I have always like Whitney Houston and her big ballad hits. She doesn't have many uptempo hits but the few that she have really up the scales considerably. While Madonna may have more uptempo hits then her, it is on the ballads that Whitney Houston proves who is the true Queen of the two. Her unfortunate early demise really leaves a gap in the music world that will be hard to fill, much like that of Karen Carpenter a few decades before whose void have still not being filled. Now if I can only find her second album "Whitney"...
WHITNEY HOUSTON : THE DELUXE ANNIVERSARY EDITION : I can't believe that I found this Cd coupled with a DVD at so cheap a price. Selling at $5.00 a piece. This was the biggest selling debut album for a female singer and it heralded a new talent to the world. Ten tracks in all and almost half of them are big hits. There are an additional five tracks of the featured songs in various states of remix. The first single 'You Gave Good Love' doesn't really click with me until the second which was a monster hit that made the world sit up and take notice. I was talking about 'Saving All My Love For You' of course. The other that follows were the fast tempo 'How Will I Know', 'All At Once' and 'The Greatest Love Of All' one of the greatest inspirational song of all time. This was originally recorded by George Benson but Whitney's version was so heartfelt and so intense that we just plain forgot about poor George Benson's version. Usually I don't care much for remixes but 'Thinking About You [ 12 - inch Dance Remix ] and 'Someone For Me [ 12-inch Dance Remix ] is good for the dance floor as well as for the ear. There are two version of 'How Will I Know.' One's an Acapella which showcased only her remarkable vocal and nothing else while the other is a 12- inch Dance Remix. The last track is a live recording of her mammoth hit 'The Greatest Love Of All' recorded live from Radio City Hall in 1990. Unfortunately this version doesn't work for me. I prefer the recorded version anytime. 
Disc 2 : DVD :WHITNEY HOUSTON : THE ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION : CONVERSATION WITH WHITNEY HOUSTON AND CLIVE DAVIS : As the titled suggested, this is a conversation with Whitney Houston and Clive Davis, the man who discovered and believed in her. In between conversations we are shown snippets of Whitney's various music videos and the history behind the recording.
HOME - 1983 PREMIERE TV PERFORMANCE FROM THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW : Show Whitney in her initially stage singing before a live audience.. Although simple in her appearance, she make up in her soaring and powerful vocal that shows her wooing the audiences.
I AM CHANGING - LIVE FROM THE ARISTA RECORDS 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, 1985 : Whitney is much more confidence in this performance than in her first performance. I don't quite like the song though.
YOU GIVE GOOD LOVE - LIVE FROM THE 1st ANNUAL SOUL TRAIN AWARDS, 1987 : Belting her first hit with confidence and style.
YOU GIVE GOOD LOVE - PROMO MUSIC VIDEO
SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU - PROMO MUSIC VIDEO
HOW WILL I KNOW - PROMO MUSIC VIDEO
GREATEST LOVE OF ALL - PROMO MUSIC VIDEO
DOP : 4th August 2013.
THE BODYGUARD : ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK : I got this purely due to it's reputation as one of the best selling soundtrack of all time and also for it's price which is just for a miserable $5.00. The main theme 'I'll Always Love You' alone is worth the price of the whole Cd. This song is so beautifully sung with such heartfelt intensity that all the other songs that came before it was unfairly eclipsed by it. I was guilty of ignoring the rest of the songs here too. Still, listening to these songs again, I find 'I Have Nothing', 'I'm Every Woman' and 'Run To You' slightly close to her previous classics. The rest of the Whitney's songs are mere filters I hate to say. Kenny G & Aaron Neville gave us a much needed breath of fresh air after two other uninspiring Whitney Houston's songs with their beautiful 'Even If My Heart Would Break.' Lisa Stansfield's 'Someday [ I'm Coming Back ]' is an easy going track that is not bad at all. The S.O.U.L S.Y.S.T.E.M.'s 'It's Gonna Be A Lovely Day' will get your hips swaying but it's Curtis Stigers' [ What's So Funny 'Bout ] Peace, Love And Understand' that will have you grooving. After this it's Kenny G's back to serenade us with 'Waiting For You' which is oh so soothing to the ears. Old time rocker Joe Cocker delivered too with 'Trust In Me' featuring Sass Jordan. The Cd closed with the instrumental 'Theme From The Bodyguard.' DOP : 9th August 2013. 
WAITING TO EXHALE : BANDA SONORA ORIGINAL : I got this again at the ridiculous price of $5.00. I've come across this Cd many times but I've let it pass even at that price without buying it until I finally got it at the spur of the moment. This could hardly be called a Whitney Houston album 'cos of the 16 tracks here, she was only featured on three of the tracks with one a duet with Cece Winana. This is more of a showcase for Babyface who wrote or co wrote all but one of the tracks here. You may have heard 'Exhale [ Shoop Shoop ] on the radio but this is hardly the stuffs that we've came to expect from the great Whitney Houston, whom I regret to say have reached her artistic peak with 'I'll Always Love You.' She regretfully was never to reach that height again until her untimely demise. 'Why Does It Hurt So Bad' though listenable doesn't even come close to her big ballad hits. Toni Braxton's 'Let It Flow' is a breath of fresh air. Soul legend Aretha Franklin is wasted here with 'It Hurts Like Hell' while Brandy's 'Sittin' Up In My Room' and TLC's 'This Is How It Works' while pleasant sounded so similar that if not for the pauses, I wouldn't have realised it was two different songs. Mary J. Blige flared slightly better with 'Not Gon' Cry.' Chaka Khan sang 'My Funny Valentine', the only non original song here but it's not much different from the rest of the tracks here. Sonja Marie's And I Gave My Love To You' is more narrative than singing. 'All Night Long' by SWV slightly awoken me from slumber land. Chante Moore's 'Wey U' continues the sleep inducing mood. Patti LaBelle truly saved me from falling asleep again with her crystal clear singing on 'My Love, Sweet Love.' Clearly I wouldn't be feeling much better even if I were the subject of Faith Evans' 'Kissing You.' I really couldn't for the life of me tell the different between For Real's 'Love Will Be Waiting At Home' and Shanna's 'How Could You Call Her Baby.' Whitney Houston & Cece Winans's final track 'Count On Me.' did slightly, just slightly better but don't count on me playing this anytime again soon. DOP : 11th August 2013.
THE PREACHER'S WIFE : ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM : Yet another $5.00 Cd that I found at the shop. This album actually got nominated for best music, original musical or comedy score 1n 1966. Whitney Houston won an award for best actress. I haven't seen the movie but I sure must be missing something on the music 'cos it's not that sensational for me at all. Like the soundtrack before this, it lack the presence of a definite track. The one track that will eclipsed the others like 'I Will Always Love You.' Whitney's vocal is in fine form but it's the materials that's letting her down. There are two version of 'I Believe In You And Me' and 'Step By Step.' which I don't really feel is necessary. Of the two I find 'Step By Step' more enjoyable. Started out slow and then progressed onto disco mode. Whitney sang six songs with The Georgia Mass Choir. It would have been nice if the numbers have been reduced to two. As it is, it sounds kinda stale after a while. 'Joy' is fine without being spectacular while 'Hold On, Help Is On The Way's is slightly better. 'I Go The Rock' actually sounds better after a few listen. 'I Love The Lord' is the most gospel sounding of the 4 tracks but alas the tune is not so enticing. The rapping 'Somebody Is Bigger Than You Or I' is a welcome change of pace. 'My Heart Is Calling' is the Whitney Houston that we love which is fun and bouncy. 'Who Would Imagine A King' could have been great had the melody been nicer. In the end it's a great vocal but with a not so good melody. A missed opportunity.'He's All Over Me' and 'The Lord Is My Shepherd' are gospel songs through and through with my preference being the latter one. The closer of course is a Christmas song 'Joy To The World' which ironically this Cd didn't bring me any at all. DOP : 11th August 2013.
WHITNEY HOUSTON : THE GREATEST HITS : I got this on discount in Singapore. All the hits that matters are here. The two discs are placed with ballads on one disc and the uptempo on the other. On the fast track, she have 'How Will I Know' and 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody Who Loves Me'
but annoyingly the latter song here was a remixed version. I don't like
my songs tampered with. I like them the first time I heard it. So this
was a damper for me. As for her ballads, it is flawless and as nice and
tender as it get. The heartbreaking 'Saving All My Love For You', the inspiring 'Greatest Love Of All', the lovelorn 'All At Once', 'Didn't We Have It All' and 'Where Do Broken Hearts Goes'. And of course her signature song 'I Will Always Love You' together with the beautiful 'One Moment In Time'.
This double CD was really not necessary. Apart from the singles, the
rest of the disc was made up of remixed versions of her hits which was
really a waste of time. They should leave her pure and untempered with. DOP : 4th November 2005.
ONE WISH : THE HOLIDAY ALBUM : I've always wanted to get this album but the steep price puts me off. When I found this at $5.00, I grabbed it of course. On hearing it, I was glad that I waited to buy it on discount. With her soaring and magical vocal, this album shouldn't have fail but it did. I guess during this time Whitney Houston was just too big a star for any producer to tell her what she should or should not sing. Improvising a standard during a live setting is fine but not on a studio recording. Most of these Christmas songs are well known standards and changing the melody is a definite no no. 'The First Noel' and ' The Christmas Song [ Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire]" are commendable and 'Little Drummer Boy' sung with her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown is interesting enough although the tune is rendered almost unrecognisable towards the end through unnecessary improvising. 'One Wish' [ For Christmas ], an original song was not the memorable hit it was supposed to be although it did hit the chart.I can tolerate I supposed. 'Deck The Halls / Silent Night', a delightful yuletide favorite has been rendered to a light hearted ditty. 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' is the only other track here that I genuinely like. The rest I just don't have any connection to.'Joy To The World' is totally unrecognisable. Clive Davies, where were you when you were needed. DOP : 4th August 2013.
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