Whitney (album)


Whitney is the second studio album by American singer Whitney Houston, released on June 2, 1987 by Arista Records as the follow-up to her best-selling debut album, Whitney Houston.
The album spawned five Top 10 US singles. Whitney's first four singles—"I Wanna Dance with Somebody ", "Didn't We Almost Have It All," "So Emotional" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"—all peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, making her the first female artist to achieve that feat. Along with three straight number one singles from Houston's previous album, this gave the singer an unprecedented seven consecutive number one hits, surpassing the Beatles and the Bee Gees. Also impressive, Houston's seven consecutive number one singles were all non-duets and not recorded with other major acts; she was the only act featured on each of the seven consecutive number one hits. The album Whitney also included the top ten US hit "Love Will Save the Day".
The album and the first single, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," were hits worldwide, peaking at number one in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and several countries throughout Europe. It also saw great sales success in various countries in Asia, South America, and Africa.
The album was a global success, and debuted at number one on the US Billboard Top 200 Album Chart on June 27, 1987. This made Houston the first female artist to ever debut at number one in the US. The album remained at the top for eleven consecutive weeks, creating a record; the most cumulative weeks at number one on the albums chart by a female artist during the 1980s.
Whitney achieved international sales success. At the 30th Grammy Awards, it received three nominations including Album of the Year, with Houston winning Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." The album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. It was certified 9x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 29, 1995.

Production

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 seven of the Whitney album's eleven tracks, three of which became Number 1's on Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart in 1987 and 1988. Kashif, the producer of "You Give Good Love," contributed "Where You Are". Michael Masser, who was responsible for several hits from Whitney's debut album, contributed number 1 hit single "Didn't We Almost Have It All" and "You're Still My Man." Finally, Jellybean Benitez produced the top ten hit "Love Will Save the Day".

Promotion and appearances

DateTitleDetails
May 21, 1987
Top of the Pops

  • Houston made her first appearance on this show and performed "I Wanna Dance with Somebody."
August 2, 1987The Special Olympics Summer Games Opening Ceremonies
September 11, 1987The 4th MTV Video Music Awards
  • Houston's tour performances, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody " and "Didn't We Almost Have It All" at Saratoga Springs, New York, were broadcast live via satellite at this awards show.
  • "Didn't We Almost Have It All" performance was used as the single's promo music video later.
    • January 25, 1988The 15th American Music Awards
  • Houston was one of the show's co-hosts with Barbara Mandrell, Mick Fleetwood, The Bee Gees, and Smokey Robinson.
  • Barbara Mandrell introduced Houston's "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" performance. Later in the show, Houston returned on stage and performed a gospel song, "Wonderful Counselor" with her mother, Cissy Houston, and brother, Gary Houston.
  • She received three nominations, of which she won two.
    • March 2, 1988The 30th Grammy Awards
  • Houston performed "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," opening the show.
  • The album received three nominations including Album of the Year, winning her second Grammy, "Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female " for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody."

    • Singles

    Whitney produced a then-record-equalling four number one singles from one album, making it the first album by a female artist, and overall only the second album by a solo artist, behind Michael Jackson's Bad, yielded five number ones. The album is one of only seven albums in music history to generate at least four number one Hot 100 hits from the same album. This feat, with the three number ones from her debut album, also gave Houston seven consecutive number one songs; a record for the most consecutive number ones by any musical act. The most consecutive #1's title was previously held by both The Beatles and the Bee Gees with six each.
    The first single released from the album, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," made its debut at number 38, her highest debut at the time, on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the issue dated May 16, 1987, and reached the top position in six weeks later, becoming her fourth number one hit. It also topped the Hot Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks. The single was a massive success globally, becoming one of her signature songs. In the United Kingdom, it entered the UK Singles Chart at number 10 on May 23, 1987 and reached the number one in two weeks later, staying there for two weeks. According to the Official Charts Company, it sold 760,000 copies and became her best-selling single in the country at the point. The single also peaked at number one of the singles charts in Australia for five weeks, Belgium for three weeks, Canada for a week, Germany for five weeks, Italy for one week, the Netherlands for four weeks, New Zealand for four weeks, Norway for seven weeks, Sweden for six weeks, and Switzerland for six weeks. Thanks to its strong sales and airplay across Europe, it went to top position of European Hot 100 Singles chart and remained at the summit for eight weeks. The single was certified Gold^ by the RIAA on July 28, 1987, for sales of one million more in the United States―the requirement for a Gold single prior to 1989, and re-certified Platinum for the same sales on February 13, 1989. In addition, it was certified Gold in UK, Canada, and Sweden. The single sold 4.2 million copies world wide.
    The power ballad, "Didn't We Almost Have It All," was released as the album's second single in August 1987. It peaked at number one on the Hot 100 chart on September 26, 1987 and stayed on the top for two weeks. It also topped the Hot Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks, becoming her fifth chart-topper. The single peaked at number two in Canada.
    The album's third and fourth singles, "So Emotional" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go," both reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart in 1988, becoming her sixth and seventh number one hits, respectively. The former became her second number one hit on Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play chart and was certified Gold for shipments of 500,000 copies by the RIAA on December 6, 1995. The latter peaked at number one Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks.
    The fifth and final single to be released off the album, "Love Will Save the Day," peaked at number nine on the Hot 100 Singles chart. All five singles were top 5 Hot Black Singles hits, though none of them reached number one. "I Know Him So Well" was released as a single in Australia, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain.
    Note
    • ^ It was a certification according to old criteria. In 1989, the sales thresholds for singles were reduced to 500,000 for Gold and 1,000,000 for Platinum, reflecting a decrease in sales of singles.

      Critical reception

    Upon the album's debut, the critical receptions of Whitney were mixed. Most of critics admitted the commercial value of the album, but were critical because its standard pattern followed the predecessor's winning formula and the materials failed to reveal Houston's individuality. Jon Pareles of The New York Times criticized something as formulaic on the album, stating that: "Whitney plays everything safe. It uses three of the debut album's producers. There are bouncy, tinkly songs aimed at teen-agers, and slow tunes aimed at sentimental adults, as before. Even the album title fits in with an Arista Records custom of separating female singers—Dionne, Aretha, Carly—from their last names." He was not positive of her vocals on it, commenting "What's more unsettling is that in the two years since Whitney Houston was released, the singer hasn't gotten much more expressive. For too many songs, she takes the patched-together style of the debut album further as if she were singing in a second language." He added that "For all the passionate avowals of the lyrics, Ms. Houston and her producers keep emotion at bay."
    Vince Aletti from Rolling Stone also gave an unfavorable review, stating "the formula is more rigorously locked in than before, and the range so tightly circumscribed that Houston's potential seems to have shrunk rather than expanded" and the record is "smug, repressive and ridiculously safe." Also, he made some sarcastic comments about the first single, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody ", calling it "How Will I spoken at Hollywood's blockbuster sequels. Robert Hilburn, in his review for Los Angeles Times, regarded the album as "another commercial blockbuster", writing that the record is "a series of highly accessible selections that will work on a variety of radio formats." However, he expressed his considerable disappointment that Whitney did precious little to define the singer's vision, adding that she had a sensational voice but didn't assert much vocal character on it. Dolores Barclay of The Associated Press complimented Houston on her vocal ability: "Whitney Houston has a fine instrument and uses it well. Her voice takes us to places we know and to places we might want to forget and to places we dream about." But she, like other critics, was critical of the song material on the record, commenting "There is no depth, and not much excitement. Nor does this talented song stylist and Grammy winner take risks and try something just a little daring." St. Petersburg Times showed a favorable attitude toward her new album at large, stating " is, first and foremost, a product. It has been carefully designed, manufactured and packaged. As such, it's easy to be cynical about. But as products go, this is a pretty good one." They also praised her vocals as follows: "Houston's voice sounds good, real good. She's firmer, more confident."

    Commercial performance

    With the highly anticipated release of her second album Whitney, Houston became the first female artist to debut at number one in the history of Billboard 200 chart. It made her the fourth artist to achieve that feat overall, behind Elton John with Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy and Rock of the Westies, Stevie Wonder with Songs in the Key of Life and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band with Live/1975–85. On June 27, 1987 the album topped the chart and remained there for eleven consecutive weeks, the longest run among the releases that reached peak position of the year. It also debuted at number fourteen on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and peaked at the number two, staying on the chart for a total of seventy-five weeks. The album was Houston's fastest-selling album in the United States at that time, with four million copies shipped within the first three months of its release. It was certified 9× Platinum for shipping 9 million copies in the United States alone by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 29, 1995. Whitney has sold over 9,253,000 copies in the US as of February 2012. The album re-entered the Billboard 200 the week of February 25, 2012, after Houston's death, at number 122. It remained in the chart for 11 more weeks making 86 weeks on the Billboard 200 to date. The album has sold nearly 289,000 copies more since its reentry in 2012. It also sold 806,000 units at the BMG Music Club as of February 2003.
    Whitney was a smash hit worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart on June 13, 1987 and remained there for six weeks. Whitney became the first album to debut at number one in the U.S. and in the UK both. It was 1987's third best-selling album in the UK, behind Michael Jackson's Bad and U2's The Joshua Tree, and was ranked number six on list of "The Best-Selling Albums of the 1980s in UK". With 1.2 million copies sold there, it would become the biggest selling album by a female artist in the UK, a record that has since been broken. With her debut also selling over a million copies, this would make Houston the first female artist to have two albums sell over a million copies in the UK. With current sales of over 2.2 million, the album was the first album by an African-American woman to sell over 2 million in the UK.
    In Canada, the album topped the albums chart for eleven weeks, being the third best-selling album in 1987, behind U2's The Joshua Tree and Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet. In addition, it peaked at number one in Germany for eleven weeks, Italy for five weeks, Norway for eleven weeks, Netherlands for six weeks, Switzerland for eleven weeks, Austria for two weeks, Sweden for four weeks, Australia for three weeks, New Zealand for two weeks, Spain, Finland, Taiwan, and so on. As a result of massive popularity across Europe, the album topped the European Hot 100 Albums chart for eight weeks in 1987. In Japan, with sales of 384,000 copies combined of LP, CD and Compact Cassette, the album became the third best-selling international album of 1987, behind Top Gun Soundtrack Album and Michael Jackson's Bad. In 1988, Whitney was certified 6× Platinum#endnote_A| by the British Phonographic Industry and 7× Platinum for shipments of 700,000 copies of the album by the Canadian Recording Industry Association, respectively. It was also certified Platinum in Germany, Netherlands and Finland, respectively, 2× Platinum in Switzerland, Austria and Sweden, respectively. In November 2006, Whitney was ranked number forty-seven for sales of 2.2 million, making it her biggest-selling album in the UK, on list of "100 Best Selling Albums of All Time in the UK" announced by The Official UK Charts Company. The album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
    Note
    • A^ It should be certified 7× Platinum. According to The Official UK Charts Company, Whitney sold 2,237,603 copies in United Kingdom, until 2006.

      Track listing

    Personnel

    "I Wanna Dance with Somebody "1
    • Narada Michael Walden – drums
    • Walter Afanasieff – synthesizers
    • Randy Jackson – bass synth
    • Corrado Rustici – guitar synth
    • Preston Glass – percussion programming
    • Marc Russo – alto sax
    • Gigi Gonaway – Simmons
    • Sterling – synth horns
    • Jim Gilstrap - background vocals
    • Kitty Beethoven - background vocals
    • Kevin Dorsey - background vocals
    • Myrna Matthews - background vocals
    • Jennifer Hall - background vocals
    • Whitney Houston - background vocals
    "Just the Lonely Talking Again"1
    • Narada Michael Walden – Brushes on the Kit of Life
    • Frank Martin – DX7 Vibes, synthesizers
    • Corrado Rustici – guitar synth
    • Kenny G – tenor sax
    • Jim Gilstrap - background vocals
    • Kitty Beethoven - background vocals
    • Niki Haris - background vocals
    • Jennifer Hall - background vocals
    • Michael Gibbs - string arrangements, conducting
    "Love Will Save the Day"2
    • Jellybean – drum programming
    • Linden Aaron – Simmons Toms
    • Jack Waldman – synthesizers
    • Fred Zarr – synthesizers
    • Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
    • Roy Ayers – vibes
    • Paulinho da Costa – percussion
    • Bashiri Johnson – percussion
    • Sammy Figueroa – percussion
    • Whitney Houston - background vocals
    "Didn't We Almost Have It All"3
    "So Emotional"1
    • Narada Michael Walden – drums
    • Walter Afanasieff – keyboards, synth bass
    • Corrado Rustici – guitar synth
    • Bongo Bob – percussion programming, drum sampling
    • Whitney Houston - background vocals
    "Where You Are"4
    • Kashif, Ralph Schuckett – keyboards, synths
    • Kashif – programming, rhythm arrangement
    • Paul Leim – drums
    • Bashiri Johnson – percussion
    • Marcus Miller – bass
    • Dann Huff, Ira Siegel, Paul Pesco – guitar
    • Vincent Henry – sax solo
    • Gene Page – string and horn arrangements
    • Whitney Houston - background vocals
    • Kashif - background vocals
    "Love Is a Contact Sport"1
    • Narada Michael Walden – drums
    • Preston Glass – keyboards, synth strings, percussion programming
    • Paul Leim – drums
    • Walter Afanasieff – DX7, Prophet 2002, Oberheim Matrix-12
    • Cory Lerios – Oberheim Xpander
    • Randy Jackson – electric bass
    • Corrado Rustici – guitar synth
    • Shambhu Neil Vineberg – acoustic guitar
    • Bongo Bob – percussion programming
    • Gigi Gonaway – Simmons, tambourine
    • Kenny G – tenor saxophone
    • Raul Rekou – congas
    • Jerry Hey – horn arrangements, horn section
    • Marc Russo - horn section
    • Wanye Wallace - horn section
    • Premik Russell Tubbs - horn section
    • Jim Gilstrap - background vocals
    • Kitty Beethoven - background vocals
    • Niki Haris - background vocals
    • Claytoven Richardson - background vocals
    • Jennifer Hall - background vocals
    "You're Still My Man"3
    • Robbie Buchanan – Rhodes
    • Randy Kerber – acoustic piano
    • Nathan East – bass
    • Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
    • John Robinson – drums
    • Michael Boddicker – synths
    • Gene Page – string and rhythm arrangements
    "For the Love of You"1
    • Narada Michael Walden – drum programming
    • Randy Jackson – Moog synthesizer
    • Paul Rekow – congas
    • Preston Glass – Linn, Roland 808
    • Frank Martin – DX7, Oberheim Matrix-12, birds
    • Kenny G – alto sax lyricon
    • Raul Rekou – congas
    • Whitney Houston - background vocals
    "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"1
    • Narada Michael Walden – drum programming
    • Frank Martin – piano, synths
    • Preston Glass – synth programming, bells
    • Randy Jackson – bass synth
    • Corrado Rustici – guitar synth
    • Gigi Gonaway – Simmons
    • Michael Gibbs – string arrangements, conductor
    • Jim Gilstrap - background vocals
    • Kitty Beethoven - background vocals
    • Niki Haris - background vocals
    • Jennifer Hall - background vocals
    "I Know Him So Well"1
    • Narada Michael Walden – acoustic drums
    • Walter Afanasieff – Kurzweil, DX7, Super Jupiter
    • Preston Glass – DX7
    • Cory Lerios – synth
    • Randy Jackson – electric bass
    • Corrado Rustici – guitar synth
    • Michael Gibbs - string arrangements, conducting
    1 Narada Michael Walden - producer, arranger
    • David Frazer - recording, mixing
    • Dana Jon Chappelle - assistant engineer
    • Lincoln Clapp - engineer
    • Gordon Lyon - engineer
    • Jay Rifkin - engineer
    • Ken Kessie - engineer
    • Maureen Droney - engineer
    • Additional assistant engineers – Gordon Lyon - assistant engineer
    • Stuart Hirotsu - assistant engineer
    • Paul "Goatee" Hamingson - assistant engineer
    • Noah Baron - assistant engineer
    • Bill "Sweet William" Miranda - assistant engineer
    • Ross Williams - assistant engineer
    • Rob Beaton - assistant engineer
    2 Jellybean Benitez - producer
    • Jack Waldman - arranger
    • Toni C. - arranger
    • Michael Hutchinson - engineer
    • Doc Dougherty - engineer
    • Dennis McKay - engineer
    • Nick Delre - assistant engineer
    • Toni Greene - assistant engineer
    • Jay Healy - assistant engineer
    • Fernando Kral - assistant engineer
    • Tony Maserati - assistant engineer
    • Paul Pesce - assistant engineer
    • Don Peterkofsky - assistant engineer
    • Tim Reppert - assistant engineer
    • Mark Roule - assistant engineer
    • Craig Vogel - assistant engineer
    • Michael Hutchinson – mix engineer
    3 Michael Masser - producer
    • Engineers – Michael DeLugg - engineer
    • Dean Burt - engineer
    • Jim Boyer - engineer
    • Mike Mancini - engineer
    • Russ Terrano - engineer
    • Fred Law - engineer
    • Fernando Kral - assistant engineer
    • Tony Maserati - assistant engineer
    • Russ Torrano - mixing engineer
    • Alicia Winfield - production coordinator

      Design

    • Richard Avedon - front cover and inner sleeve photography
    • Mark Larson - design
    • Bernard Maisner - hand lettering
    • Milton Sincoff - art production
    4 Kashif - producer
    • Darroll Gustamachio - engineer
    • Russ Terrana, Calvin Harris
    • Larry Smith - assistant engineer
    • Dennis Mitchell - assistant engineer
    • Bob Loftus - assistant engineer
    • Steve MacMillan - assistant engineer
    • Mike Ross - assistant engineer
    • Mike Dotson - assistant engineer
    • Amy Ziffer - assistant engineer
    • Milton Chan - assistant engineer
    • John Drankchak - assistant engineer
    • Darroll Gustamachio - mix engineer
    • Russell Sidelsky - production coordinator
    • George Marino - mastering
    • Whitney Houston - vocal arrangements
    • Clive Davis - executive producer

      Charts

    Weekly charts

    Year-end charts

    Decade-end charts

    Certifications and sales

    Certification Table Bottom

    Accolades

    American Black Achievement Awards

    American Music Awards

    Billboard Music Awards

    The Billboard Music Awards, based on Billboard magazine's year-end charts, was not held before 1990. Nominated categories were those of which were ranked in Top 5 on the year-end charts. This is based on general numbers of nomination at the Billboard Music Awards.

    ''BRAVO'' Magazine's Bravo Otto Awards

    BRAVO is the largest teen magazine within the German-language sphere. Since 1957, the magazine has distributed its "Bravo Otto" awards based on the readers' vote in different categories each year.

    BRIT Awards (formerly "BPI Awards")

    The Garden State Music Awards

    Grammy Awards

    NAACP Image Awards

    People's Choice Awards

    Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Awards

    Soul Train Music Awards

    ''Billboard'' Magazine Year-End Charts

    Categories in which Houston was ranked No. 1 were excluded. See above awards list for her #1-ranked-categories.
    YearCategoryWorkPosition
    1987Top Pop Artists of the Yeartotal five charted albums & singles#3
    1987Top Black Artists of the Yeartotal five charted albums & singles#9
    1987Top Pop AlbumsWhitney#23
    1987Top Pop Albums Artiststwo charted albums#3
    1987Top Pop Singles"I Wanna Dance with Somebody "#4
    1987Top Pop Singles"Didn't We Almost Have It All"#22
    1987Top Pop Singles Artists – Femalethree charted singles#2
    1987Top Black AlbumsWhitney#20
    1987Top Black Album Artiststwo charted albums#10
    1987Top Black Singles"I Wanna Dance with Somebody #24
    1987Top Black Singles"Didn't We Almost Have It All"#38
    1987Top Black Singles Artiststhree charted singles#14
    1987Top Dance Sales 12-inch Singles"I Wanna Dance with Somebody #24
    1987Top Dance Club Play Singles"I Wanna Dance with Somebody #14
    1987Top Adult Contemporary Singles"Didn't We Almost Have It All"#7
    1987Top Adult Contemporary Singles"I Wanna Dance with Somebody "#9
    1987Top Adult Contemporary Artiststhree charted singles#4
    1987Top Hot Crossover Singles"I Wanna Dance with Somebody "#4
    1987Top Hot Crossover Singles"Didn't We Almost Have It All"#16
    1987Top Hot Crossover Artiststhree charted singles#3
    1987Top Pop Compact DisksWhitney#7
    1988Top Pop Artists of the Yeartotal six charted albums & singles#7
    1988Top Black Artists of the Yeartotal six charted albums & singles#5
    1988Top Pop AlbumsWhitney#12
    1988Top Pop Album Artiststwo charted albums#11
    1988Top Pop Album Artists – Femaletwo charted albums#3
    1988Top Pop Singles"So Emotional"#6
    1988Top Pop Singles"Where Do Broken Hearts Go"#33
    1988Top Pop Singles"One Moment in Time"#89
    1988Top Pop Singles Artistsfour charted singles#4
    1988Top Black AlbumsWhitney#5
    1988Top Black Album Artiststwo charted albums#5
    1988Top Black Singles"So Emotional"#46
    1988Top Black Singles"Where Do Broken Hearts Go"#47
    1988Top Black Singles"Love Will Save the Day"#74
    1988Top Dance Club Play Singles"So Emotional" #4
    1988Top Dance Club Play Artiststwo charted singles#2
    1988Top Adult Contemporary Singles"Where Do Broken Hearts Go"#2
    1988Top Adult Contemporary Singles"One Moment in Time"#50
    1988Top Adult Contemporary Artistsfour charted singles#3
    1988Top Hot Crossover Artistsfour charted singles#3