Despite her memorable name, Spanky Wilson doesn’t have anywhere near the same level of recognition as some of the artists she recorded with in her 1960s heyday. Though that’s hardly any reflection on her talents, after all it would take a remarkable performer to share a mic with Marvin Gaye or Sammy Davis Jnr, let alone overshadow them. She’s also added vocals to tracks from Jimmy Smith, Willie Bobo and soundtrack composer extraordinaire Lalo Schifrin, who composed the scores for Bullitt, Dirty Harry, Mission Impossible and Enter the Dragon.

Will Holland, the workaholic behind the Quantic and Quantic Soul Orchestra projects, first teamed with the Spanky Wilson for ‘Don’t Joke With a Hungry Man’ and ‘When You’re Through’ on his third Quantic record, Mishaps Happening. On this new album, assisted by the full power of the Quantic Soul Orchestra, Wilson proves that her abilities as a soul/funk/jazz/big band singer are still finely tuned.

If there’s any criticism to be made of I’m Thankful it’s that the show business adage ‘keep them wanting more’ has been applied far too strictly. Fading out after just 35 minutes this record is certain to give your cd player’s repeat button a solid workout. That brief running time also includes two takes of ‘I’m Thankful’ and new versions of ‘Don’t Joke With a Hungry Man’; each offered as both vocal and instrumental cuts. Other highlights include the funk blast of ‘Send a Message to Tomorrow’ and Wilson’s aching vocal on the Hurricane Katrina jazz ballad, ‘That’s How it Was’. “Thank heavens for life, but not for the pain/Thousands of tears just washed away in that rain.”

The album peaks with a storming take on ‘You Can’t Judge a Book by It’s Cover’ – a Wille Dixon song made famous by Bo Diddley with his classic driving beat. Yet despite Wilson’s fiery performance it seems that you can judge this record by its cover; the cover art gracing I’m Thankful suggests a record of classic majestic soul and that’s exactly what it delivers.