Whitney Houston (album)
Whitney Houston | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 14, 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1983–1984 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:54 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Producer | ||||
Whitney Houston chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Whitney Houston | ||||
|
Whitney Houston is the debut studio album by American singer Whitney Houston. It was released on February 14, 1985, by Arista Records. Whitney Houston initially had a slow commercial response, but began getting more popular in mid-1985. It eventually topped the Billboard 200 for 14 weeks in 1986, generating three number-one singles—"Saving All My Love for You", "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love of All"—on the Billboard Hot 100, which made it both the first debut album and the first album by a solo female artist to produce three number-one singles in the United States.[5][6]
The album topped the albums charts in many countries, including Canada,[7] Australia,[8] Norway,[9] and Sweden,[10] while peaking at number 2 in the United Kingdom,[11] Germany,[12] and Switzerland.[13] The album was certified diamond for shipments of 10 million units or more on March 16, 1999, and later 14× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 27, 2023.[14][15] The album is the best selling debut album by a female artist, as well as one of the best selling albums of all time, with sales of over 25 million copies worldwide.[16]
In 1986, at the 28th Grammy Awards, Whitney Houston received four nominations, including Album of the Year,[17] and won one, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for "Saving All My Love for You".[18] For the 29th Grammy Awards of 1987, the album earned one nomination for Record of the Year for "Greatest Love of All".[19] Whitney Houston was the first album by a female artist to be top the Billboard Year End Albums Charts of 1986.[20] The album has also been ranked on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in all three editions.[21][22]
In honor of its 25th anniversary, the album was reissued as Whitney Houston – The Deluxe Anniversary Edition on January 26, 2010, an expanded edition with five bonus tracks including the a cappella version of "How Will I Know" and the original 12-inch remixes of songs from the album, a booklet on the history of the original album, along with a DVD of live performances and interviews by Whitney Houston and Clive Davis.[23] On June 30, 2020, after the 35th anniversary celebration in February 2020, the album re-issued as a double vinyl including the singles from Whitney Dancin' Special. Also, they released a box set including the 40-page hard cover photo and lyric book.[24]
Background
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/JermaineJackson2007%28cropped%29.jpg/170px-JermaineJackson2007%28cropped%29.jpg)
After seeing Houston perform in a New York City nightclub, Clive Davis believed the singer had the potential to crossover and be the next big superstar. He signed her in 1983 and the two began work on her debut album. Initially Davis had a hard time finding songs for her. Even after elaborate showcases in New York and Los Angeles, many producers turned down the chance to work with her.[25] It took a year and a half for Jerry Griffith, then-Arista's A&R chief and the one who had recommended Houston to Davis, and Davis to gather suitable songs for the album.[25] Finally the songwriter-producer Kashif offered to produce "You Give Good Love". Jermaine Jackson produced three songs. Narada Michael Walden revised and then produced "How Will I Know". Michael Masser covered the pop side of the tracks, producing four of his own compositions, including "Saving All My Love for You" and "Greatest Love of All", which had originally been recorded in 1977 by George Benson as "The Greatest Love of All", and was the main theme of the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest. After two years of recording, the album was ready for release. Budgeted at $200,000, it ultimately cost almost $400,000.[25]
Critical reception
[edit]Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Consequence of Sound | A[27] |
Entertainment Weekly | A−[28] |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
PopMatters | 7/10[30] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Village Voice | C[33] |
Whitney Houston received critical acclaim upon release.[34] In a positive review for The New York Times, Stephen Holden wrote, "along with an appealing romantic innocence, [Houston] projects the commanding dignity and elegance of someone far more mature."[35] Liam Lacey of The Globe and Mail said the "arrangements frequently border on formulaic but such ballads as "Saving All My Love for You", "Greatest Love of All," and "Hold Me" are some of the loveliest pop singing on vinyl since the glory days of Dionne Warwick." Lacey added, "Houston has a silky, rich, vibrant voice that moves between steely edges, or curls sensuously around the notes."[36] Los Angeles Times complimented Houston on her excellent vocal ability, writing, "neither the frequently listless arrangements nor the sometimes mediocre material of this debut LP hides the fact that Houston is a singer with enormous power and potential."[29]
Don Shewey of Rolling Stone described her as "one of the most exciting new voices in years" and stated that: "Because she has a technically polished voice like Patti Austin's, [...] her interpretive approach is what sets her apart" and "Whitney Houston is obviously headed for stardom, and if nothing else, her album is an exciting preview of coming attractions." But he expressed a little disappointment about undistinguished pop-soul tunes, commenting "many of the songs here are so featureless they could be sung by anyone. They make what could have been a stunning debut merely promising."[3] In his consumer guide for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau complimented Houston's "sweet, statuesque voice", but called the songs "schlock" and believed "only one of the four producers puts any zip in—Narada Michael Walden, who goes one for one."[33]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic defined Whitney Houston as "the foundation of diva-pop" and stated that certainly, the ballads such as "Greatest Love of All" and "Saving All My Love for You", provided "the blueprint for decades of divas". However, he gave higher marks to the lighter tracks like "How Will I Know" and "Thinking About You", commenting these tracks "are what really impresses some 20-plus years on" and "turns the album into a fully rounded record, the rare debut that manages to telegraph every aspect of an artist's career in a mere ten songs."[26] Brad Wete, on a feature article to celebrate for Vibe magazine's 15th anniversary in September 2008, wrote "never before has an African-American woman earned such crossover appeal so early in her career. [...] [Houston] had an explosive solo debut" and commented "Whitney's prodigious pop set [...] was a fresh serving of precocious talent compared to 1985's mildly flavored R&B buffet."[1] Allison Stewart from The Washington Post stated that the album "provided a blueprint for the pop/dance/R&B-melding careers of Mariah Carey and others, and introduced the world to "The Voice", an octave-spanning, gravity-defying melismatic marvel."[2] In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), music journalist J. D. Considine gave the album three out of five stars and stated, "Although utterly calculating, Whitney Houston does have its moments, particularly when Houston leans toward R&B, as on 'You Give Good Love.'"[32]
Commercial performance
[edit]Released on February 14, 1985, Whitney Houston debuted on the Billboard Top Albums Chart the week of March 30, 1985, at number 166.[37] Sales were low initially. However, with the success of the first single "You Give Good Love", the album began climbing the charts and finally reached the number one spot on the Billboard Top Black Albums chart in June and the top 10 on the Billboard 200 (formerly "Top Pop Albums") in August 1985.[38][39] After 55 weeks, successive hit singles and Grammy wins led to the album eventually topping the Billboard 200 album chart in March 1986.[40] It was the slowest climb to the top of the charts since Fleetwood Mac took 58 weeks to reach the top in 1976.[41][42]
Whitney Houston spent 14 non-consecutive weeks at the top of Billboard 200 chart from March until late June 1986, which was short of one week for Carole King's record of 15 weeks for the longest running No. 1 album by a female artist at the time.[5] It was the second-longest running No.1 album among the debut albums in Billboard history, behind Men at Work's Business as Usual, which had 15 weeks on top in 1982–83.[5] The album remained on the Billboard 200 for 162 weeks.[43][44] It also spent 46 weeks in the top 10, equaling Carole King's record with Tapestry; this record was broken in the 1990s.[45] Houston's debut was the best-selling album of 1986 in the United States and the No. 1 album of the year on 1986 Billboard year-end charts, making her the first female artist to earn that distinction.[46][47] She became also the number 1 pop artist of the year, according to Billboard.[48] The RIAA certified it Diamond on March 16, 1999, and later 14× platinum on January 27, 2023, for shipments of 14,000,000 copies of the album in United States.[14][15]
The album was successful worldwide. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number two on the albums chart, spending 119 weeks on the chart.[11][49] It was certified 4× platinum for shipments of 1,200,000 units of the album by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), becoming the fifth best-selling album of 1986.[50][51] In Canada, the album reached the top spot on the albums chart and remained there for 17 weeks, becoming the longest stay at the summit by a female artist. On March 31, 1987, it was certified 10× platinum for sales of over one million copies, making it the best-selling album of 1986, and later Diamond by the Canadian Recording Industry Association(CRIA).[52][53] Whitney Houston was also the best-selling album of 1986 in Australia, staying at number one on the Kent Music Report albums chart for 11 weeks, the longest stay by a female artist at the time.[54] It was additionally the first number one album by a Black female artist there. In Japan, the album was the second best-selling album of 1986 by a foreign artist, selling a total of 450,000 units, only behind Madonna's True Blue.[55] In addition, the album reached number one on the albums chart in Norway for ten weeks, Sweden for six weeks and South Africa for five weeks, number two in Germany, Switzerland, and number three in Austria and New Zealand.[9][10][12][13][56][57][58] Worldwide, Whitney Houston has sold over 25 million copies, becoming one of the best selling albums of the 1980s.[59][60] According to the Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales data in 1991, as of 2009, the album sold over 1,038,000 copies in the United States.[61]
The week ending of February 25, 2012, following Houston's death on February 11, the album re-charted on the Billboard 200 at No. 72 with 8,000 copies sold.[62][63]
Legacy
[edit]Whitney Houston was the first album by a female artist to be number 1 on the Billboard Year End Albums Charts of 1986.[20] According to Consequence of Sound, the album reached a massive level of cross-over that was unprecedented at the time for a black female music artist.[20] It was the first album by a black female artist to reach No. 1 in Australia when it topped the charts for 11 consecutive weeks.[64] Billboard picked the enormous success of her debut album release on the charts as one of 110 Musical Milestones in its history.[65] It was also the first album by a black female artist to top the year-end charts in Australia and Canada and only the second to top the year-end chart in Switzerland after Tina Turner's Private Dancer, and, at 25 million copies worldwide, remains the best-selling studio album by a black female artist of all time and the best-selling debut album by a female artist.
Accolades
[edit]At the 28th Grammy Awards in 1986, Whitney Houston received four nominations—Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Saving All My Love for You", Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "You Give Good Love" and Best Rhythm & Blues Song for "You Give Good Love"—and won Houston's first Grammy, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female.[17][18] In addition, the album earned one nomination for Record of the Year in 1987 for "Greatest Love of All", a cover of "The Greatest Love of All", originally recorded by George Benson in 1977, ten years before and was the main theme of the boxer Muhammad Ali biopic "The Greatest" in the same year.[19]
The album received good response from major publications. Three major critics of the Los Angeles Times listed the album on their year end critics list. The album ranked No. 79 on Robert Hilburn's list,[66] No. 2 on Paul Grein's list and No. 5 on Dennis Hunt's list.[67] In November 2003, the album was ranked No. 254 on Rolling Stone's publication of the 500 greatest albums of all time, and 257 in a 2012 revised list. Then ranked 249 in a 2020 revised list[68] It also ranked No. 46 on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Definitive 200 List in 2007.[69] In addition, ranked No. 71 on Q magazine's "100 Women Who Rock The World" in 2002 and No. 15 on Yahoo! Music's 30 Most Significant Albums In Black Music History list in 2010, with Brandy's comments on the album; "The first Whitney Houston CD was genius. That CD introduced the world to her angelic yet powerful voice. Without Whitney many of this generation of singers wouldn't be singing."[70][71] In 2013, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[72] In 2018, Pitchfork placed Whitney Houston at number 117 on their newly revised list of "200 Best Albums of the 1980s".[73]
Best New Artist controversy
[edit]Although the album was nominated in four categories at the 28th Grammy Awards, Houston was not nominated for Best New Artist that year due to National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) regulations, which caused some controversy.[74][75] Although Whitney Houston was Houston's debut album, she was disqualified as a new artist because she had been credited in 1984 as a guest vocalist on the Jermaine Jackson album Dynamite as well as the Teddy Pendergrass album Love Language. Per NARAS rules, any previous album credit disqualifies an artist from the Best New Artist award.[76]
Clive Davis, then the president of Arista Records, sent a letter of complaint to NARAS president Michael Greene disputing the disqualification.[76] He also wrote to Billboard magazine, noting that the rule had been applied much less strictly in previous years.[76] According to Davis, artists including Cyndi Lauper, Luther Vandross, the Power Station, Carly Simon, and Crosby, Stills & Nash, had already received credits on other albums or been previously well known as a member of other acts prior to their nominations for the Best New Artist award.[76] He referred to the disqualification as "a conspicuous injustice".[76]
Despite the criticism, NARAS did not back down from the disqualification. Greene, in a statement, said that "The determination of eligibility or ineligibility in the best new artist category is not made capriciously or taken lightly."[77] He also noted that the duets with Jackson and Pendergrass had been submitted for consideration for the 27th Grammy Awards, which he said "was sufficient to make her ineligible this year for best new artist according to academy criteria."[77] The 1986 award eventually went to British band Sade.[74]
American singer Richard Marx was similarly ruled ineligible for nomination as Best New Artist in 1988. In an interview with Orange Coast magazine, he referred to the Houston controversy, saying "I don't have a lot of respect for N.A.R.A.S., the Grammy people's ruling system, because it's so inconsistent. They deemed me and Whitney Houston ineligible, and yet they nominated Jody Watley, who made records with Shalamar."[78] In 2000, Geoff Mayfield of Billboard magazine also criticized NARAS for inconsistency with the Best New Artist rules, specifically referencing their disqualification of Houston and nomination of Watley.[79]
Singles
[edit]The label, wanting Houston to have a solid urban fanbase first, released "You Give Good Love" as the first single.[25] The soulful ballad would top the R&B chart and surprise the label by crossing over and reaching number three on the pop chart while the singer was playing at nightclubs in the United States.[80][81] The jazzy-pop "Saving All My Love for You" (originally a minor hit for Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. in 1978 on their album Marilyn & Billy) was released next and really put her on the map. The single was an even bigger success hitting number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[82] It would reach number one in the United Kingdom and was successful around the world.[83] With her first number one, Houston began appearing on high-profile talk shows and became the opening act for Jeffrey Osborne and Luther Vandross. "Thinking About You" was released as the single only to R&B-oriented radio stations. It peaked at number 10 on the Hot Black Singles chart and at number 24 on the Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart.[84][85]
At the end of 1985, "How Will I Know" was released as the official third single. With its colorful and energetic video, the song brought the singer to the teen audience and MTV, which black artists had found tough to crack.[25] It became another number one single for Houston, topping both the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and Hot Black Singles chart.[86][87] The final single, "Greatest Love of All", a cover of "The Greatest Love of All", originally recorded in 1977 by George Benson, become the biggest hit off the album with a three-week stay atop the Hot 100. As a result, the parent album became the first debut album—and the first album by a female artist—ever to generate three number one singles.[6] With "Greatest Love of All" and Houston's debut album both at No. 1 on the singles and albums chart respectively, she became the first female artist to have the number one pop single and album simultaneously since Kim Carnes in 1981 with "Bette Davis Eyes" and Mistaken Identity.[6] "All at Once" was released only to Adult Contemporary and Urban AC stations as a radio airplay-only single later in 1986. It received heavy airplay and can still be heard on AC stations. However, the single received an official release in Japan and many European countries.[88] "Take Good Care of my Heart" (as a duet with Jermaine Jackson) was also released as a promotional single in Panama.[89]
Promotion and appearances
[edit]Tours
[edit]To further promote her debut album and first US top 5 Pop and No. 1 R&B single "You Give Good Love", Houston went on tour performing at clubs, theaters, and festivals. By August 1985, she was featured as a support act on selected dates by singers Luther Vandross and Jeffrey Osborne on individual tours. The following summer of 1986, her album generated three US Hot 100 chart toppers; Houston embarked on The Greatest Love Tour performing shows in North America, Europe, and Japan.
Date | Title | Details |
---|---|---|
February 12–19, 1985 | ― | |
April 5, 1985 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson |
|
April 19, 1985 | Show Van de Maand (Dutch TV Show) |
|
August 28, 1985 | Late Night with David Letterman |
|
September 15, 1985 | Silver Spoons ("Head Over Heels": Season 4, Episode 1)[93][94] |
|
December 4, 1985 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (Guest Host: Joan Rivers) |
|
January 27, 1986 | The 13th American Music Awards |
|
February 25, 1986 | The 28th Grammy Awards |
|
April 5, 1986 | Champs-Élysées (French TV talk show) |
|
September 5, 1986 | The 3rd MTV Video Music Awards |
|
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "You Give Good Love" | La La | Kashif | 4:37 |
2. | "Thinking About You" |
| Kashif | 5:24 |
3. | "Someone for Me" |
| Jermaine Jackson | 4:58 |
4. | "Saving All My Love for You" | Masser | 3:58 | |
5. | "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" (duet with Jermaine Jackson) |
| Jackson | 3:48 |
6. | "How Will I Know" | Walden | 4:35 | |
7. | "All at Once" |
| Masser | 4:28 |
8. | "Take Good Care of My Heart" (duet with Jermaine Jackson) |
| Jackson | 4:15 |
9. | "Greatest Love of All" |
| Masser | 4:51 |
10. | "Hold Me" (duet with Teddy Pendergrass) |
| Masser | 6:00 |
Total length: | 46:54 |
No. | Title | Remixer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
11. | "Thinking About You" (12" dance remix) | Bruce Forest | 7:16 |
12. | "Someone for Me" (12" dance remix) | Alan "The Judge" Coulthard | 7:24 |
13. | "How Will I Know" (a cappella) | — | 3:59 |
14. | "How Will I Know" (12" dance remix) | John "Jellybean" Benitez | 6:32 |
15. | "Greatest Love of All" (live at Radio City Music Hall on March 9, 1990, during a gala concert celebrating the 15th anniversary of Arista Records) | 7:06 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Conversations with Whitney Houston and Clive Davis" | 9:30 |
2. | "Home" (live from The Merv Griffin Show on June 23, 1983) | 4:45 |
3. | "I Am Changing" (live from the Arista Records 10th Anniversary celebration on December 1, 1984) | 4:52 |
4. | "You Give Good Love" (live from the 1st Soul Train Music Awards on March 23, 1987) | 4:17 |
5. | "You Give Good Love" (promo music video) | 4:07 |
6. | "Saving All My Love for You" (promo music video) | 3:56 |
7. | "How Will I Know" (promo music video) | 4:31 |
8. | "Greatest Love of All" (promo music video) | 4:52 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "How Will I Know" | Walden | 4:35 | |
2. | "All at Once" |
| Masser | 4:28 |
3. | "Take Good Care of My Heart" (duet with Jermaine Jackson) |
| Jackson | 4:15 |
4. | "Greatest Love of All" |
| Masser | 4:51 |
5. | "Hold Me" (duet with Teddy Pendergrass) |
| Masser | 6:00 |
6. | "You Give Good Love" | La La | Kashif | 4:37 |
7. | "Thinking About You" |
| Kashif | 5:24 |
8. | "Someone for Me" |
| Jermaine Jackson | 4:58 |
9. | "Saving All My Love for You" | Masser | 3:58 | |
10. | "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" (duet with Jermaine Jackson) |
| Jackson | 3:48 |
Total length: | 47:23 |
Personnel
[edit]- Whitney Houston – lead vocals
- Jermaine Jackson – duet vocals, producer, background vocals
- Teddy Pendergrass – duet vocals
- Premik Russell Tubbs – saxophone
- Tom Scott – saxophone ("Saving All My Love for You")
- John Barnes – clarinet and keyboards
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards
- Randy Kerber – keyboards
- Yvonne Lewis – keyboards
- Richard Marx – keyboards, background vocals
- Nathan East – bass
- Freddie Washington – bass
- Randy Jackson – bass
- Preston Glass – synthesizer
- Greg Phillinganes – synthesizer
- Ed Greene – drums
- John "J.R." Robinson – drums
- J.T. Lewis – drums
- Steve Rucker – drums
- Paul Leim – drums
- Cissy Houston – background vocals
- Julia Waters Tillman – background vocals
- Maxine Willard Waters – background vocals
- Oren Waters – background vocals
- Yogi Lee – background vocals
- Mary Canty – background vocals
- Deborah Thomas – background vocals
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
- Dann Huff – guitar
- Tim May – guitar
- Ira Siegel – guitar
- Bashiri Johnson – percussion[100]
- David Williams – guitar
- Louie Shelton – guitar
- Corrado Rustici – guitar
- Michael Masser – producer
- Clive Davis – executive producer
- Michael Barbiero – mixing, engineer
- Michael Mancini – engineer
- Michael O'Reilly – mixing, engineer
- Russell Schmitt – engineer
- Bill Schnee – mixing
- Gene Page Jr. – arrangements
- Kashif – arrangements, producer, background vocals
- Narada Michael Walden – arrangements, producer
- Donn Davenport – art direction
- Garry Gross – photographer
- Tiagi Lambert – fashion stylist
- Giovanne De Maura – gown
- Norma Kamali – bathing suit
- Quietfire – makeup
- Brenda Gorsky – coordinator
- Jeffrey Woodly – hair stylist
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
Year-end charts[edit]
All-time charts[edit]
|
Certifications and sales
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[151] | 5× Platinum | 350,000[152] |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[153] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Belgium (BEA)[151] | Gold | 25,000* |
Brazil | — | 250,000[154] |
Canada (Music Canada)[52] | Diamond | 1,000,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[151] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[155] | Gold | 29,109[155] |
France (SNEP)[156] | Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[157] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[158] | Platinum | 20,000* |
Italy (FIMI)[159] | Platinum | 250,000[159] |
Netherlands (NVPI)[160] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[161] | 2× Platinum | 30,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[162] | Platinum | 100,000[162] |
South Africa (RISA)[151] | Gold | 25,000* |
Sweden (GLF)[163] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[164] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] | 4× Platinum | 1,200,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[165] | 14× Platinum | 14,000,000‡ |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 25,000,000[166] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
See also
[edit]- List of best-selling albums
- List of best-selling albums by women
- List of best-selling albums in the United States
- List of Top 40 albums for 1980–1989 in Australia
- List of diamond-certified albums in Canada
References
[edit]- ^ a b Wete, Brad (September 2008). "The Beginning: Whitney Houston". Vibe. p. 106. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016.
- ^ a b Allison Stewart (August 31, 2009). "Recordings: With 'I Look to You,' Whitney Houston Eyes a Comeback". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
- ^ a b Shewey, Don. Review: Whitney Houston. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on February 13, 2012.
- ^ Billboard October 19, 1985, p. 92
- ^ a b c Paul Grein (July 5, 1986). "Chart Beat: 'Youngster' Janet Jackson hits No.1". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 27. p. 6. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c Paul Grein (May 17, 1986). "Chart Beat: Houston has 3rd No.1 from debut". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 20. p. 6. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "Whitney Houston on Canadian Albums Chart". RPM. March 8, 1986. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b "Whitney Houston on Norwegian Albums Chart". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ a b "Whitney Houston on Swedish Albums Chart". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ a b "Whitney Houston on Official Charts Company". The Official Charts Company. March 1, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ a b "Whitney Houston on German Albums Chart". Media Control Charts. March 31, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ a b "Whitney Houston on Swiss Albums Chart". hitparade.ch. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ a b Larry Flick (March 27, 1999). "Elton, Boyz, Joel Among Diamond Honorees". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ a b "Whitney Houston, RIAA Certification". Recording Industry Association of America. July 29, 1999. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ "Music Industry Pays Tribute to Whitney Houston". Voice of America. February 11, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c Tina, Whitney Top Picks for Annual Grammy Awards. Jet. January 27, 1986. Vol. 69, no. 19. p. 67. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ^ a b c "'We Are The World' Big Winner At 28th Grammys". Jet. Vol. 69, no. 26. Johnson Publishing Company. March 17, 1986. p. 14. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ^ a b "The 29th Grammy Awards Nominees & Winners". rockonthenet.com. February 24, 1987. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Whitney Houston's Historic Billboard Run Contains Multitudes | Podcast". May 28, 2020.
- ^ "Rolling Stone The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ "Whitney Houston (The Deluxe Anniversary Edition) (CD/DVD) [Original recording remastered]". Amazon. January 26, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ "Whitney Houston 35th Anniversary Edition". June 30, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Richard Corliss, Elizabeth L. Bland and Elaine Dutka (July 13, 1987). "Show Business: The Prom Queen of Soul (p6)". TIME. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Review: Whitney Houston. AllMusic. Retrieved on August 7, 2009.
- ^ "Whitney Houston's Self-Titled Debut Introduced a Voice for All Times: Classic Review". Consequence of Sound. May 26, 2020.
- ^ "Music Review: Whitney Houston: The Deluxe Anniversary Edition, by Whitney Houston". Entertainment Weekly. January 20, 2010. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ a b Review: Whitney Houston. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on August 7, 2009. Note: Original star ratings represented by (*) are not reprinted at the url page.
- ^ "Whitney Houston: Whitney Houston: The Deluxe Anniversary Edition < PopMatters". Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "Review: Whitney Houston". Q: 160. December 1999.
- ^ a b Nathan Brackett, Christian David Hoard, ed. (November 2, 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 396. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (April 30, 1985). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
- ^ "Whitney Houston 11 years on: A look back at the iconic singer's life and incredible career". Virgin Radio. February 10, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
Whitney's eponymous debut album was released on Valentine's Day that year, and received huge critical acclaim.
- ^ Stephen Holden (May 12, 1985). "CRITICS' CHOICES; Pop Music (Whitney Houston, The New York Times Review)". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ Liam Lacey (March 7, 1985). "Review: Whitney Houston". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "The Billboard Top Pop Albums chart listing for the week of March 30, 1985". Billboard. March 30, 1985. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "The Billboard Top Black Albums chart listing for the week of June 22, 1985". Billboard. June 22, 1985. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ "The Billboard Top Pop Albums chart listing for the week of August 31, 1985". Billboard. August 31, 1985. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "The Billboard Top Pop Albums chart listing for the week of March 8, 1986". Billboard. March 8, 1986. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ Paul Grein (March 8, 1986). "Chart Beat: Houston climbs to the top in 50 weeks". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ DeKnock, Jan. "It Was A Short Run For Mister Mister's 'Double'" Chicago Tribune. Mar 7, 1986, Page 48.
- ^ "Whitney Houston total staying number of weeks on Billboard 200 chart". Billboard. June 28, 1986. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ "Billboard 200 – Week of May 14, 1988". Billboard. May 14, 1988. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ Kolson, Ann. "At The Top Whitney Houston, Groomed For Stardom, Swiftly Ascended To Startling Heights". Philadelphia Inquirer. August 27, 1986. Pg G1.
- ^ "Billboard 1986 The Year in Music & Video Year-End Charts – Top Pop Album". Billboard. December 27, 1986. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
- ^ "Billboard 1986 The Year in Music & Video Year-End Charts – Top Pop Album Artist". Billboard. December 27, 1986. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
- ^ "Billboard 1986 The Year in Music & Video Year-End Charts – Top Pop Artist of the Year & Top Black Artist of the Year". Billboard. December 27, 1986. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
- ^ "Whitney Houston chart run on Official Charts Company". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ a b "British album certifications – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "The best-selling albums of 1986 in UK". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ a b "Canadian album certifications – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston". Music Canada.
- ^ "The RPM Top Pop Albums of 1986". RPM. December 27, 1986. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ Whitney Houston on Australian Albums Chart. Billboard. August 30, 1986. Retrieved June 18, 2010 – via Kent Music Report.
- ^ "日本で売れた洋楽アルバムトップ10 (Top-ten international albums on the Japanese Oricon Year-End Charts 1986)". Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
- ^ "South African Divas Albums". Geo Cities. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ "Whitney Houston on Austrian Albums Chart". austriancharts.at. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ "New Zealand Albums Chart". RIANZ. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ "Inside Whitney's world". NBC News. September 28, 2013. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Booker, Bobbi (February 14, 2012). "Philly reflects on Houston's legacy". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Gary Trust (August 30, 2009). "Ask Billboard: Madonna vs. Whitney, Who's Sold More?". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
- ^ "Whitney Houston Re-Enters Top 10 on Billboard 200 – Billboard". Billboard.
- ^ "Billboard 200: Week of February 25, 2012". Billboard.
- ^ aria.com.au/
- ^ "Billboard 110 Years: A Billboard Anniversary Salute". Billboard. November 27, 2004. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
- ^ Hilburn, Robert. "Hilburn's Best LPs of 85". Los Angeles Times: 60. January 19, 1986.
- ^ "Critics Top-10 Album Poll: Activism and Americanism". LA Times, Dec 29, 1985. Pg 61.
- ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- ^ "Definitive 200". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. 2007. Archived from the original on April 6, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
- ^ "Q magazine's 100 Women Who Rock The World", Q, January 2002, retrieved January 15, 2010
- ^ Billy Johnson, Jr (June 25, 2010). "Brandy On Whitney Houston's Self-Titled Debut: Black Music Month Album Spotlight #15". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on October 13, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
- ^ "Grammy Hall". New York: Grammy Awards. 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- ^ "The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s". Pitchfork. September 10, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ a b "Best new artist category causes Grammys' only stir". The Gazette. Canwest. February 26, 1986. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "Controversy Again Casts Cloud Over Grammy Awards Program". Ocala Star-Benner. February 25, 1986. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Clive Davis (January 18, 1986). "Commentary: Denying Grammy Justice, What Does 'New Artist' Really Mean?". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- ^ a b "NARAS to Clive: We Stand Pat, Whitney's Not a New Artist". Billboard. January 25, 1986. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ Keith Tuber (August 1988). Music: Richard Marx Hits the Mark. Orange Coast. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- ^ Geoff Mayfiled (March 4, 2000). "Billboard magazine's Between The Bullets". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
- ^ "The Billboard Hot Black Singles chart listing for the week of May 25, 1985". Billboard. May 25, 1985. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "The Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week of July 27, 1985". Billboard. July 27, 1985. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "The Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week of October 26, 1985". Billboard. October 26, 1985. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "Hits of the World: "Saving All My Love for You" top the UK Singles chart". Billboard. December 21, 1985. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ "The Billboard Hot Black Singles chart listing for the week of December 14, 1985". Billboard. December 14, 1985. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ "The Billboard Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart listing for the week of December 7, 1985". Billboard. December 7, 1985. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ "The Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week of February 15, 1986". Billboard. February 15, 1986. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "The Billboard Hot Black Singles chart listing for the week of March 8, 1986". Billboard. March 8, 1986. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "Whitney Houston – All At Once". Discogs. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ "Whitney Houston - Take Good Care of My Heart = Cuida Me Corazón", Discogs, retrieved April 6, 2020
- ^ Adam White (March 9, 1985). "Talent in Action: Whitney Houston, Sweetwaters in New York". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 10. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
- ^ "Nice Story, Solo Whitney, 1985". New York Daily News. May 30, 2005. Retrieved March 15, 2011. [dead link]
- ^ "Whitney Houston Makes Musical Debut in N.Y." Jet. 68 (12). Johnson Publishing Company. June 3, 1985. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
- ^ ""Silver Spoons": Head Over Heels (1985)". IMDb. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
- ^ a b "Silver Spoons Episode Guide". tv.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
- ^ Whitney Houston Appears on TV's 'Silver Spoons'. Johnson Publishing Company. September 23, 1985. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ Whitney, Aretha, Stevie Snare Honors at Recent American Music Awards (p56). Johnson Publishing Company. February 17, 1986. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ Houston Is Top Nominee In Music Awards Showing (p62). Johnson Publishing Company. January 20, 1986. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "Serge Gainsbourg". discogs.com. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
- ^ "Serge Gainsbourg – French Singer/Songwriter; The 1980s – Growing Old Disgracefully". BBC. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
- ^ "Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard: Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 34. August 23, 1986. p. 72. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ a b "Austriancharts.at – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0654". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Music & Media: European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. May 31, 1986. p. 17. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard: Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 15. April 11, 1987. p. 71. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard: Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 13. March 29, 1986. p. 67. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Swisscharts.com – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Whitney Houston | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Music Week: Top Disco and Dance Albums" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 1986. p. 12. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "South Korea Circle Album Chart". On the page, select "2010.02.14~2010.02.20" to obtain the corresponding chart. Circle Chart Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. February 13, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "South Korea Circle International Album Chart". On the page, select "2012.02.19~2012.02.25" to obtain the corresponding chart. Circle Chart Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. March 10, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1985" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 43, no. 16. December 28, 1985. p. 14. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard 1985: The Year in Music & Video" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-19. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard 1985: The Year in Music & Video" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-27. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade 1986". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "RPM: Top 100 Albums of '86" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 45, no. 14. December 27, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1986". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Music & Media: European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. December 27, 1986. p. 35. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Top 100 Album–Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1986". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Music Week: Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music Week. January 24, 1987. p. 25. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ "Music Week: Disco Top Albums 1986" (PDF). Music Week. January 10, 1987. p. 17. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard 1986: The Year in Music and Video" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-19. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard 1986: The Year in Music and Video" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-24. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "RPM: Top 100 Albums of '87" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 47, no. 12. December 26, 1987. p. 9. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Music & Media: European Charts of the Year 1987" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. December 26, 1987. p. 35. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard 1987: The Year in Music & Video" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987. p. Y-20. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums by Women". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Nick Robertshaw (August 9, 1986). "Houston Attains Global Stardom". Billboard. p. 67. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ Baker, Glenn A. (November 15, 1986). "Pacing the Majors…". Billboard. p. A-6. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ "Austrian album certifications – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston" (in German). IFPI Austria.
- ^ Souza, Tárik de (December 25, 1992). "Balada de estio". Jornal do Brasil (in Portuguese): 2. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
The theme song is also a leader: the big ballad "I Will Always Love You" occupies the first place for three weeks in the United States and in Brazil, she has sold 250,000 copies with each of her three previous albums.
- ^ a b "Whitney Houston" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- ^ "French album certifications – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston" (in French). InfoDisc. Select WHITNEY HOUSTON and click OK.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Whitney Houston; 'Whitney Houston')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1988". IFPI Hong Kong.
- ^ a b "A Platinum Debut" (PDF). Music & Media. July 4, 1987. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Whitney Houston in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1986 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. July 17, 2011. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011.
- ^ a b "Gold & Platinum Awards 1986" (PDF). Music and Media. World Radio History Archive. December 27, 1986. p. 33. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Whitney Houston')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "American album certifications – Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Hyman, Dan (October 3, 2017). "Music Industry Pays Tribute to Whitney Houston". Voice of America. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
Further reading
[edit]- Colin Larkin (2002). Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Edition 4. Virgin Books. ISBN 1-85227-923-0.