On January 26, 2010, Arista Records/Legacy Recordings will release the 25th Anniversary Edition of ‘Whitney Houston’, the astonishing debut album that catapulted a virtually unknown young artist into the upper reaches of pop superstardom in 1985. The ‘Whitney Houston’ – 25th Anniversary Edition CD/DVD package includes the international chart-topping original Arista album – remastered in its entirety for the 25th anniversary – along with five bonus tracks including Whitney’s a cappella recording of “How Will I Know” plus a stunning live performance of “Greatest Love of All”.
As an added bonus for fans, the 25th Anniversary Edition of ‘Whitney Houston’ includes a features-packed new DVD. Three rare tv performances are included: “I Am Changing”, a song from the 1982 Broadway production of ‘Dreamgirls’, performed live at the Arista Records 10th Anniversary celebration in 1985; “You Give Good Love” performed live at the first annual Soul Train Awards Show in 1987; and Whitney’s breakout national TV debut singing “Home” (from ‘The Wiz’) on the Merv Griffin Show in 1983. All four classic music videos – “You Give Good Love”, “Saving All My Love For You”, “How Will I Know”, and “Greatest Love of All” – appear on the DVD. Exclusive and newly filmed interviews with Whitney Houston and Clive Davis round out the bonus DVD portion of the ‘Whitney Houston’ – 25th Anniversary Edition collection.
Originally released on Valentine’s Day 1985, ‘Whitney Houston’ entered The Billboard 200 at #166 the week of March 30. A year later, in April 1986, the album began its first seven-week run at #1, then spent three weeks at #2 before reclaiming the top slot for a jaw-dropping second seven-week stand. ‘Whitney Houston’ became a fixture on The Billboard 200 for 162 weeks, including a record-breaking 46 weeks in the Top 10 and 14 non-consecutive weeks at #1.
The strength, beauty and power of the record’s music — including four chart-topping singles (“You Give Good Love”, “Saving All My Love For You”, “How Will I Know”, “Greatest Love of All”) — have made ‘Whitney Houston’ one of the best-loved and most enduring albums in pop music history. The planet’s top-selling debut album ever released by a solo artist, ‘Whitney Houston’ has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide while earning RIAA-certified 13x Platinum status in the US (in recognition of domestic sales of more than 13 million pieces).
With ‘Whitney Houston’ earning the artist a Best Album Grammy nomination in 1986, Whitney took home her first Grammy that year in the ‘Best Pop Vocal’, Female Category for “Saving All My Love For You”. Her performance on the Grammys won her an Emmy for ‘Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety of Music Program’. Whitney, who currently holds the record for most American Music Awards held by a solo artist (21), picked up her first seven AMAs, and an MTV Video Award, that same year.
‘Whitney Houston’ topped countless critic’s polls and year-end lists including Rolling Stone, who named it 1986’s “Album of the Year”. Billboard ranked ‘Whitney Houston’ as the #1 album of the year and Whitney Houston 1986’s #1 popular artist.
“I cannot believe it has been 25 years since my first album!,” writes Whitney Houston in her exclusive letter to fans appearing in the packaging for the 25th anniversary release of her debut. “I could never have done this without the support, encouragement and unconditional love from my fans all over the world. I love you all!”
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‘Whitney Houston’ – 25th Anniversary Edition – Full Tracklisting
Disc 1 – CD
“You Give Good Love”
“Thinking About You”
“Someone For Me”
“Saving All My Love For You”
“Nobody Loves Me Like You Do”
“How Will I Know”
“All At Once”
“Take Good Care Of My Heart”
“Greatest Love of All”
“Hold Me” (Duet With Teddy Pendergrass)
Bonus Tracks
“Thinking About You” (Remix by Bruce Forest)
“Someone For Me” (Remix by Alan Coulthard)
“How Will I Know” (A cappella)
“How Will I Know” (Remix by Jellybean)
“Greatest Love of All” (Live)
Disc 2 – DVD
“Home” Whitney Houston’s premiere performance on the Merv Griffin Show
“I Am Changing” Live from the Arista Records 10th Anniversary celebration, 1985
“You Give Good Love” Live from the First Annual Soul Train Awards Show, 1987
“You Give Good Love” Music Video
“Saving All My Love” Music Video
“How Will I Know” Music Video
“Greatest Love Of All” Music Video
Interviews with Whitney Houston and Clive Davis
