Joyful (Ayọ album)

Joyful is the debut studio album by German singer and songwriter Ayọ. It was released on 12 June 2006 by Polydor Records. The album was recorded over five days in New York City with producer Jay Newland.[11]

Joyful
Studio album by Ayọ
Released	12 June 2006
Recorded	January 2006
Studio	Sony Music, New York City
Genre	Soul[1] folk[1] reggae[1] worldbeat[2]
Length	49:42
Label	Polydor
Producer	Jay Newland
Ayọ chronology
Joyful (2006) Gravity at Last (2008)
Singles from Joyful
"Down on My Knees" Released: 4 September 2006[3] "And It's Supposed to Be Love" Released: 20 November 2006[4] "Help Is Coming" Released: 31 May 2007[5]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
CDstarts.de	[7]
laut.de	[8]
letmeentertainyou.de	[9]
Marie Claire (UK)	[10]
PopMatters	6/10[2]

Joyful was particularly successful in France, where it peaked at number six on the albums chart and was certified double platinum by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP). The album also reached number one in Poland, number five in Italy and number eight in Finland.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joy Olasunmibo Ogunmakin, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Down on My Knees" (writers: Ogunmakin, George Brenner)	4:01
2.	"Without You"	3:57
3.	"Letter by Letter"	3:13
4.	"How Many Times?"	3:28
5.	"And It's Supposed to Be Love" (writer: Abbey Lincoln)	4:59
6.	"Watching You"	3:53
7.	"Only You"	3:55
8.	"Help Is Coming"	3:55
9.	"These Days"	4:48
10.	"Life Is Real"	4:48
11.	"What Is Love?"	4:26
12.	"Neva Been"	4:19

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Joyful.[12]

Musicians

• Ayọ – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
• Larry Campbell – guitar, steel guitar, mandolin
• Brian Mitchell – Hammond B-3, accordion, harmonica, bass harmonica, piano
• Keith Christopher – bass great feel
• James Wormworth – drums
• Danny Sadownick – percussion
• Kyle Gordon – backing vocals

Technical

• Jay Newland – production, engineering
• Andy Manganello – engineering
• Geoff Rice – engineering assistance
• Mark Wilder – mastering

Artwork

• Aurélie Ullrich – art direction
• Jean-Marc Lubrano – photography
• Rapho – photography

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2006–2007) Peak position Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)[13] 25 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[14] 35 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[15] 46 European Albums (Billboard)[16] 29 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] 8 French Albums (SNEP)[18] 6 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[19] 40 Greek Albums (IFPI)[20] 13 Italian Albums (FIMI)[21] 5 Polish Albums (ZPAV)[22] 1 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 35 US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[24] 16 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[25] 81

Year-end charts Chart (2006) Position French Albums (SNEP)[26] 24 Chart (2007) Position French Albums (SNEP)[27] 27

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[28]	2× Platinum	400,000^*
Poland (ZPAV)[29]	2× Platinum	40,000^*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[30]	Gold	15,000^^
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Ref.
France	12 June 2006	Polydor	[31]
Italy	1 September 2006	Universal	[32]
Netherlands	17 November 2006		[33]
Germany	21 November 2006		[34]
Canada	30 January 2007		[35]
Poland	5 March 2007		[36]
Australia	31 March 2007		[37]
United Kingdom	3 September 2007	Polydor	[38]
United States	20 November 2007	Interscope	[39]

References

1. Dye, David (8 January 2008). "Ayo: Bohemian Soul and Folk". NPR. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
2. Gumbs, Alexis Pauline (18 February 2008). "Ayo: Joyful". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
3. "Down On My Knees (international): Ayo: Téléchargements MP3". Amazon (France) (in French). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
4. "And It's Supposed to Be Love – Single by Ayo". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
5. "Help Is Coming: Ayo: Téléchargements MP3". Amazon (France) (in French). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
6. Mason, Stewart. "Joyful – Ayọ". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
7. Leckert, Daniel (17 November 2006). "Ayo – Joyful (Soul)". CDstarts.de. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
8. Kopp, Kai. ""Joyful" von Ayo". laut.de. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
9. "Ayo: Joyful". letmeentertainyou.de. 21 February 2007. Archived from the original on 2 March 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
10. Longhurst, Rose. "Joyful by Ayo". Marie Claire. UK. Archived from the original on 23 August 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
11. Rogers, Jude (8 August 2007). "She shall overcome". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
12. Joyful (liner notes). Ayọ. Polydor Records. 2006. 0602498404898.CS1 maint: others (link)
13. "ARIA Urban Album Chart – Week Commencing 16th April 2007" (PDF). The ARIA Report (893): 17. 16 April 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
14. "Ultratop.be – Ay%26%237885%3B – Joyful" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Ay%26%237885%3B – Joyful" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
16. "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 118 no. 40. 7 October 2006. ISSN 0006-2510.
17. "Ayo: Joyful" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
18. "Lescharts.com – Ay%26%237885%3B – Joyful". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ayọ – Joyful" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
20. Top 50 Ελληνικών και Ξένων Aλμπουμ [Top 50 Greek and Foreign Albums] (in Greek). IFPI Greece. 3–9 December 2006. Archived from the original on 8 December 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
21. "Italiancharts.com – Ay%26%237885%3B – Joyful". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
22. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
23. "Swisscharts.com – Ay%26%237885%3B – Joyful". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
24. "Ayo Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
25. "Ayo Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
26. "Tops de L'Année | Top Albums – 2006" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
27. "Tops de L'Année | Top Albums – 2007" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
28. "Certifications Albums Double Platine – année 2008" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 7 February 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
29. "Polish album certifications – Ayọ – Joyful" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
30. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Ayo; 'Joyful')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
31. "Joyful – Ayo – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
32. "Ayo Joyful International" (in Italian). Universal Music Italy. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
33. "Ayo" (in Dutch). Universal Music Netherlands. Archived from the original on 18 February 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
34. "Joyful". Amazon (Germany) (in German). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
35. "Joyful by Ayo". HMV Canada. Archived from the original on 17 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
36. "Joyful (Polska Cena) – Ayo" (in Polish). Universal Music Poland. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
37. "Joyful by Ayo". Sanity. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
38. "Joyful". Amazon (UK). Retrieved 17 August 2015.
39. "Joyful". Amazon (US). Retrieved 17 August 2015.