100 ESSENTIAL WHITNEY HOUSTON SONGS. Today: #10-6. This concludes tomorrow.

Caffè Lattè presents:

THE 100 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS BY

WHITNEY HOUSTON

It’s 10 years since Whitney Houston passed away. Here are 100 choice tracks from her catalogue that demonstrate why she is still revered as a vocal powerhouse:

Check out the playlist on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0az3MloF4nqCKm6xQuS3Zk?si=caae004db4b34c65

W10H

WHEN YOU BELIEVE

With Mariah Carey

Album: My Love is Your Love

A duet featuring the two vocal titans in the pop pantheon from the film ‘The Prince Of Egypt’. Although written primarily by Stephen Schwartz, Babyface also contributed to its creation. The latter handled production. As well as being included on the movie soundtrack, “When You Believe” was also on Whitney’s ‘My Love Is Your Love’ and Carey’s ‘#1s’ albums. The single reached the Top 5 in Europe and Britain.

W9H

ALL THE MAN THAT I NEED

Album: I’m Your Baby Tonight

Since her debut LP, Whitney was unrivalled in her execution of big ballads. For her third studio album, she covered a song penned by Dean Pitchford and Michael Gore. The pair had won an Academy Award for writing the title song from the 1980 film ‘Fame’ as performed by Irene Cara.

“All The Man That I Need” was written for Linda Clifford who cut the original version in 1981. The song went largely unnoticed. Sister Sledge covered the song the following year. Pitchford never stopped believing in the potential of the ballad. In 1986, he suggested Whitney should record it to Arista Records President Clive Davis. By now it was too late for Whitney’s sophomore album. Pitchford re-tweaked the song lyrics for the singer. Narada Michael Walden produced the new remake. The single topped the US Pop, Soul and Adult Contemporary charts as well as going to #1 in Canada.

 

W8H

YOU GIVE GOOD LOVE

Album: Whitney Houston

Songwriter LaLa had written this song for Roberta Flack, but the singer passed on it. She really believed in her composition and conveyed her frustration to friend Kashif. The producer realized the hit “You Give Good Love” could be and played it for Clive Davis. Finding in the latter another enthusiastic believer, the track was shortlisted for Whitney’s debut album. Kashif produced the cut.

It became her Top 40 breakthrough hit, reaching the top of Billboard’s Soul Chart and #3 Pop and #4 AC listings. Whitney had arrived.

W7H

DIDN’T WE ALMOST HAVE IT ALL

Album: Whitney

That mighty voice and big ballads had proven to be a winning formula on Whitney’s debut album. For her follow-up, Michael Masser was back, contributing tracks such as this mighty cut. He wrote “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” this time with Will Jennings. Masser produced the song. Released as a single, it topped the US Pop and Adult Contemporary charts as well as reaching #2 R&B.

 

W6H

SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU

Album: Whitney Houston

Clive Davis planned to follow “You Give Good Love” with “All At Once”, but then decided to issue “Saving All My Love For You” instead. This single achieved even greater success than its predecessor. Both options were co-written by Michael Masser.  

“Saving All My Love For You” had originally been recorded by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis (formerly of The Fifth Dimension) in 1978. Masser wrote the music. Gerry Goffin contributed the lyrics.

Masser produced Whitney’s remake. In the US, the single topped the Pop, Soul and AC charts. The disc also was a British #1 and a Top 20 smash in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.