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Whitney: The Greatest Hits

Whitney: The Greatest Hits is the first compilation album by American singer Whitney Houston. It was released on May 5, 2000, by Arista Records. Anticipation over a greatest hits album from Houston arose as far as 1995, when Billboard first announced the album's release. However, it was continuously postponed as Houston focused on film projects, before deciding to record several new tracks for the belated collection in 1998. The effort was quickly expanded into her fourth studio album My Love Is Your Love, released in November 1998 to widespread success, which effectively postponed Whitney: The Greatest Hits again.

Whitney: The Greatest Hits

May 5, 2000 (2000-05-05)

1983–March 2000

155:47

Arista

A two-disc collection, Whitney: The Greatest Hits comprises Houston's ballads on its first disc, titled Cool Down, while replacing most of the original versions of her up-tempo hits with corresponding dance remixes on the second disc, titled Throw Down. Therefore, numerous publications rejected the compilation's classification as a greatest hits album, despite its title and marketing. Whitney: The Greatest Hits also includes four previously unreleased tracks—"Same Script, Different Cast", a duet with Deborah Cox; "Could I Have This Kiss Forever", a duet with Enrique Iglesias; "If I Told You That", a duet with George Michael; and "Fine"—all of which were released as singles to varying levels of success.


Whitney: The Greatest Hits was met with mixed responses from music critics, who praised Houston for her expansive catalog and career longevity, but criticized the album's inclusion of remixes rather than original versions for a majority of Houston's hits; the new tracks elicited polarity among reviewers. A commercial success, Whitney: The Greatest Hits debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 158,000 units, and reached the top 10 in 20 additional countries. By February 2012, it had sold over 10 million copies worldwide. That June, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the compilation quintuple platinum for double-disc shipments of 2.5 million units in the US.


Although Houston did not promote Whitney: The Greatest Hits as extensively as her previous albums, she embarked on a four-date concert residency from June to November 2000. Furthermore, the compilation was accompanied by the simultaneously released video collection of the same title. In January 2011, Legacy Recordings reissued the album as a part of their Essential album series, retitling it The Essential Whitney Houston. Following Houston's death on February 11, 2012, Whitney: The Greatest Hits registered a significant resurgence of sales, attaining a new peak of number two on the Billboard 200, and new top-10 peaks—either in its original format, or as The Essential Whitney Houston—in numerous countries worldwide.

Background and development[edit]

In November 1995, Houston's song "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"—the lead single from the soundtrack for the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale, starring Houston in a leading role—became the third song in history to debut atop the US Billboard Hot 100.[1] It became Houston's 11th and final number-one single on the chart;[2] with 11 singles, Houston is sixth among artists with most Billboard Hot 100 number-ones of all time, as of 2023.[3] Furthermore, "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" contributed to Houston becoming the best-selling physical singles female artist in the history of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[4] That August, Billboard had disclosed Houston's first greatest hits album would be released on October 10, which ultimately did not come to fruition.[5] The publication referred to the "long-promised" album again in July 1996, announcing it for that fall.[6] After the release was postponed again, speculation on its timing continued into 1997, with Houston commenting: "Oh, Clive is on my case about this greatest hits album. He's like, Whitney, we have to do a greatest hits album, I mean you're far long overdue."[7]


Intent on releasing the highly anticipated collection, Houston began recording new material, originally intended for a greatest hits album which would include several new tracks, in August 1998. However, she and Clive Davis soon decided to reconstruct the project into Houston's fourth studio album, titled My Love Is Your Love, her first such effort in eight years.[8][9] Houston finished recording My Love Is Your Love within six weeks; it was released on November 17.[8] Although it debuted only at number 13 on the US Billboard 200 due to strong competition from a multitude of established artists who released their new albums the same week, My Love Is Your Love went on to be certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA and produced three consecutive Billboard Hot 100 top-five hits—"Heartbreak Hotel", "It's Not Right but It's Okay" and the title track.[10] Despite her immense commercial success during the extensive promotional cycle for My Love Is Your Love, Houston's "erratic" behavior overshadowed her professional endeavors, as she became notorious for numerous live performance cancellations and alleged drug use.[8][11][12][13]

New material[edit]

In addition to Houston's prior hits, including all of her 11 US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles—either in their original or remixed forms—Whitney: The Greatest Hits included two newly-recorded songs and two re-recordings. Shep Crawford-written and produced "Same Script, Different Cast" is a duet with Deborah Cox, which sees Houston portraying a former lover of Cox's current partner, and warning Cox of his deceitful and disregarding demeanor.[14][15][16] The harp string and piano-driven ballad is built upon a sample of Ludwig van Beethoven's Für Elise, and is infused with "dramatic" key changes.[15][17] A multitude of critics have compared the song to Brandy and Monica's 1998 duet "The Boy Is Mine".[18][19] Raphael Saadiq and Q-Tip wrote and produced "Fine", a "sultry, soulful" track arranged with "languid retro-funk" guitars.[20][21]


"Could I Have This Kiss Forever", a duet with Enrique Iglesias, is a classical guitar-driven mid-tempo Latin pop ballad.[22][23] The song was originally recorded for Iglesias' English-language debut Enrique (1999),[24] and was subsequently re-recorded—and remixed by Brian Rawling and Mark Taylor—for inclusion on Whitney: The Greatest Hits.[22] In March 2000, Houston re-recorded "If I Told You That", originally included on My Love Is Your Love, as a duet with George Michael.[25] Rodney Jerkins, who produced the original version, reprised his role for the re-recording. In an interview for MTV News at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards (2000), Jerkins revealed that Michael Jackson was the initial choice for the duet but could not schedule recording with Houston.[25] Lyrically, the track discusses its protagonist's contemplations of confessing romantic feelings to a friend.[26]


"Same Script, Different Cast" and "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" appear at the end the album's first disc, titled Cool Down, which comprises R&B, pop and, to a lesser extent, gospel ballads.[27][28] "Fine" and "If I Told You That" follow at the start of the second disc, titled Throw Down, which comprises up-tempo dance tracks, encompassing hi-NRG and house-influenced remixes of Houston's prior hits.[29][27][18] Whitney: The Greatest Hits also includes several tracks which, although released, had never been included on any of Houston's albums. "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful", Houston's duet with Jermaine Jackson which had previously solely appeared on Jackson's 1986 album Precious Moments, appears on Cool Down. Houston's 1988 Summer Olympics tribute and top-five hit "One Moment in Time" was included on the North American edition of Throw Down and the international edition of Cool Down. North American edition of Throw Down also includes Houston's 1991 performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV.[30]

Marketing[edit]

Title and packaging[edit]

Despite its title and being marketed as such, Whitney: The Greatest Hits is not a greatest hits album.[b] David LaChapelle photographed the album's cover artwork and booklet imagery.[33] The cover depicts Houston standing on a ladder and smiling as she holds a drill in order to hang her certified records on the wall.[34] On the contrary, critic David Quantick interpreted the artwork as Houston using the drill to destroy the records.[35] Following Houston's death in February 2012, LaChapelle revealed that Houston arrived to the photo shoot six hours late and under the influence of cocaine, which caused him difficulties with photographing her during the 15-hour session.[33] For its 2011 reissue, Whitney: The Greatest Hits was retitled The Essential Whitney Houston, as it was integrated into Legacy Recordings' The Essential album series. Chapelle's cover artwork was replaced by a monochrome portrait of Houston, photographed by Randee St. Nicholas in 1992 to promote The Bodyguard; however, the liner notes and their accompanying images remained unchanged.[36][37]

Release and promotion[edit]

After numerous delays, Davis announced the release of Whitney: The Greatest Hits via MTV News in February 2000.[38] In the US, the album was released on May 16, 2000, by Arista Records. Its release was preceded by the limited-edition four-record vinyl box set Whitney: The Unreleased Mixes on April 25; the set included eight previously unreleased extended dance remixes of Houston's prior singles, some of which appeared on the North American edition second disc of Whitney: The Greatest Hits.[11] Exclusively at Circuit City, Whitney: The Greatest Hits was released with a bonus disc including two extended club mixes.[39] Internationally, the compilation was released earlier in most countries, starting with France on May 5, 2000.[40] While its North American edition featured almost exclusively remixes on its second disc,[34] international editions replaced most of them with corresponding original versions.[41]


A video album of the same title was released simultaneously with Whitney: The Greatest Hits worldwide, comprising 23 of Houston's music videos, as well as select live performances, interviews with Houston and Davis, and behind-the-scenes footage. The DVD was noted for its interactive features, which saw Houston introducing its segments and providing commentary; it was one of the first video albums ever to incorporate interactive components.[42][43] In contrast to Houston's previous releases, Whitney: The Greatest Hits was not promoted with televised performances and appearances. However, she did perform a 20-minute medley at Arista's 25th anniversary celebration in Los Angeles on April 10, 2000; the concert aired on NBC on May 15.[11] Houston subsequently embarked on a three-date concert residency at Caesars Atlantic City from June 30 to July 3,[44] and performed an additional show at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas on November 10, with then-husband Bobby Brown as the opening act.[45]

Singles[edit]

The selection and order of singles from Whitney: The Greatest Hits substantially differed depending on region. In France, "I Learned from the Best"—the fifth and final single from My Love Is Your Love—was released ahead of Whitney: The Greatest Hits, on April 18, 2000,[46] peaking at number 44.[47] In the US, "Same Script, Different Cast" and "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" were both released as lead singles from Whitney: The Greatest Hits—the former was serviced to urban contemporary radio on May 2,[48] while the latter was serviced to adult contemporary, rhythmic contemporary and contemporary hit radios two weeks later.[49] "Same Script, Different Cast" peaked at number 70 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Houston's lowest-peaking lead single at the time,[2] but became her fourth Adult R&B Songs number-one single.[50] While "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" peaked only at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100,[2] it peaked atop the European Hot 100 Singles and charts in Croatia, the Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland, after being released as the second European single from Whitney: The Greatest Hits on July 25.[51][52][53][54][55] Furthermore, the song attained top 10 positions in 13 additional countries, including Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.[55][56][57] The song's accompanying music video was directed by Francis Lawrence.[58]


In Europe, "If I Told You That" was released as the lead single from Whitney: The Greatest Hits on May 29, 2000;[59] in the US, it was released as an airplay-only fourth and final single on January 30, 2001.[60] It reached the summit in Croatia, Iceland, and Poland,[61][62][63] and the top 10 in the Czech Republic, Italy, and the UK.[64][65][57] The music video for "If I Told You That" was directed by Kevin Bray.[58] "Fine" was released as the third US single from Whitney: The Greatest Hits on September 19, 2000,[66] peaking at number 51 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[67] In Sweden, it was released as the third and final single on December 11,[68] peaking at number 50.[69] The music video for "Fine" was Houston's second consecutive to be directed by Bray.[70] In select European countries, "Heartbreak Hotel"—originally the second single from My Love Is Your Love—was released as the third and final single from Whitney: The Greatest Hits on December 18, 2000,[71] peaking at number 25 in the UK.[57]

Commercial performance[edit]

In the US, Whitney: The Greatest Hits sold 158,000 units within its first week, debuting at number five on the Billboard 200,[82] and at number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, both dated June 3, 2000.[83] It registered Houston's highest solo effort debut since her second studio album Whitney (1987).[84] Whitney: The Greatest Hits descended to number nine on the Billboard 200, and number six on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, in its second week.[85][86] On June 20, the album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting double-disc shipments of one million units in the US.[87] Meanwhile, its accompanying video album had debuted atop the Music Video Sales chart,[88] and went on to become one of the best-selling video albums of the year.[89] Regardless, the album's domestic commercial performance was deemed underwhelming by Arista executives. Several factors were credited with contributing to the "uncharacteristically meager sales", including release timing, single selection, and replacement of Davis with L.A. Reid as the chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Arista.[90] In Canada, Whitney: The Greatest Hits debuted at number four on the Canadian Albums Chart dated June 3, 2000,[91] and was subsequently certified platinum by Music Canada for shipments of 100,000 units in the country.[92]


In the UK, Whitney: The Greatest Hits debuted atop the UK Albums Chart and UK R&B Albums Chart,[57] and peaked atop the Scottish Albums Chart in its second week.[93] After spending 17 weeks within the top 10 on the UK Albums Chart, the album placed ninth on the chart's year-end issue for 2000.[57] Whitney: The Greatest Hits also reached the summit in Ireland,[94] where its sales earned it the 2001 Meteor Music Award for Best International Female Album.[95] Across Europe, the compilation peaked within the top 10 in 13 additional countries, and at number two on the European Top 100 Albums.[96][97][98][99] By the end of 2000, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) had certified the album triple platinum for selling three million units in Europe.[100] In Japan, Whitney: The Greatest Hits peaked at number four on the Oricon Albums Chart,[101] and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 600,000 units;[102] it was also among the winners of the 2001 Japan Gold Disc Award for International Pop Album of the Year.[103] The compilation was also a commercial success across Oceania, debuting at numbers eight and nine in Australia and New Zealand, respectively.[104] By February 2012, Whitney: The Greatest Hits had sold over ten million copies worldwide.[105]


Following Houston's death on February 11, 2012, Whitney: The Greatest Hits registered a global resurgence of sales. In the US, it re-entered the Billboard 200 at number six after selling 64,000 copies in a single day, registering a 10,419% increase in comparison to the prior week.[106][107] After a full tracking week, Whitney: The Greatest Hits ascended to its new peak at number two with 175,000 units.[108] The album remained at the position the following week, with steady sales of 174,000 copies; that week, Houston became the first female artist ever to have three albums simultaneously within Billboard 200's top 10.[109] On June 21, Whitney: The Greatest Hits was certified quintuple platinum by the RIAA, signifying double-disc shipments of 2.5 million units in the country.[87] Internationally, the compilation attained new peaks within the top 10 in Argentina, Australia, and France,[110][104][111] while its reissue The Essential Whitney Houston reached the summit in Poland and South Korea,[112][113] and the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, and the UK.[114][115][116][117][118]

signifies an additional producer

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signifies a co-producer

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Notes

Whitney Houston albums discography

Whitney Houston singles discography

Whitney Houston videography

List of best-selling albums by women

List of UK Albums Chart number ones of 2000

List of UK R&B Albums Chart number ones of 2000

List of best-selling albums of the 2000s in the United Kingdom

List of number-one albums of 2019 (Poland)