Whitney

Whitney
Studio album by Whitney Houston
Released	June 29, 1987
Recorded	1986-1987
Genre	Pop, R&B
Length	53:09
Label	Arista
Producer	Jellybean Benitez, Kashif, Michael Masser, Narada Michael Walden
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (C+) link Q link Rolling Stone (mixed) link
Whitney Houston chronology
Whitney Houston (1985) Whitney (1987) I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990) Singles from Whitney "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" Released: May 1987 "Didn't We Almost Have It All" Released: August 1987 "So Emotional" Released: November 1987 "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" Released: March 1988 "Love Will Save The Day" Released: May 1988 "I Know Him So Well" Released: November 1988

Whitney is the second studio album by American pop/R&B singer Whitney Houston, released on June 29, 1987 by Arista Records.

Album details

The album became the first by a female artist ever to debut at #1 in the Billboard 200, and produced a then-record-equalling four #1 singles from one album. (This record was broken two months later when Michael Jackson's Bad album produced five #1's.) Whitney is one of only seven albums in music history to produce at least four #1 Hot 100 hits from the same album. This feat, along with the three #1's from her debut album, also gave Houston seven consecutive #1 songs, the most consecutive #1's by any musical act (a record she still holds). The most consecutive #1's title was previously held by both The Beatles and the Bee Gees with six each.

The album had a more pop feel than the first album. Narada Michael Walden who produced the infectious "How Will I Know", on the first album produced 7 of the "Whitney" album's eleven tracks, 3 of which became Number 1's. Kashif, the producer of "You Give Good Love" contributed "Where You Are". Michael Masser who was responsible for several hits from Whitney's debut contributed Didn't We Almost Have it All and "You're Still My Man". "You're Still My Man" was originally recorded for the first album but was left off because Clive Davis felt it would be too much pop. Finally, Jellybean Benitez contributed "Love Will Save The Day". The album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.

Singles

• I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) (#1 U.S.)
• Didn't We Almost Have It All (#1 U.S.)
• So Emotional (#1 U.S.)
• Where Do Broken Hearts Go (#1 U.S.)
• Love Will Save the Day (#9 U.S.)
• I Know Him So Well (released as a Single only in Germany)

Track listing

1. "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam) – 4:52
2. "Just the Lonely Talking Again" (Sam Dees) – 5:34
3. "Love Will Save the Day" (Toni C.) – 5:25
4. "Didn't We Almost Have It All" (Will Jennings, Michael Masser) – 5:07
5. "So Emotional" (Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg) – 4:37
6. "Where You Are" (James Calabrese, LeMel Humes, Dyan Humes) – 4:11
7. "Love Is a Contact Sport" (Preston Glass) – 4:19
8. "You're Still My Man" (Gerry Goffin, Michael Masser) – 4:18
9. "For the Love of You" (O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Marvin Isley, Chris Jasper) – 5:33
10. "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" (Chuck Jackson, Frank Wildhorn) – 4:38
11. "I Know Him So Well" (Benny Andersson, Tim Rice, Björn Ulvaeus) – 4:30
    • Performed by Whitney Houston & Cissy Houston

Personnel

• Whitney Houston - vocals, background vocals
• Linden Aaron - Simmons drums
• Walter Afanasieff - multiple instruments
• Roy Ayers - vibraphone
• Kitty Beethoven - background vocals
• Michael Boddicker - synthesizer
• Robbie Buchanan - piano, Fender Rhodes
• Paulinho Da Costa - percussion
• Nathan East - bass
• Sammy Figueroa - percussion
• Kenny G - tenor saxophone
• Mike Gibbs - conductor
• Jim Gilstrap - background vocals
• Preston Glass - multiple instruments, Roland TR-808
• Greg "Gigi" Gonaway
• Jennifer Hall - background vocals
• Niki Haris - background vocals
• Vincent Henry - saxophone
• Cissy Houston - performer
• Dann Huff - guitar
• Paul Jackson Jr. - guitar
• Randy "The Emperor" Jackson - multiple instruments
• Bashiri Johnson - percussion
• Kashif - synthesizer, keyboard, background vocals
• Randy Kerber - piano
• Paul Leim - drums
• Cory Lerios - synthesizer, Oberheim expander
• Frank Martin - multiple instruments
• Marcus Miller - bass
• Gene Page - Conductor
• Paul Pesco - guitar
• Claytoven Richardson - background vocals
• John "J.R." Robinson - drums
• Marc Russo - horn
• Corrado Rustici - guitar synthesizer
• Ira Siegel - guitar
• Premik Russell Tubbs - horn
• Narada Michael Walden - drums
• Jack Waldman - synthesizer
• Wayne Wallace - horn
• Fred Zarr - synthesizer

Production

• Producers: Kashif, Jellybean Benitez, Michael Masser, Narada Michael Walden
• Executive producer: Clive Davis
• Engineers: Jim Boyer, Dean Burt, Michael Delugg, Doc Dougherty, Dave Fraser, Darroll Gustamachio, Calvin Harris, Michael Hutchinson, Fred Law, Dennis MacKay, Michael Mancini, Russ Terrana
• Assistant engineers: Milton Chan, Nick Delre, Michael Dotson, Toni Greene, Jay Healy, Fernando Kral, Bob Loftus, Steve MacMillan, Tony Maserati, Dennis Mitchell, Peshay, Don Peterkofsky, Timmy Reppert, Mike Ross, Mark Roule, Craig Vogel, Amy Ziffer
• Mixing: Darroll Gustamachio, Michael Hutchinson
• Mastering: George Marino
• Production coordination: Alicia Winfield
• Programming: Kashif
• Drum programming: Jellybean, Narada Michael Walden
• Percussion programming: Preston Glass
• Arrangers: Tony Cortez, Narada Michael Walden, Jack Waldman
• Horn arrangements: Jerry Hey, Gene Page
• Rhythm arrangements: Kashif, Gene Page
• String arrangements: Mike Gibbs, Lee Holdridge, Gene Page
• Vocal arrangement: Whitney Houston
• Artwork: Milton Sincoff
• Design: Marl Larson
• Photography: Richard Avedon
• Hand lettering: Bernard Maisner

Charts and certifications

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009)

Singles - Billboard (U.S.)

Awards

Grammy Awards

• 1988 Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (Winner)
• 1988 Album of the Year: Whitney (Nominated)
• 1988 Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "For the Love of You" (Nominated)
• 1988 Song of the Year: "Didn't We Almost Have It All" (Nominated)

American Music Awards

• 1988 Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist (Winner)
• 1988 Favorite Pop/Rock Single: "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (Winner)
• 1988 Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist (Nominated)
• 1989 Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist (Winner)
• 1989 Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist (Winner)

Billboard Year-End Chart

• 1988 Top Pop Singles Artist - Female

References

1. ^ http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php |Cert. Date 1988-02-29
2. ^ http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php