I'm Your Baby Tonight is the third studio album by American pop/R&B singer Whitney Houston; released by Arista Records on November 6, 1990. Following the run of this album, Houston continued to achieve widespread commercial success throughout the 1990s, venturing heavily into films—while continuing to record via their adjoining soundtrack albums. Subsequently, I'm Your Baby Tonight would not be followed up with another studio album until 1998's My Love Is Your Love.
Production history
Like many artists, Houston's previous efforts featured material mostly chosen by the label. With this project, however, she had more control over the album's content. In addition to working with the previous producers of Narada Michael Walden and Michael Masser, she also worked with the production team of L.A. Reid and Babyface, as well as singer Luther Vandross, and did a collaboration with Stevie Wonder. Houston would also produce the song "I'm Knockin'," with tour music director Ricky Minor. Stylistically, the album was a mixture of Contemporary R&B, Pop and Adult Contemporary.
Reception
I'm Your Baby Tonight peaked at number three on the Billboard Top 200 album charts and remained on the chart for fifty-one weeks. The album spun off four top twenty pop singles: the chart topping the title track and "All the Man That I Need," the top ten "Miracle," as well as "My Name Is Not Susan." A fifth single, "I Belong to You," became a top ten R&B single, and garnered Houston a Grammy-nomination for "Best Female R&B Vocal Performance." Included on the tracklisting of the albums Japanese edition is a cover of Stevie Winwood's "Higher Love" and "Takin a Chance," the latter became a chart topping single in Japan.
The album was certified 4x platinum in the US by the RIAA, and to date the album has sold approximately twelve million copies worldwide.[3]
Track listing
Additional notes
Singles
Personnel
- Whitney Houston - vocals, background vocals
- Walter Afanasieff - keyboard
- Tawatha Agee - background vocals
- Gerald Albright - saxophone
- Skip Anderson - drums, keyboard
- Babyface - bass, keyboard, vocals, background vocals, rhythm
- Kitty Beethoven - background vocals
- Louis Biancaniello - synthesizer, keyboard
- Gary Bias - alto saxophone
- Vernon "Ice" Black - guitar
- Kimberly Brewer - background vocals
- Ray Brown - trumpet
- Chris Camozzi - guitar
- Francisco Centeno - bass
- Paulinho Da Costa - percussion
- Hubert Eaves III - synthesizer, drums, keyboard
- Stephen A. Ferrone - drums
- Lynn Fiddmont - background vocals
- Kenny G - saxophone
- Hey - strings, drums
- Dorian Holley - background vocals
- Cissy Houston - background vocals
- Paul Jackson Jr. - guitar
- Skyler Jett- background vocals
- Keith John - background vocals
- Melisa Kary - background vocals
- Kayo - bass
- Randy Kerber - strings, keyboard
- Ren Klyce - synthesizer
- Robbie Kondor - strings, keyboard, rhythm
- Neil Larsen - Hammond organ
- Ricky Lawson - synthesizer, percussion, drums
- Wayne Linsey - piano
- Frank Martin - piano, keyboard, vibraphone
- Paulette McWilliams - background vocals
- Jason Miles - synthesizer
- Ricky Minor - synthesizer, bass, horn, background vocals, rhythm, synthesizer bass
- Billy Myers - horn
- Rafael Padilla - percussion
- Donald Parks - synthesizer, keyboard
- L.A. Reid - percussion, drums, vocals, rhythm
- Claytoven Richardson - background vocals
- Tom Scott - saxophone
- Michael "Patches" Stewart - trumpet
- Annie Stocking - background vocals
- Steve Tavaglione - horn, tenor saxophone
- Jeanie Tracy - background vocals
- Luther Vandross - vocals
- Narada Michael Walden - bass, drums
- David Ward II - synthesizer
- Bill Washer - guitar
- Kirk Whalum - saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Brenda White-King - background vocals
- BeBe Winans - background vocals
- CeCe Winans - background vocals
- Stevie Wonder - vocals, multiple instruments, performer
- Reggie C. Young - trombone
Production
- Producers: Babyface, Whitney Houston, Michael Masser, Ricky Minor, L.A. Reid, Luther Vandross, Narada Michael Walden, Stevie Wonder
- Executive producer: Clive Davis
- Assistant producer: Mark Spier
- Engineers: Ray Bardani, Devon Bernardoni, Bobby Brooks, Dana Jon Chappelle, David Michael Dill, Ryan Dorn, David Frazer, Max Garcia, Jon Gass, John Herman, Aaron Kropf, Manny Lacarrubba, Jeff Lord-Alge, Barney Perkins, Marc Reyburn, Rail Jon Rogut, Donnell Sullivan, Russ Terrana, Mary Ann Zahorsky, Erik Zobler
- Assistant engineers: Kevin Becka, Milton Chan, Guy DeFazio, John Fundingsland, Tom Hardisty, Stephen Harrison, Jesse Kanner, Rick Norman, Scott Ralston, Brian Sperber, Donnell Sullivan, Steve Van Arden, Michael White, Jim "Z" Zumpano
- Mixing: Babyface, Ray Bardani, Bobby Brooks, Dana Jon Chappelle, Jon Gass, Barney Perkins, L.A. Reid, Marc Reyburn, Russ Terrana, Erik Zobler
- Mastering: George Marino
- Production coordination: Cynthia Ahiloh, Marsha Burns, Susanne Edgren, Janice Lee, Cynthia Shiloh, Kevin Walden, Gar Wood
- Project coordinator: Stephanie Andrews
- Sound design: Robert A. Arbittier
- Programming: Louis Biancaniello, Ren Klyce, Ricky Lawson, Jason Miles, David Ward II
- Drum programming: Hubert Eaves III
- Keyboard programming: Skip Anderson, Hubert Eaves III, Donald Parks
- Arrangers: John Anderson, Babyface, Hubert Eaves III, Hey, Whitney Houston, Randy Kerber, Robbie Kondor, Ricky Minor, Billy Myers, L.A. Reid, Steve Tavaglione, Luther Vandross, Narada Michael Walden, BeBe Winans, CeCe Winans, Stevie Wonder
- Horn arrangements: Ricky Minor, Billy Myers, Steve Tavaglione
- Rhythm arrangements: Babyface, Ricky Minor, L.A. Reid
- String arrangements: Jerry Hey
- Vocal arrangement: Babyface, Whitney Houston, L.A. Reid, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder
- Art direction: Susan Mendola
- Photography: Andrea Blanch, Tim White
- Lettering: Bernard Maisner
- Make-up: Kevyn Aucoin, Patrick Poussard
- Stylist: Barbara Dente
- Hair stylist: Ellen La Var
Charts and certifications
| Country |
Peak
position |
Total
weeks |
Certification |
Sales |
| Finland |
1 |
n/a |
Platinum |
40,000 |
| Austria |
2 |
20 |
2 Platinum |
80,000 |
| Switzerland |
2 |
22 |
2 Platinum |
80,000 |
| Sweden |
3 |
8 |
Platinum |
40,000 |
| United States Billboard 200 |
3 |
51 |
4x Platinum |
4,000,000 |
| United States Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums |
1 |
53 |
| German Albums Chart |
3 |
n/a |
3x Platinum |
700,000 |
| Netherlands |
n/a |
n/a |
3x Platinum |
220,000 |
| UK Albums Chart |
4 |
29 |
Platinum [4] |
400,000 |
| Italy |
1 |
n/a |
5x Platinum |
550,000 |
| Spain |
4 |
n/a |
3x Platinum |
300,000 |
| Australian Albums Chart |
10 |
16 |
Platinum |
160,000 |
| South Africa |
11 |
n/a |
Platinum |
50,000 |
| Japan |
6 |
n/a |
2x Platinum |
500,000 |
| Canadian Albums Chart |
8 |
n/a |
3x Platinum |
300,000 |
| France |
9 |
n/a |
2x Platinum |
400,000 |
- Singles - Billboard (U.S.)
| Year |
Single |
Chart |
Peak
position |
| 1990 |
"All the Man That I Need" |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks |
1 |
| The Billboard Hot 100 |
1 |
| "I'm Your Baby Tonight" |
Adult Contemporary |
7 |
| Hot Dance Music/Club Play |
17 |
| Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks |
1 |
| The Billboard Hot 100 |
1 |
| 1991 |
"All the Man That I Need" |
Adult Contemporary |
1 |
| "I Belong to You" |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks |
10 |
| "I'm Your Baby Tonight" |
Adult Contemporary |
12 |
| "Miracle" |
Adult Contemporary |
4 |
| Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks |
2 |
| The Billboard Hot 100 |
9 |
| "My Name Is Not Susan" |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks |
8 |
| The Billboard Hot 100 |
20 |
| 1992 |
"We Didn't Know" |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks |
20 |
References
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Whitney Houston |
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| Studio albums |
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| Soundtrack albums |
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| Compilation albums |
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| Tours |
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| Related articles |
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