Live: Her Greatest Performances

by Whitney Houston

Overview

"You won't forget that name -- Whitney Houston!" So said the prophet Merv Griffin back in 1983, after Houston had her singular way with "Home," a song from The Wiz, on his nationally televised talk show. At the time, the singer was only 19, almost two years away from releasing her debut album, yet the Arista label's Clive Davis was effusive as he spoke with Griffin about his new signing. Houston fulfilled all the promise. She went on to pop dominance and set a new standard for vocal proficiency. Given the many years that separated one studio album from another, it's surprising that a live album didn't materialize until 2014. This isn't a typical live set, as it compiles performances at special events and on television programs, ranging from her debut on The Merv Griffin Show to her 2009 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Despite the chronological order of the selections, it's a bit disjointed due to the variety of sources and circumstances. For the 1987 Brit Awards, she performed "How Will I Know" on her own, over the instrumental, which made for an odd interaction with the recorded background vocalists. On the more organic and deeply resonant end, there's "One Moment in Time," from the 31st Grammy Awards in 1989, where she was in complete, casual command while prompting viewers to wonder how so much power and emotion can come from one human body. Many of of her big hits are represented beside an assortment of one-offs, like a 1991 version of "Song for You," from her Welcome Home Heroes cable special, that is much different from the one recorded for I Look to You. Most famously, there's "The Star Spangled Banner," performed at Super Bowl XXV in 1991, twice released as a charity single. It's unfortunate that Houston wasn't recorded at her peak in an intimate setting -- with little more than a small band and perhaps a gospel choir in support -- for the sake of releasing a cohesive live recording. Even so, Her Greatest Performances is no small consolation for longtime fans. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	11/10/2014
Label:	Arista / Legacy
UPC:	0888430835122

Tracks

1. Home [The Merv Griffin Show]
2. You Give Good Love [Live from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]
3. How Will I Know [The Brit Awards]
4. One Moment in Time [The 31st Annual Grammy Awards]
5. Greatest Love of All [That's What Friends Are For: Arista Records 15th Anniversary Concert]
6. I Wanna Dance with Somebody [That's What Friends Are For: Arista Records 15th Anniversary Concert]
7. The Star Spangled Banner [Super Bowl XXV]
8. All the Man That I Need [Live from Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston]
9. I'm Your Baby Tonight [Live from Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston]
10. A Song for You [Live from Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston]
11. Medley: I Loves You, Porgy/And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going/I Have Nothing [Live from The 21st Annual American Music Awards]
12. I'm Every Woman [Live from The Concert for a New South Africa]
13. I Will Always Love You [Live from The Concert for a New South Africa]
14. My Love is Your Love [Live From Late Show With David Letterman]
15. I Believe In You and Me [Live From the 16th Annual World Music Awards]
16. I Didn't Know My Own Strength [Live From the Oprah Winfrey Show Season Premiere Part Ii - Whitney Houston's Show Stopping Surprise]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Whitney Houston   Primary Artist
The Florida Orchestra   Featured Artist
Mariah Carey   Featured Artist
Jahja Ling   Conductor,Conductor

Technical Credits

Linda Thompson   Composer,Composer
Mike Zagaris   Photography
Francis Scott Key   Composer
Babyface   Composer
L.A. Reid   Composer
Michael Gore   Composer
Dolly Parton   Composer
Shannon Rubicam   Composer
Charlie Smalls   Composer
George Gershwin   Composer
Ira Gershwin   Composer
DuBose Heyward   Composer
Dean Pitchford   Composer
David Wolfert   Composer
Valerie Simpson   Composer
Sandy Linzer   Composer
Narada Michael Walden   Arranger
Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis   Composer
Kevin Bray   Video Director
Tony Faske   Producer
Jeff Gilligan   Design,Art Direction
John Jackson   A&R
Rickey Minor   Producer
Richard Alcock   Producer
Alan Light   Liner Notes
Rob Verhorst   Cover Photo
La Forrest Cope   Composer
Alain Benainous   Photography
Lisa Del Greco   A&R
Rudi Keuntje   Photography
Ton Tom   Photography
Jeff James   A&R
Mark Wilder   Mastering
Michael Masser   Composer
George Merrill   Composer
Wyclef Jean   Composer
Diane Warren   Composer
Thom Cadley   Mixing
Stephen Schwartz   Composer
Clive Davis   Producer
John Bettis   Composer
Leon Russell   Composer
Whitney Houston   Composer,Producer
Linda Creed   Composer
David Foster   Composer
Nickolas Ashford   Composer
Albert Hammond   Composer
Henry Krieger   Composer
Frank Harkins   Creative Director
Erwin Gorostiza   Creative Director
David Corio   Photography
Tom Eyen   Composer
Randee St. Nicholas   Photography
Dan Ricci   Post Mix Engineer
Marc Bryan-Brown   Photography
Kevin Mazur   Photography
John Stafford Smith   Composer