studios in London among the studios used for the track All Is Well, alongside Spark Studio and Motherbrain Studios. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Conway Studios, Los Angeles (2021)

Recording site Conway Recording Studios — The credits say vocals for All Is Well were recorded at Conway Studios in Los Angeles, a separate site from the instrumental sessions. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Park Studio, Studio City (2021)

Recording site TRS Studios — The credits list The Park Studio for the track In Your Heart. The point is placed at the Studio City area center, not at the studio building itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Abbey Road Studios (2021)

Recording site Abbey Road Studios — The credits list Abbey Road Studios among the places used for the track Just In Case, alongside Spark Studio and Ross Records. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Jubilee line to St John's Wood station, then about a 5-minute walk.

Electric Lady Studios in New York (2021)

Recording site Electric Lady Studios — The credits list Electric Lady Studios in New York for the track I Still Believe, alongside Conway Recording Studios and Hook And Fade. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Hook And Fade, Brooklyn (2021)

Recording site Rough Customer — The credits list Hook And Fade in Brooklyn for the track I Still Believe. The point is placed at the Brooklyn area center, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Pen to Platinum Studios, Miami (2021)

Recording site The Hit Factory Criteria — The credits list Pen to Platinum Studios in Miami for the track Count On Me. The point is placed at the Miami area center, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Thank You: 25th studio album by American singer Diana Ross
• Released November 5, 2021 by Decca Records
• First studio album since 2006's I Love You
• First original material since 1999's Every Day Is a New Day
• Lead single: title track, issued June 17, 2021
• Ross co-wrote nine of the album's tracks

Background

• Written during COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020
• Themes of gratitude, love, and resilience, reflecting Ross's introspection during the pandemic
• Collaborators include Jack Antonoff, Jimmy Napes, Amy Wadge, Tayla Parx, and Spike Stent

Recording

• Recorded in Ross's home studio
• Discogs credits list sessions at Spark Studio (London), Ross Records (Los Angeles), The Park Studio (Studio City), Conway Studios (Los Angeles), AIR Studios (London), Abbey Road Studios, Electric Lady Studios (New York), Hook And Fade (Brooklyn), and Pen to Platinum Studios (Miami)
• Mixed at The Mixsuite U.K. and Los Angeles; mastered by Randy Merrill

Cover

• Design by Jeri Heiden, illustrations by Nadia Flower Scribbles, photography by Randee St. Nicholas

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Diana Ross was born March 26, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan, and was the lead singer of the Supremes.
• The Supremes joined Motown in 1961 under the name chosen by Florence Ballard, after the group first formed as the Primettes.
• The Supremes became Motown's most successful act in the 1960s and one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.

Members

• The Supremes' members included Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and later Cindy Birdsong.
• Ross left the Supremes in 1970 and began a solo career.

Career

• The Supremes remain the best-charting female group in history, with 12 number-one pop singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Ross's solo career produced six Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Endless Love".
• Ross starred in Lady Sings the Blues (1972), earning Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, and later starred in Mahogany and The Wiz.
• Ross has sold over 100 million records worldwide as a solo artist.
• Ross was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the Supremes and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Mixed reviews overall; Metacritic weighted average of 60 out of 100 from 11 critic scores
• AllMusic (Andy Kellman): conviction stays evident in her soothing voice, even when heavily modulated
• Entertainment Weekly (Chuck Arnold): a strong showcase of how good Ross still is after a two-decade absence
• The Guardian (Alexis Petridis): [Let's Do It] suggests she could still make a great album, but the overall result is judged disappointing
• Pitchfork (Ben Cardew): her musical star shines strong, with signs of renaissance
• PopMatters (Steve Horowitz): she mostly sounds tired, and the overproduction leaves her voice competing with walls of instrumentation
• Rolling Stone (David Browne): songs feel familiar, but the sonic pleasure remains considerable
• NME (Gary Ryan): a pleasant record that neither particularly updates nor diminishes her legacy
• Mojo: an underwhelming comeback album despite Ross being in good voice
• MusicOMH (Alex Jeffery): often a pastiche of her earlier material, most effective in its simplest moments
• The Line of Best Fit (Ross Horton): one of the most definitive bodies of work in her career

Records

• UK Albums Chart debut at No. 7, her first top-10 album in 26 years
• Billboard Top R&B Albums Chart (US) entry at No. 25
• Title track single debuted and peaked at No. 38 on the UK Singles Sales Chart and No. 37 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart, June 25, 2021
• 'If the World Just Danced' peaked at No. 57 on the UK Singles Sales Chart (chart dated October 15, 2021)
• Nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 65th Grammy Awards, her first nomination since 1983

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Ross performed the title track during her closing act of the Queen's Jubilee concert on June 4.
• The album was promoted with a tour of Europe and the UK; the second leg of her Thank You Tour started in the United States in late August 2022.
• 'I Still Believe' credits Annie Clark, appearing courtesy of Loma Vista Recordings.
• One Discogs release notes that the shrink wrap carries a printed 'DISC MADE IN MEXICO' label.
• 'If the World Just Danced' is a house-pop song that reached No. 57 on the UK Singles Sales Chart.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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