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"I Thank You"
Single by Sam & Dave
from the album I Thank You
B-side"Wrap it Up"
ReleasedJanuary 8, 1968
Recorded1967
GenreSoul
Length2:44
LabelStax/Atlantic
S-242
Songwriter(s)Isaac Hayes
David Porter
Producer(s)Isaac Hayes
David Porter
Sam & Dave singles chronology
"Soul Man"
(1967) 		"I Thank You"
(1968) 		"You Don't Know What You Mean to Me"
(1968)
"I Thank You"
Single by ZZ Top
from the album Degüello
B-side"A Fool For Your Stockings"
Released1979
Recorded1979
GenreBlues rock
Length3:23
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Isaac Hayes
David Porter
Producer(s)Bill Ham
ZZ Top singles chronology
"Enjoy and Get It On"
(1977) 		"I Thank You"
(1979) 		"Cheap Sunglasses"
(1979)

"I Thank You" is a song written by David Porter and Isaac Hayes originally recorded by Sam & Dave, released in early 1968.[1] The single was Sam & Dave's final release on Stax Records, reaching #9 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #4 on the R&B chart.[2] Shortly after its release, Stax severed its distribution deal with Atlantic Records and Sam & Dave, who were actually signed to Atlantic and loaned out to Stax, began recording for Atlantic proper.[3] The song begins with Sam's spoken introduction that goes: "I want everybody to get off your seat,/ And get your arms together,/ And your hands together,/ And give me some of that old soul clapping". First, Sam sings the refrain, plus the first verse, and the refrain, while Dave sings the second verse, the refrain, and the third verse, with both Sam and Dave sharing on the repeated "Thank Yous" portion. Following a brief instrumental, Sam sings the refrain, with Dave, joining him, on the Coda with the repeated "thank yous".

Personnel

ZZ Top version

ZZ Top covered the song on their 1979 album Degüello. The band released the song as a single the next year, and it reached No. 34 on the singles chart, becoming the band's second top 40 hit (after "Tush", four years earlier).

Record World said that "Billy Gibbons growls with soulful authority and matches his stellar vocal work with a stinging guitar."[4]

Other versions

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Charts

Chart (1968) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 34
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 9
US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard)[7] 4

References

  1. ^ "S-List". Staxrecords.free.fr. 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 510.
  3. ^ Bowman, Rob (1997). Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records. New York: Schirmer Trade. ISBN 0-8256-7284-8. Pg. 138-142
  4. ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. January 19, 1980. p. 21. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  5. ^ "Sam And Dave: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  6. ^ "Sam Dave Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  7. ^ "Sam & Dave Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2018.


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