{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Thought 'Ya Knew | type = studio | artist = CeCe Peniston | cover = CCP TYK album.JPG | alt = | released = {{start date|1994|1|11}} | recorded = 1993 | studio = | genre = {{hlist|Dance|R&B}} | length = 72:17 | label = A&M | producer = {{hlist|Steve "Silk" Hurley|Soulshock & Karlin|Sir Jinx|Mark Dubuclet|Andres Levin & Camus Maré Celli|David Morales|Brian McKnight|Richard Wolf}} | prev_title = Finally / We Got a Love Thang: Remix Collection | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = Remix Collection | next_year = 1994 | misc = {{Singles | name = Thought 'Ya Knew | type = studio | single1 = I'm in the Mood | single1date = December 14, 1993 | single2 = I'm Not Over You | single2date = April 5, 1994 | single3 = Hit by Love | single3date = August 1994 | single4 = Keep Givin' Me Your Love | single4date = February 1995 {{small|(UK, April '94)}} }} }} '''''Thought 'Ya Knew''''' is the second solo studio album by American singer-songwriter CeCe Peniston, released on January 11, 1994, by A&M Records, and on February 10 in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/75065/products/200748/1/|title=シー・シー・ペニストン|at=oricon.co.jp|publisher=Oricon|accessdate=2015-03-21|language=ja|quote=''フ���イナリー'' ▪ 発売日 1994年02月10日 ▪ 品番 POCM-1047}}</ref> For this album, Peniston once again collaborated with Chicago-based producer Steve "Silk" Hurley, along with other producers Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin (better recognized as duo Soulshock & Karlin) from Denmark, David Morales, Sir Jinx, and on one track ("Forever in My Heart") also with the multiple Grammy Award-nominee Brian McKnight.
Deciding not to get pigeonholed into the dance genre, Peniston recorded several ballads for the album, trying to move into an R&B direction. Unlike its predecessor ''Finally'', Peniston's second album was, therefore, a calculated mixture of pop ballads and R&B beats, though incorporating also other genres, such as jazz ("I'm in the Mood"), funk (I'm Not Over You"), reggae ("Through Those Doors") and gospel ("I Will Be Received").
The album received generally mixed reviews from music critics, and commercially, it proved to be a moderate success. Debuting on February 12, 1994, at number 102 on the ''Billboard'' 200, the album reached its peak a week later at number ninety-six, while spending nineteen weeks on the US chart in total. Overseas, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number thirty-one, but charted for only two weeks there. Other territories included Switzerland (at number thirty-two), Japan (at number sixty-six), Netherlands (at number sixty-nine), and Germany (at number ninety-two).
Four official singles were released from the album, three of which entered the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, as well as the UK Singles Chart. All of them became successful on the dance chart, bringing Peniston two additional number one hits on the US Hot Dance Club Songs. In Japan, the album was shortly followed by ''Remix Collection'', which featured alternate versions of songs issued on singles. It was reissued in Japan on September 11, 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/75065/products/201200/1/|title=シー・シー・ペニストン|at=oricon.co.jp|publisher=Oricon|accessdate=2015-03-21|language=ja|quote=''ソート・ヤ・ニュー'' ▪ 発売日 1996年09月11日 ▪ 品番 POCM-1994}}</ref> The album was not accompanied by a worldwide tour.
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | subtitle = Initial reviews (in 1994) | rev1 = ''Billboard'' | rev1score = (favorable)<ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-01-29-N.pdf|title=Album Reviews: R&B|magazine=Billboard|date=1994-01-29|page=78|access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Chicago Reader'' | rev2score = (mixed)<ref name=cr>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/dance-divas/Content?oid=884697|title=Dance Divas|work=Chicago Reader|at=chicagoreader.com|publisher=Alison Draper|first=Martin|last=Johnson|date=1994-06-09|accessdate=2011-03-20}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' | rev3score = B−<ref name=ew>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,300915,00.html|title=''Thought 'Ya Knew'' Review|first=Johnny|last=Huston|date=1994-01-28|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|at=ew.com|publisher=Time division of Time Warner|accessdate=2011-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021191841/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,300915,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-10-21}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Gavin Report'' | rev4score = (favorable)<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Annette M.|last=Lai|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/94/Gavin-1994-01-28.pdf|title=Gavin Picks — Albums|magazine=Gavin Report|date=1994-01-28|page=|accessdate=2022-03-14}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Music & Media'' | rev5score = (favorable)<ref>{{cite magazine|first= |last= |title= New Releases: Albums |magazine= Music & Media |volume= 11 |issue= 7 |date= 1994-02-12 |page= 11 |accessdate= 2021-05-18 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-02-12.pdf}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Music Week'' | rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |title= Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums |magazine= Music Week |date= 1993-12-25 |page= 15 |accessdate= 2023-02-03 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-12-25.pdf}}</ref> | rev7 = ''People'' | rev7score = (mixed)<ref name=people>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20107425,00.html|title=Picks and Pans Review: ''Thought Ya Knew''|work=People|date=1994-02-07|at=people.com|publisher=People.com|accessdate=2011-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210255/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20107425,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-03}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Select'' | rev8score = {{rating|2|5|full=U+25A0.svg|empty=U+25A1.svg|rating=medal}}<ref>{{cite magazine|author=RH|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2013/02/albums8.jpg|title=New Albums: Soundbites|work=Select|date=March 1994|page=77|access-date=2024-12-15}}</ref> | rev9 = ''The Washington Post'' | rev9score = (favorable)<ref>Joyce, Mike (1994-04-24). "Peniston and Nate': Disco Divas for the '90s". ''The Washington Post''. p. G08.</ref> }} {{Music ratings | subtitle = Retrospective reviews (after 1994) | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/thought-ya-knew-r199065/review|title=''Thought 'Ya Knew'' Review|first=Jose F.|last=Promis|publisher=AllMusic - Rovi Corporation|accessdate=2011-03-20}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' | rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>Larkin, Colin (2006). ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music''. Omnibus Press.</ref> }}
''Thought 'Ya Knew'' received mainly mixed reviews. In terms of artistic achievement, dancefloor potential or chart performance, the album did not match the success of Peniston's debut album, ''Finally''. Jose F. Promis from AllMusic, however, blamed the record label A&M for marketing the artist to an R&B audience, which he called the "big mistake". Giving the album three (out of five) stars, he highlighted especially "Hit by Love" as the song closer in spirit to Peniston's early dance hits, but he admitted that by that time of the single's release its "steam had worn off".<ref name=allmusic/> ''Billboard'' magazine wrote, "Miscast in the role of dance diva, singer's best work is grounded in hip-hop/R&B-oriented grooves, both up- and midtempo."<ref name="billboard"/>
Both critics, Martin Johnson from ''Chicago Reader'' and Johnny Huston from ''Entertainment Weekly'' agreed that the album's low points occurred on its ballads and that Peniston faltered on slower numbers. (Johnson also added that even Toni Braxton, who redefined the urban contemporary ballad, "would have trouble breathing life into them").<ref name=cr/> While Huston noticed Patti LaBelle-influenced vocal stylings (on "Through Those Doors"),<ref name=ew/> Johnson recalled young Chaka Khan and stressed the pungent lower registers of the singer's voice (on "Searchin'").<ref name=cr/> ''People'' magazine found the album's problem in Peniston's big-time pop success and her new need to be seen more serious than just a dance-music artist. Calling ballads ''"the ballads from hell"'', the magazine reproached that all the slow stuff did was focus on Peniston's vocal limitations.<ref name=people/>
==Chart performance== {{listen |pos=right | filename = Searchin.ogg | title = "Searchin'" | format = Ogg | description = | filename2 = Give What I'm Givin.ogg | title2 = "Give What I'm Givin'" | format2 = Ogg | description2 = | filename3 = I Will Be Received.ogg | title3 = "I Will Be Received" | format3 = Ogg | description3}} On February 5, 1994, the album entered at number thirty-one (its peak) in the UK Albums Chart, spending two weeks on the chart.<ref name=uk>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/ce%20ce%20peniston|title=CeCe Peniston UK Chart History|work=The Official Charts Company|at= theofficialcharts.com|publisher=Music Week|accessdate=2011-03-19}}</ref> Followed by the Oricon list on February 10, Peniston received her first and her only album chart appearance to date in Japan, at number sixty-six (two charting weeks in total)<ref name=jp>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/75065/ranking/cd_album/|title=CeCe Peniston - Japan - Albums|at=web.archive.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113191309/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/75065/products/music/200748/1/|archive-date=2012-11-13 |work=オリコン|publisher=Oricon|accessdate=2015-01-25|language=ja|quote=''Thought 'Ya Knew'' ソート・ヤー・ニュー #66}}</ref> After two weeks since its release, the album entered the US ''Billboard'' 200 at number one-hundred-two on February 12, 1994. Peaking its top the following week, at number ninety-six on February 19 (nineteen weeks in the chart).<ref name=us>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ce ce peniston|chart=Billboard 200}}|title=CeCe Peniston - US ''Billboard'' 200|magazine=Billboard|at=billboard.com|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|accessdate=2011-03-19}}</ref>
On the component, US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, the album climbed to number twenty (being present for thirty-four weeks in the chart.<ref name=r&b>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ce ce peniston|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums B}}|title=CeCe Peniston - US ''Billboard'' Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|magazine=Billboard|at=billboard.com|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|accessdate=2011-03-19}}</ref> Later on, the album would be classified as the seventy-first best R&B selling set of 1994.)<ref name=r&b94>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAgEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Club+Play+Artists%22+peniston&pg=RA1-PA48|title=The Year in Music - US ''Billboard'' Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums of 1994|magazine=Billboard|date=1994-12-24|page=YE-32|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|accessdate=2011-03-13|quote=''Thought 'Ya Knew'' by CeCe Peniston #71}}</ref> In Dutch MegaCharts, the record started its five weeks long run on February 19, topping its third week at number sixty-nine.<ref name=nl>{{cite web|url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?search=peniston&cat=a|title=CeCe Peniston - Albums - Netherlands|language=nl|work=GfK Dutch Charts|at=dutchcharts.nl|publisher=Media Control GfK International|accessdate=2011-03-19}}</ref> In addition, the album cracked the Swiss Music Charts on February 20, peaking on March 6 at number thirty-two (three weeks in the chart).<ref name=sw>{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=peniston&cat=a|title=CeCe Peniston - Albums|language=de|work=Hung Medien|at=hitparade.ch|accessdate=2011-03-19}}</ref> And on February 28 also the German Media Control Charts, reaching at number ninety-two (with three weeks in the chart).<ref name=ge>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Peniston%2CCe+Ce/?type=longplay|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012050852/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Peniston,Ce+Ce/?type=longplay|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 12, 2012|title=CeCe Peniston - Albums|language=de|work=Bundesverband Musikindustrie|at=musicline.de|publisher=Media Control GfK International|accessdate=2011-03-19}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''Thought 'Ya Knew'' track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 72:17
| title1 = Searchin' | writer1 = {{hlist|Steve "Silk" Hurley|Tonia Hurley|M-Doc}} | extra1 = S. Hurley | length1 = 3:43
| title2 = I'm in the Mood | note2 = East 87th St. Mix | writer2 = {{hlist|Steven Nikolas|Brendon Sibley|Carsten Schack|Kenneth Karlin|Mich Hansen}} | extra2 = {{hlist|Soulshock & Karlin|S. Hurley{{ref|a|[a]}}}} | length2 = 4:11
| title3 = Hit by Love | writer3 = {{hlist|Nikolas|Sibley|Schack|Karlin|Hansen}} | extra3 = Soulshock & Karlin | length3 = 4:34
| title4 = Whatever It Is | writer4 = {{hlist|CeCe Peniston|Sir Jinx|Joc}} | extra4 = Sir Jinx | length4 = 4:35
| title5 = Forever in My Heart | writer5 = {{hlist|Brian McKnight|Brandon Barnes}} | extra5 = McKnight | length5 = 4:47
| title6 = I'm Not Over You | writer6 = {{hlist|S. Hurley|Jamie Principle|M-Doc}} | extra6 = S. Hurley | length6 = 4:18
| title7 = Anyway You Wanna Go | writer7 = {{hlist|Marc Dubuclet|Tim Miner}} | extra7 = Dubuclet | length7 = 4:10
| title8 = Give What I'm Givin' | writer8 = {{hlist|Peniston|Sir Jinx|Johny Rogers|Kymberli Armstrong}} | extra8 = Sir Jinx | length8 = 4:01
| title9 = Through Those Doors | writer9 = {{hlist|Andrea Martin|Andres Levin|Camus Maré Celli}} | extra9 = {{hlist|Levin|Celli}} | length9 = 5:20
| title10 = Let My Love Surround You | writer10 = {{hlist|Nikolas|Sibley}} | extra10 = Soulshock & Karlin | length10 = 4:07
| title11 = Keep Givin' Me Your Love | writer11 = {{hlist|Nikolas|Sibley|Schack|Karlin|Hansen}} | extra11 = Morales | length11 = 6:13
| title12 = If You Love Me, I Will Love You | writer12 = {{hlist|Dubuclet|Tim Miner}} | extra12 = Dubuclet | length12 = 4:29
| title13 = Maybe It's the Way | writer13 = {{hlist|Peniston|Sir Jinx|Rogers}} | extra13 = Sir Jinx | length13 = 5:49
| title14 = I Will Be Received | writer14 = {{hlist|Richard Wolf|James Wirrick}} | extra14 = Wolf | length14 = 4:36 }} {{Track listing | headline = European and Japanese edition bonus track | extra_column = Producer(s)
| title15 = I'm in the Mood | note15 = Bad Yard Club | writer15 = {{hlist|Nikolas|Sibley|Schack|Karlin|Hansen}} | extra15 = {{hlist|Soulshock & Karlin|S. Hurley{{ref|a|[a]}}|Morales{{ref|b|[b]}}}} | length15 = 7:23 }} {{track listing | headline = UK, double vinyl edition bonus tracks | extra_column = Producer(s)
| title15 = I'm in the Mood | note15 = Bad Yard Edit | writer15 = {{hlist|Nikolas|Sibley|Schack|Karlin|Hansen}} | extra15 = {{hlist|Soulshock & Karlin|S. Hurley{{ref|a|[a]}}|Morales{{ref|b|[b]}}}} | length15 = 4:11
| title16 = I'm in the Mood | note16 = Classic Mix | writer16 = {{hlist|Nikolas|Sibley|Schack|Karlin|Hansen}} | extra16 = {{hlist|Soulshock & Karlin|S. Hurley{{ref|a|[a]}}|Morales{{ref|b|[b]}}}} | length16 = 9:09
| title17 = Searchin' | note17 = Principle Theory Mix | writer17 = {{hlist|S. Hurley|T. Hurley|M-Doc}} | extra17 = {{hlist|S. Hurley|Jamie Principle{{ref|b|[b]}}}} | length17 = 5:31
| title18 = Searchin' | note18 = Silky Fusion Mix | writer18 = {{hlist|S. Hurley|T. Hurley|M-Doc}} | extra18 = S. Hurley | length18 = 7:13 }} '''Notes''' * <sup>{{note|a|[a]}}</sup> signifies an additional producer * <sup>{{note|b|[b]}}</sup> signifies a remix producer
==Credits and personnel== {{div col}} * CeCe Peniston – lead vocal, backing vocals, vocal arrangement, executive production * Damon Jones – executive production * Manny Lehman – executive production * Mark Dubuclet – production, mixing, drum programming, programming, keyboards, bass, multi instruments * Steve "Silk" Hurley – production, arranging, editing, mixing * David Morales – production, arranging, percussion, mixing * Richard Wolf – production, guitar, drum programming, keyboards * Steven Nikolas – vocal arrangement * Brendon Sibley – vocal arrangement * Soulshock & Karlin – production, mixing * Sir Jinx – production * Andres Levin – production * Camus Maré Celli – production * Andrea Martin – backing vocals, talking * Norma Jean Wright – backing vocals * Kymberli Armstrong – backing vocals * Myron Glasper – backing vocals * Jackie Gusheyk – backing vocals * Sharon Pass – backing vocals * Chantay Savage – backing vocals * Katreese Barnes – backing vocals * Sherree Ford-Payne – backing vocals * Faith Wade – choir, chorus * Niomisha Wilson – choir, chorus * Brian McKnight – backing vocals, multi instruments, production * Rodney Miller – guitar * David Fiuczynski – guitar * Michael McDonald – guitar * Kamaal – bass * Greg Mull – engineering, mixing * Daryll Dobson – engineering, mixing * Scott Ahaus – engineering, remixing * Doug Michael – engineering * David Sussman – engineering * Steve Weeder – engineering * Craig Porteils – engineering * John Fundingsland – engineering * Keith Barrios – engineering * Anna Wheaton – engineering * Chris Wood – engineering * Brian Kinkel – engineering * Brad Aldredge – engineering * Victor McCoy – engineering assistance * Brian Young – engineering assistance * Daniel Beroff – engineering assistance * Craig Burbidge – mixing * Dave Way – mixing * Doug DeAngelis – mixing * Ken Kessie – mixing * Kevin Crouse – mixing assistance * Eric Flickinger – mixing assistance * Eddie Sexton – mixing assistance * Devin Foutz – mixing assistance * Christian Delatour – mixing assistance * Johnny Rogers – keyboards * James Wirrick – keyboards * Fernando Harkless – saxophone * David Wills – drums * Alec Shantzis – programming * Satoshi Tomiie – programming * Terry Burrus – programming * Greg Lawson – drum programming * Danny Madden – conducting * Bill Ware – vibraphone * C-N-A – multi instruments * Colleen Donahue-Reynolds – production coordination * Michael Lavine – photography {{div col end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Weekly chart performance for ''Thought 'Ya Knew'' ! scope="col"| Chart (1994) ! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |- {{album chart|Netherlands|69|artist=Ce Ce Peniston|album=Thought 'Ya Knew|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 12, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Germany|92|artist=Ce Ce Peniston|id=1774|album=Thought 'Ya Knew|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 12, 2021}} |- !scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref name=jp/> | 66 |- {{album chart|Switzerland|32|artist=Ce Ce Peniston|album=Thought 'Ya Knew|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 12, 2021}} |- {{album chart|UK2|31|artist=Ce Ce Peniston|date=19940130|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 12, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|96|artist=CeCe Peniston|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 12, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|20|artist=CeCe Peniston|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 12, 2021}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Year-end chart performance for ''Thought 'Ya Knew'' ! scope="col"| Chart (1994) ! scope="col"| Position |- !scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums<ref name=r&b94/> |align="center"|71 |} {{col-end}}
==References== {{refbegin}} '''General''' *{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ce ce peniston|chart=all}}|title=CeCe Peniston - Chart History|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=2011-03-19}} *{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=ce-ce-peniston-p13924/discography/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}}|title= CeCe Peniston - Discography - Charts & Awards|work=AllMusic|accessdate=2011-03-19}}
'''Specific''' {{refend}} {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p13924|label=CeCe Peniston}}
{{CeCe Peniston}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1994 albums Category:CeCe Peniston albums Category:A&M Records albums Category:Albums produced by Steve "Silk" Hurley