December 01, 1986
Honolulu, HI
Neal S. Blaisdell Arena
Attendance: ≈8,800
Revenue: ≈$181,000
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
November 30, 1986
Honolulu, HI
Neal S. Blaisdell Arena
Attendance: ≈8,800
Revenue: ≈$181,000
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
Heart to Heart
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Amazing, the things they do in concerts nowadays. The stage. lights hovering above Whitney Houston last night were an in- credible, triple-gimballed, multi-filtered, rack-and-pinioned array that pitched, yawed and tum- bled through the X, Y and Z axis like the Mothership from "Close Encounters" come to bless the tiny beings on stage.
There was even a guy tethered up there in a pilot's seat controlling a single spotlight trained dead-eye smooth on Houston, just in case she deviated from her regular programming.
Amazing, the way the mind wanders during a concert. It's frankly hard to tell one Houston song from another, they're all so chipmunky cheerful. Other than the MTV-heavy rotation plays like "How Will I Know," "The Greatest Love of All," and "Saving All My Love for You," Houston's sound is a slick amalgam of Michael Jackson rhythms gussied up with Temptations harmonies and slipped under the door in spectacular Motown style. Songs that drop through the radio speakers like so much ear fodder become intense, stretched-out mojo jams, heavy on the rhythms.
With the high-end seats going for $22.50 a pop, it's important to stretch things out, and deliver them soulfully and loudly. Money's worth, and all that.
Whitney Houston is very, very popular. Her two Ken Rosene Presented concerts here—the second is tonight—sold out lickety-split. She's the sort of artist admired by fans of all ages, because she not only has a big, soulful voice, she's so gosh darn cute. She's very, very safe.
Houston is no Aretha in vocal range, but on the other hand, Aretha's no size-4. Houston's a slight, slinky woman with a big smile, and when her band starts funking, and her background singers provide a solid wall for her shrill vibrato to bounce off of, and the lights start flashing—wow! Entertainment!
She even appeared, a couple of times, to work up a sweat entertaining us.
(Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
November 27, 1986
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Sports & Entertainment Centre
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
November 26, 1986
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Sports & Entertainment Centre
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
November 25, 1986
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Sports & Entertainment Centre
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
November 24, 1986
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Sports & Entertainment Centre
Attendance: ≈7,200
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
She's tall, slim, elegant, good-looking... all that and a voice, too, even after an attack of bronchitis and laryngitis which forced her to cancel her appearance in Brisbane.
But even if Whitney Houston's voice had let her down, the audience which packed out the Swimming Pool for the first of her four concerts there last night would have loved her still.
They had come to see and hear their Greatest Love Of All and that's what they got, two hours of this 23-year-old American thrush backed by a crisp and professional seven-piece band and a back-up quartet which included her brother, Gary Garland, also tall and blessed with a fine voice which he used for duetting, and a cousin.
Ranging through the hits from her self-titled album of last year—"The Greatest Love of All," "You Give Good Love," "Saving All My Love for You"—some new material, some borrowed, some old, Ms Houston showed that, all the U.S. hype apart, she does indeed have a strong, pure and flexible voice.
And if some of the songs were a little too stretched out—the introduction of the band alone took 11 minutes, including the soloing—nobody seemed to mind.
(Written by Paul Speelman)
November 17, 1986
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Sydney Entertainment Centre
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
November 16, 1986
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Sydney Entertainment Centre
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston's first album posed, a simple dilemma: this major singing discovery follow Diana Ross through the golden gates of Vegas, or would she maintain her dignity by hopping aboard the soul train? On Sunday I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Not only has Houston a voice of classic proportions, she clearly wants to tell us about it. Her current show is a high-grade soul revue of the type I was beginning to fear we would never see in Australia. While it's not uncommon to witness soul acts spoil their music with crass presentation, Houston's show is its sumptuous good taste.
With the aid of a silky four-piece chorus, Houston stretches out the ballads, bypassing the flat, slushy arrangements of the recorded versions in favor of a full range of subtle dynamics that let the songs ebb and flow. The result is a sound not entirely dissimilar to the lush Beverley Glen studio sound patented by Anita Baker and Bobby Womack. On record, The Greatest Love Of All is a grandiloquent ballad that could almost have been designed for Barbra Streisand; as Houston's finale it becomes a glorious anthem of self-reliance, making Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive and Janet Jackson's Control sound like they're merely pussyfooting around. Saving All My Love For You is slowed down to the speed of a caress as Houston explores the song's corners, emphasizing the light and shade.
Her balladry might seem like a brave move, but Houston has the pipes. She can traverse the full dynamic range, from a whisper to a shout, within the space of a few bars. As she plays with a song's contours, a sudden emotional volley will floor you, before she returns to making quiet suggestions.
Considering she's only 23 years old, there's astonishing maturity at work here. Her voice is framed by sympathetic stage presentation, a light show that puts most other Entertainment Centre acts to shame, the stage kept spare as the musicians and singers stand at the side or on podiums. On the occasional fast song like How Will I. Know? Whitney strides back and forth atop legs that reach for the sky, slowing down for ballads like the duets Hold Me and Nobody Loves Me Like You Do, performed with her brother, Gary Garland. top it all, she complains of having a cold.
November 15, 1986
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Sydney Entertainment Centre
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston’s first album posed a simple dilemma: would this major singing discovery follow Diana Ross through the golden gates of Vegas, or would she maintain her dignity by hopping aboard the soul train? On Sunday, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Not only does Houston have a voice of classic proportions, she clearly wants to tell us about it. Her current show is a high-grade soul revue of the type I was beginning to fear we would never see in Australia.
While it’s not uncommon to witness soul acts spoil their music with crass presentation (can you believe the divine SOS Band used to simulate oral sex onstage?), the keynote of Houston’s show is its sumptuous good taste.
With the aid of a silky four-piece chorus, Houston stretches out the ballads, bypassing the flat, slushy arrangements of the recorded versions in favor of a full range of subtle dynamics that let the songs ebb and flow. The result is a sound not entirely dissimilar to the lush Beverly Glen studio style patented by Anita Baker and Bobby Womack.
On record, “The Greatest Love of All” is a grandiloquent ballad that could almost have been designed for Barbra Streisand; as Houston’s finale, it becomes a glorious anthem of self-reliance, making Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” and Janet Jackson’s "Control" sound like they’re merely pussyfooting around. “Saving All My Love for You” is slowed to the speed of a caress as Houston explores the song’s corners, emphasizing its light and shade.
Constructing a performance around balladry might seem like a brave move, but Houston has the pipes. She can traverse the full dynamic range—from a whisper to a shout—within the space of a few bars. As she plays with a song’s contours, a sudden emotional volley will floor you before she returns to making quiet suggestions.
Considering she’s only 23 years old, there’s astonishing maturity at work here. Her voice is framed by sympathetic stage presentation: a light show that puts most other Entertainment Centre acts to shame, and a stage kept spare as the musicians and singers stand at the side or on podiums. On the occasional fast song like “How Will I Know,” Whitney strides back and forth atop legs that reach for the sky, slowing down for ballads like the duets “Hold Me” and “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do,” performed with her brother, Gary Garland.
To top it all, she complains of having a cold.
If this is what Houston’s like when she’s under the weather, I can’t wait to see her in full bloom.
(The Sydney Morning Herald)
November 12, 1986
Tokyo, Japan
Nippon Budokan
Attendance: ≈14,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
November 11, 1986
Tokyo, Japan
Nippon Budokan
Attendance: ≈14,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
November 10, 1986
Tokyo, Japan
Nippon Budokan
Attendance: ≈14,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
This year we had Prince, and just when I thought I’d finally gotten a taste of something special that only comes around every few years, they went and booked another Whitney Houston concert. It’s been a pretty fruitful year. What’s more, later this year we’ve got Houdini and an R&B concert coming up. There’s nothing lonelier than going to a concert, seeing a boring show, and going home. In that sense, this year’s live scene has been reasonably good. Though, to be honest, lately—even at concerts by established artists—I rarely feel truly moved anymore. Whether that’s because I’ve become more discerning, or because there are fewer artists who can move me, I can’t really say.
I went to her concert once. The Budokan stage is large, so the whole venue feels more luxurious, and it was almost completely packed. She wore a red long dress on the first day at Budokan, a sequined mini suit on the second day, and a green long dress on the third. The show opened with a few hits, two or three at a time, performed as a medley. Then the tempo gradually picked up, and Whitney Houston slowly appeared on stage. An artist’s entrance is always thrilling, but this time I felt strangely uneasy.
Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” seemed to stick in the air, followed by “Eternal Love” and “You Give Good Love.” They kept the pace moving at full speed. Her “Eternal Love” is a slow ballad included on the album featuring the Weather Girls’ huge 1983 hit “It's Raining Men,” which was also popular in Japan. Perhaps because it was her first recording, she seemed particularly attached to it. It’s a really good song, and I pulled out the record to listen to it myself for the first time in three years. By the way, I wrote the liner notes for that LP, introducing Whitney Houston.
Of course, this was my first time seeing her on stage. Before anything else, I was struck by how incredibly expressive her voice was. It had been two years since the recording, but she was several levels better than on the record—truly moving. Where in her body did that vocal power come from?
She possessed exceptional singing skill, power, and charisma. The time between her debut and her current superstar status feels far too short, but she is undoubtedly a singer who comes along maybe once every ten years
Her stage presence truly shines in slow ballads. Songs like “Saving All My Love for You” and “The Greatest Love of All” were sung at a tempo slower than the original recordings, which was astonishing. She sang them with even more passion than the originals. Normally, singing slow songs carries a high risk of making the show feel dull, yet in her case she completely avoided that pitfall. By slowing them down even further, she deepened the songs, making them more compelling than the recorded versions. It was hard to believe she was a new female singer, just 20 years old.
Her greatest moment came when she sang “I Am Changing” from Dreamgirls. It was truly a showstopper.
Twenty thousand eyes blurred with emotion as they watched her. And she sang with all her might—boldly. I paid 5,000 yen for this song alone, and it was worth every penny.
Every note she sang carried the spirit of gospel. She truly is the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston. That gospel training sets her apart from mere pop singers. She sang the gospel song “He/I Believe,” which she said she learned early on, and though her appearance is adorable, her voice is incredibly powerful.
There’s just one thing that doesn’t quite work: the band—and the costume changes. I wish they’d focus more on the entertainment aspect. If they did that, it would be a perfect show.
November 08, 1986
Yokohama, Japan
Yokohama Bunka Taiikukan
Attendance: ≈5,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
November 06, 1986
Nagoya, Japan
Aichi-ken Taiikukan
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
November 05, 1986
Osaka, Japan
Osaka-jou Hall
Attendance: ≈16,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
November 04, 1986
Osaka, Japan
Festival Hall
Attendance: ≈2,700
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston’s Japan debut at Festival Hall and Osaka Castle Hall was a triumph of pure vocal artistry. Rising to global superstardom with just one album, Houston has been hailed as a once-in-a-decade vocal sensation—and her performance proved why.
On the first night at Festival Hall, the venue was packed to standing room. The palpable tension before the show made it clear that anticipation and expectations had reached a fever pitch. Houston appeared from the rear stage, beginning the concert with an opening set that referenced Michael Jackson hits, before moving swiftly into her own repertoire.
Hopes for colorful costume changes were dashed—she remained in a pristine white gown throughout the evening. While many expected her to showcase dance moves to match her glamorous image, Houston instead focused entirely on her voice, leaving the dancing largely to her supporting performers.
Her stunning legs were glimpsed only briefly, but the emphasis was unmistakably on sound over spectacle. Whitney, often seen in countless stylish photos and videos, projected instead the image of a serious singer dedicated to her craft.
Backed by Teddy Burnett and a tight four-member chorus, Houston delivered a warm, intoxicating set that included a sweet duet with her brother Gary Garland. Highlights included The Greatest Love of All, Love’s Tender Touch, and new material that left the audience eager for her next release.
Her vocal mastery was extraordinary—powerful yet controlled, with a natural richness that seemed almost effortless. At times, the intensity of her delivery bordered on overwhelming, but it was clear that this was simply her style.
At just 23, Houston carried herself with the scale, poise, and authority of a seasoned superstar. She made the audience forget that she was still at the beginning of her career, with only one up-tempo hit (I Wanna Dance with Somebody) among a repertoire dominated by ballads.
Whitney Houston’s Japan tour confirmed it: she was not merely a fashionable beauty, but a world-class vocalist at the dawn of a legendary career.
October 26, 1986
London, England
Wembley Arena
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
October 25, 1986
Glasgow, Scotland
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
Attendance: ≈10,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston came to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre with all the hype that accompanies a young singer whose debut album has broken sales records, includes three No. 1 hits, and has been showered with industry awards. She also arrived with her own staging and, as a result, may have solved the problem of how to present a solo performer in this much-criticized venue. Ms. Houston performed on a circular stage in the center of the hall, with her band to one side on a slightly lower level.
Performing in the round has its problems, but Ms. Houston has the distinct advantage of looking good from any angle. When she wasn’t strutting around with a lithe and easy grace (which was most of the time), the stage discreetly revolved. This was a very slick and carefully managed package, with good sound and lighting, together with a superb band and backup vocals.
As for Ms. Houston, her voice has a remarkable dynamic range—from a low growl and creamy middle to a crisp, but never shrill, top. In style and presentation, she has picked up a lot from her mother, Cissy, and cousin Dionne Warwick, but it would be a pity if she emulated the latter’s recent musical tastes, which—judging by this tour—seems possible. Too many songs sound the same: nice, easy, middle-of-the-road ballads for the middle-income group.
There were, however, high points in her dance numbers. Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” got the show off to a blazing start, and with integrity she turned “Saving All My Love for You” on its head with a slow, bluesy reading that made sense of an otherwise bland song. It wasn’t what the audience expected—or possibly wanted—but it was a courageous move, and it worked.
(The Herald)
October 22, 1986
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Ahoy
Attendance: ≈9,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston is a Sunday child. Of course, the 21-year-old singer is not lacking in talent, but it cannot be denied that the former model has an advantage due to her appearance and her background. Like the Jacksons, she comes from a musical family. She is the daughter of Cissy Houston and Dionne Warwick is her aunt. On Wednesday, Houston made her Dutch debut at the Ahoy. If she weren't tied to a tight tour schedule, she could have stayed there for a week, given the interest.
Millions of copies of Houston's debut LP were sold. Thanks to the singles taken from it, which brought the record back into the spotlight time and again, she has been at the top of the charts everywhere for over a year now. Milking records in this way is becoming increasingly popular. Houston's debut is therefore a completely risk-free, thoroughly American product.
At her gala premiere, comparisons with Diana Ross were inevitable. Not only because of the stage placed in the middle of the hall, surrounded by flower arrangements and security guards in their Sunday best, or because of the slowly rotating platform on it, but also because of her live performance, which meets the Las Vegas standards of someone from Ross's generation, but comes across as rather old-fashioned for a young thing like Houston.
But Houston doesn't have Ross's mannerisms, and she can sing. During the show, in which all but one of the songs from the LP were performed, she did not have to mask her vocal limitations with costume changes, as Ross did. Nevertheless, her fiery red, glitter-speckled creation did little justice to her slender figure. Apart from that, the thread hanging from the hem of her dress was the only imperfection.
Houston was accompanied by an eleven-piece band. Among the four backing singers were her niece Felicia Moss and her brother Michael, who called himself Gary Garland for the occasion. After Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "Eternal Love," Houston sang the duets known from the album with him. First "Hold Me," then the solo "How Will I Know," followed by "Take Good Care of My Heart" and "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do."
The audience was treated to a good time and gratefully accepted the invitation to sing along. Houston earned applause simply by taking off her jacket over her strapless dress during the intro to the ballad "Saving All My Love for You." After the polished funk of Someone for Me, she gave her all vocally in "I'm Changing," a song from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Her vocal range came across better in this song than in the sing-along "All at Once" and the less profound "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)," a song from her second LP, expected in early 1987.
The concert went flawlessly, partly because there was hardly a drop of sweat, at most a tear. Especially in the dramatic finale, with "The Greatest Love of All." As young as she is, Houston is already big business with just one LP under her belt. What can you say about her? That she is ready for a career as a diva, but that she still needs to develop her personality and that she needs to break away from that conservative musical conservatory soloist. Because that really has no place in the love duets of today.
October 21, 1986
Brussels, Belgium
Vorst Nationaal
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Afterwards, she was satisfied with a packet of crisps. But her performance on Tuesday at Vorst-Nationaal showed more luxury and class. “I haven't changed, but the people around me have,” says Whitney Houston.
Her debut album has sold 7 million copies in America and another 4 million in Europe. Yet the 23-year-old niece of Dionne Warwick is already putting on a show lasting almost two hours, which stands on its own and is not part of the promotion for her only album.
With the song “I Am Changing” from the musical ‘Dreamgirls’ (about The Supremes), she received a standing ovation. She was greeted by a remarkably enthusiastic audience in Vorst. “And it's like that everywhere,” she said afterwards.
The new album is expected in February and is said to feature more up-tempo material than the first. She played one song from it on Tuesday: “I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me.” There are many fans waiting.
October 19, 1986
London, England
Wembley Arena
Attendance: ≈10,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
October 18, 1986
London, England
Wembley Arena
Attendance: ≈10,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
October 17, 1986
London, England
Wembley Arena
Attendance: ≈10,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
October 16, 1986
London, England
Wembley Arena
Attendance: ≈10,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
All at Once
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
With the barest accompaniment, Ms. Houston froze before the mic stand as if impaled upon the point of her own self-belief. Uncurling just enough to make us truly believe, she wound the song up into a succession of growled exclamations of a single word: “Me!” It was at these vivid moments that Whitney made everything stick. For that, she deserves our admiration, if not yet our full respect.
Hers is not the most expressive of voices, but its control and projection are flawless, and in this pluralistic crowd of dinner suits, diamonds, and romantica, that is what mattered most. Whitney caresses each phrase and emotion with kid gloves. She plays to the crowd with the poised contrivance of the fashion model she once was: a pout, a shimmy, a secret smile.
There are dance numbers at regular points, but the ballads are what people want. “Hold Me,” the hit she scored with Teddy Pendergrass, was among the duets, performed with her immensely polished backing singer. There was an element of tightness about Ms. Houston’s bearing early on, which redoubled the sense of fabrication.
The songs she really tore the guts out of were those self-assertion anthems that so befit her star-bound persona, where the contradiction between underdog pride and showbiz ambition is resolved. The closing “The Greatest Love of All” was a powerful finale.
But it was the showpiece “I Am Changing” that injected serious conviction.
(The Independent)
September 23, 1986
Los Angeles, CA
Greek Theatre
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
September 22, 1986
Los Angeles, CA
Greek Theatre
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
September 21, 1986
Los Angeles, CA
Greek Theatre
Attendance: ≈6,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston, pop’s latest phenomenon, walked on stage Sunday night at the Greek Theatre to a burst of orchestral fanfare befitting royalty. Unfortunately, the gesture wasn’t tongue-in-cheek.
The fanfare would be corny even for Barbra Streisand or Aretha Franklin, who have enjoyed years of acclaim and public acceptance. For a newcomer like Houston, the hoopla seemed overblown and silly.
Her debut album may have sold umpteen million copies and her appearance on this year’s Grammy telecast may have been honored Sunday with an Emmy for best individual performance in a variety or music program, but the 23-year-old is still far from a consummate--or even consistent--performer.
Once Houston got down to business, things looked promising. Dressed in a sparkly suit, boots and white stockings, she opened with a showy rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'.” She can’t dance like the song’s author, but she has a winning, personable way with up-tempo numbers. There’s something warm and endearing about her youthful, earnest approach.
Yet, she wasn’t able to build on the opening blitz. The problems: a tendency toward mediocre material and an ultimate lack of commanding vocal character.
There’s an innocence about Houston that enables her to be quite appealing on such lighter pop tunes as “You Give Good Love,” but she rarely challenges the audience--or herself--with more gripping or emotionally involving fare. The exception was her impassioned rendition of the inspirational hit, “The Greatest Love of All.”
While defenders might say that more vocal character will come with age, there’s no guarantee. Franklin was already well on the way to mastering her interpretive skills by the time she was Houston’s age.
Like Madonna, this leggy ex-model is ideal for the video age. Thanks to flashy staging and imaginative editing, she can transform marginal pop material into something quite special. Where the rebellious, trend-setting Madonna thumbs her nose at convention, Houston is strictly a good, old-fashioned singer who stays safely within the parameters of pop.
Except for the sassy “How Will I Know” and a handful of other moments, Houston demonstrated little of the impeccable timing and energy that brighten her videos. If she doesn’t develop that added artistic edge, she may well settle for the glittery, pop complacency of a Diana Ross. She’s at the Greek through Wednesday night.
(The Los Angeles Times)
September 19, 1986
Costa Mesa, CA
Pacific Amphitheatre
Attendance: 13,946
Revenue: $294,954
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston began her concert at the Pacific Amphitheatre by teasing the audience. On a darkened stage, the band played while Houston’s voice was heard amid whispers of “Where is she?” She was singing snippets of her pop hit “The Greatest Love of All” while concealed offstage. When she finally danced into view, the crowd cheered at a fever pitch. This is a lady who knows how to make an entrance.
Houston said she was happy to be at the Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa (she pronounced it “Cost-a Mesa”), and she promised the audience an evening of “partying and good music.” The pop singer had no trouble keeping that promise as she officially opened her set with Michael Jackson’s hit “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” Her next number, “How Will I Know,” had the audience literally dancing in the aisles.
Later in the concert, Houston told the crowd she wanted to share a song taught to her by her mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston. The song, “Someone for Me,” was quiet and soulful. The audience swayed along with the music and the breeze. Though the concert was outdoors, it felt close and personal, as though it were being held in a friend’s living room. The moonlit night only added to the mood.
Singing is a family affair for Houston. Her cousin is pop singer Dionne Warwick, and Gary Garland, one of her backup singers, is her brother. Displaying the clear, resonant voice that has made her famous, Houston sang two duets with him. However, Garland only served to detract slightly from the quality of the duets: his voice was above average, while Houston’s was superb.
The backup group was solid, but there was a strange disparity in dress among the singers. The male members of the group and the band dressed like college preppies in brightly colored sweaters and chinos, while the women wore dazzling sequined evening gowns. It seemed a testament to the identity crisis embedded in Houston’s performance. One moment she was a smooth, sophisticated vamp; the next she radiated the shy innocence of a schoolgirl.
Houston wore a short sequined dress with a plunging back. Her face was alive with the classic good looks that have made her a favorite for magazine covers. She was also sporting an engagement ring, but she shook her head at audience members who shouted, “Who’s the lucky guy?”
Houston later answered the question obliquely by singing “I Am Changing,” from the musical Dreamgirls. The song is about a woman discovering her identity and talent while reassuring her lover that she still needs him. In the final part of the set, Houston slipped back into her sultry, searing stance with “Take Good Care of My Heart.” She also belted out “Saving All My Love for You,” the tune that helped her win a Grammy earlier this year for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. She was also nominated for three other awards, including Album of the Year.
Houston completed the concert by singing “The Greatest Love of All” in its entirety. The audience responded with a standing ovation. Houston may be only 22 years old, but she is definitely on her way to even bigger and better things.
She performed at the Pacific Amphitheatre on September 19. Houston was also scheduled to appear at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles from Sunday through Wednesday, although the Wednesday concert was postponed until the next night because of rain.
(Simi Valley Star)
September 18, 1986
San Diego, CA
San Diego Sports Arena
Attendance: 9,051
Revenue: $172,092
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston came to the Sports Arena last night to sing some things old, some things new, and some things borrowed while wearing sequins and blue. She held notes, broke hearts and promised to come back again.
Success hasn't spoiled Whitney Houston; it's only made her better. And how staggering it is to realize that she's barely begun.
This is Houston's third time in San Diego in a bit over a year.
The pop singer has risen from the cozy setting of Humphrey's concert garden to the Civic Center to the Sports Arena. That's not a local phenomenon. In that time, her self-titled debut album has become one of the all-time best sellers. She has won handfuls of music and video awards, and her current concert tour is breaking house records across the country.
No seat in the Sports Arena beats fifth row center at Humphrey's, but Houston has compensated for the big stage. Her show is more polished, faster-paced and has enough techno-gimmickry to fill any soft spots.
But nothing distracted or detracted from the star.
While the arrangements are fuller, the size of her band hasn't grown much. Houston still uses four top-notch backup singers.
Even the stage, with its senior prom/TV game show styling, is secondary—merely an interesting place for the star to unleash her formidable talent. Houston's silver and blue sequined dress and jacket were quite modest for the big stage.
Houston showed she has the musical breadth and depth, lung power and charisma to fill an arena twice this size.
And considering her stature today, even opening with strains of "Also Sprach Zarathustra" had a whimsical appropriateness to it. From offstage Houston segued into Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Something."
And she did.
What she started didn't end until 90 minutes later, when Houston slipped away during the final notes of "The Greatest Love of All."
As if to remind the crowd that her success wasn't an overnight quirk, Houston moved quickly from Jackson's tune to "Eternal Love," a solo she performed on the album "Paul Jabara and Friends" when she was 16 years old.
It was the first of many tender, torchy ballads.
On "You Give Good Love," Houston gave her fans a taste of where she can take her voice, how fast she can take it up there and how long she can squeeze a single note.
And just when you think her talent is unassailable, Houston pulls her oldest brother, Gary Garland, out of the lineup to sing Teddy Pendergrass' part on "Hold Me."
Garland has filled in for Pendergrass and Jermaine Jackson (both have duets on the Whitney Houston album) since Houston began touring. Last year he was just a good voice. He's matured nicely, gaining poise, stage presence and a voice not unlike Lou Rawls at his best, especially on "Take Good Care of My Heart."
Houston's and Garland's harmonizing on the end of "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" sent shivers up the spine.
With the right material, Garland could cut his own album and add considerably to the family fortune.
On her own material, Houston hit an emotional peak during the wrenching saga of illicit love and misplaced devotion "Saving All My Love for You." She has this way of reining in the power of a song, releasing it in an excruciatingly slow tempo and then unleashing all the pent-up energy on a single note—held, squeezed and bled until there is nothing left.
The effect on the audience is simple: It too must seek its own emotional release. It goes bonkers.
That's entertainment.
Houston showed exquisite taste in borrowed material, too. She soared on "I Believe," a gospel tune learned from her mother, Cissy, an original member of the Sweet Inspirations. She breathed fire into Kenny Loggins' "Heart To Heart."
Houston gave the night's most dramatic moments on "I Am Changing," a Jennifer Holliday song from the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls." With arms open wide, she held notes captive, dramatically repeated phrases, and used pauses to theatrical advantage.
Two songs from Houston's soon-to-be-released second album were introduced last night. "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" with its punchy, up-tempo beat, will undoubtedly make its way into heavy rotation on the club and dance-aerobics circuits. "Didn't We Almost Have It All" is a touching ballad but really just more of the same for Houston.
On more than a few tunes, Houston showed a curious reluctance to let them go. She sent endings through nearly endless permutations, lending an almost improvisational feel to the music.
But any improvisation was illusory. This show has been tightly, carefully constructed to deliver all the emotional impact of good theater, as well as good music.
The seven musicians and quartet of backup singers are all superb. Their presence is felt and appreciated, yet they never overwhelm the star.
Whitney Houston's rise has been marked by dignity, graciousness and a passion for the music. Even as the size of her show has grown, she still gives these precious gifts to her audience.
Singing to 800 people or 10,000, Houston managed to make each one walk out feeling as if they had been a part of something special.
(Evening Tribune)
September 16, 1986
Fresno, CA
Selland Arena
Attendance: 5,908
Revenue: $99,715
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston's appearance at Selland Arena Tuesday night begged the question: Is The Voice enough? Are an extraordinary set of vocal cords, some carefully chosen "nice" songs, and a classy reading of them enough to rate as excellent? It's easy to see why the crowd, which nearly filled the arena, responded so enthusiastically to Houston's 115-minute show, and why just about everybody in the music industry has gone gaga over the 23-year-old singer.
She sings with a power and control few possess, and her squeaky-clean image is a blessing in a business where inflated egos and eccentric behavior abound. But despite The Voice, her Fresno show fell ever-so-slightly short of the kind of excellence you could rave about. Before you start rolling your eyes at what sounds like a petty criticism, ask yourself this question: What is Whitney Houston like?
She's eminently likable, no question there. Is she strong-willed? Perhaps. Is she impressionable? Hard to say. Does she have a frisky, no-holds-barred side to her personality? Maybe. Is she extremely introspective? Who knows? A singer who is not also a songwriter has a difficult task to perform. If Bob Dylan yowls like a hoarse coyote, he nevertheless communicates to his audience through his own words. But a singer like Houston, who performs others' material, must get inside a song so convincingly that we believe she lives it.
It's a subtle nuance that Houston didn't consistently conquer Tuesday night. Almost invariably, Houston added some dimension to her hits from her hugely successful debut album, which can be pretty lifeless and even sappy at times. The vocal interplay between Houston and her four backup singers on "Saving All My Love for You" was fun, and though she seemed a little stiff at the start, Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was an appropriate way to kick off the show.
While she neatly avoided the vocal histrionics of someone like Patti LaBelle, Houston still occasionally bulldozed her way through some songs when it wasn't required, and some of her material was too thin, with overlong crescendos. Her disciplined seven-piece band was, for the most part, tightly arranged, but it seemed as if Houston's weaknesses were accented instead of diminished.
When it came time for the upbeat material, songs like "How Will I Know" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" never galloped with the force they should have. If, on the other hand, Houston is aiming for the presence of a controlled, calculating chanteuse, she still needs to develop more assurance.
Her career has been carefully orchestrated by her management and those at her record label, particularly Arista president Clive Davis. They obviously know they have an artist with exceptional potential, and you can't blame them for being cautious. But the revealing moments Tuesday were so few and far between, you couldn't escape the feeling that Houston was figuratively looking over her shoulder. She may have moved into the spotlight these days, but she hasn't entirely become at home there.
Two songs she said would appear on her next album, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "Didn't We Almost Have It All," fit right alongside her current hits but didn't expand upon her performance or character. That Houston would bear such scrutiny, of course, is a testament to her talent.
Even singing traditional music, she has the ability to create a visceral excitement without succumbing to the latest fads. During those few moments when she was able to immerse herself in a song, Houston was impressive. The gospelish "I Believe" and "The Greatest Love of All," paired at the close of the show, were particularly heartfelt.
And Houston effectively evoked the transformation from indecision to celebration during "I'm Changing," originally recorded by Jennifer Holliday. It's essential to remember Houston is just starting out, despite her heady success. Her biggest challenge may be to find the kind of songs that can match her potential and bring out her best.
She has reached her first commercial peak. But to suggest that she has reached her artistic peak as well would be a disservice.
(The Fresno Bee)
September 14, 1986
Concord, CA
Concord Pavilion
Attendance: 8,333
Revenue: $152,485
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
September 13, 1986
Mountain View, CA
Shoreline Amphitheatre
Attendance: 15,211
Revenue: $256,782
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Happy Birthday to You (Dedicated to her dad)
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
September 12, 1986
Sacramento, CA
Cal Expo Amphitheatre
Attendance: 8,273
Revenue: $144,778
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston seemed to opt for effect over substance at her concert at Cal Expo.
But not our Whitney. In tune after tune, she to be opting for effect over substance, committing melodic metamorphoses and rhythmic reconstructions that seemed to be avoiding, not building on, the song of the moment.
Witness the aforementioned "I Am Changing," which started out sounding like it was going to be "Misty" instead. Cute, yes. But it can get deadly. To cite another example: "Saving All My Love for You," her smash hit, kept its basic tune but was couched in an altered rhythmic setting that transformed it into something else, and something less, entirely. In fairness, though, it should be noted that her fans had fun.
The third of her full house (of some 8,500) that drifted away before concert's end probably left as much because of the evening chill.
September 10, 1986
Salt Lake City, UT
Special Events Center
Attendance: ≈15,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
September 08, 1986
Red Rocks Summer of Stars
Red Rocks Amphitheatre / Morrison, CO
Attendance: 8,950
Revenue: $203,854
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston sings like a canary and looks like a fox, which makes her one of those special artists who seemingly has it all. At the moment, she does—6 million copies sold of her debut album, three No. 1 singles, and a Grammy award for Best Female Vocalist.
So it figures that her first nationwide tour would be successful as well, and Whitney closed out the 1986 Red Rocks Summer of Stars Monday night with a sold-out performance.
The ebony-and-ivory crowd was treated to a ballad-laden set as expected, featuring hits such as "You Give Good Love" and "The Greatest Love Of All." But have the folks in charge of Whitney's career gone too far? They've tried too hard to make a mature act out of her already.
On a show-biz level, the concert was state-of-the-art—the excellent sound system sparkled throughout the still evening, and the backup singers and musicians were flawless as if to be bland. Yet the crowd was so mesmerized by the slick presentation that they couldn't even stand up during the funky interludes such as a reading of Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." Whitney's stage patter came off as carefully coached instead of spontaneous and warm.
Not that she put on a bad show—when she sang at her jaw-dropping best, it was easy enough to dismiss the glitzy distractions. She never backed off the high notes—indeed, she attacked the melodies of "Saving All My Love for You" and "How Will I Know" (with a sassy bit of "Do you love me?" scatting during the instrumental bridge of the latter) with real abandon.
The last person with similar talent to come on the pop scene was Natalie Cole, and the pressure drove her crazy for a while. If Whitney Houston can keep her head on straight—and bless her if she does—there's going to be no stopping her. She's a classy lady who transcends her material live and on record.
But does that mean she has to be shoehorned into the requisite vanilla family appeal by sacrificing her youthful spunk? At some point soon, here's hoping she lets her glamourous guard down a bit—the 26-year-old's slick and functional Red Rocks show would have been appropriate for an artist 20 years older.
(Denver Post)
September 07, 1986
Syracuse, NY
State Fair Grandstand
Attendance: ≈16,600
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston's debut album is inarguably very good, garnering her a Grammy for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance and a host of "favorite" awards from everybody from Music Television to People magazine.
Yet it is only during her live performance that her immense talents shine through. After weathering a torrential downpour 10 days earlier when Houston postponed her fair appearance and suffering through a preconcert traffic jam Sunday, 16,600 music fans finally got more than their money's worth, as Houston worked her way through 90 minutes of the best vocal work in popular music. The most remarkable thing about Houston's voice, which is not quite as evident on record as it is in person, is the range. Often within the same song Sunday, she went from sweet to sultry, from a beautiful soprano to a soaring contralto.
Houston, only 23 and already being ranked with the greats, took the stage to the strains of the "2001: A Space Odyssey" theme, which was highlighted by the percussion work of Ohene Kwadwo Larbi, and worked her way into Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." Forced by the weather to forsake her usual elegant gowns for a satin MTV jacket and a blue pantsuit, Houston then offered a rendition of "Eternal Love," a beautiful ballad from her pre-platinum days. This tune closed with a perfectly sustained high note that brought the crowd to its feet for the first of many ovations. Her hits "You Give Good Love," "How Will I Know," "Saving All My Love for You," and "The Greatest Love of All" drove the sellout crowd into a frenzy.
A group of young women kept chanting in harmony, "We love you, Whitney," while gentlemen of all ages responded enthusiastically when the former cover girl sang "Someone for Me." Gary Garland, Houston's brother and backup singer, proved an even better accompanist than Jermaine Jackson or Teddy Pendergrass, as he joined the singer for duets on "Hold Me," "Take Good Care of My Heart," and "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do." The latter featured the two vocalists creatively alternating elongated high notes with doo-wop background singing. "It's cold. Am I warming you?" Houston asked before launching into her final three songs. That question proved to be an understatement.
(Syracuse Herald-Journal)
September 02, 1986
Bonner Springs, KS
Sandstone Amphitheater
Attendance: 8,000+
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
In the case of hit songstress Whitney Houston, the bard could have easily written: “Sing on.” In her first Kansas City–area appearance Tuesday night at Sandstone Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Miss Houston sang all about love—romantic, brotherly, and otherwise.
The music behind the statuesque 23-year-old was lovely, as far as mainstream pop goes. But that voice—now that was something to get stuck on. An instrument of unerring, pure dynamism, Miss Houston’s blessing from above had more than 8,000 people in awe for nearly two hours. For one, I blinked and craned my neck several times in near disbelief at the seeming effortlessness with which she executed her incredible performance.
The slender superstar leaped from sensuous whispers to full-blown soul wails in a single downbeat. She sprinkled her talent like fairy dust over most of the songs from her self-titled debut album, which in less than two years has sold an astonishing 9 million copies and spawned three No. 1 hits. This beautiful woman with the beautiful voice showed anyone within earshot that she has it all.
Several times she paired off with her older brother, Gary Houston, one of four angelic backup singers. Together they ascended the melodic strains of "Hold Me," which at times echoed the emotional power of Miss Houston’s hit "The Greatest Love of All." On "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do," the two resembled a husband-and-wife team à la Ashford and Simpson, eventually ending up mike to mike, exchanging a cappella recitations of eternal attachment.
Other sweetheart territory Miss Houston covered included "You Give Good Love." "How Will I Know," the closest thing to a real rock song in her repertoire, provided one of the night’s most vivacious moments. A killer rendition of "Saving All My Love for You" featured a slower tempo than the original hit ballad and some truly gutsy singing.
She also lent her impressive pipes to other artists’ upbeat tunes, such as Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald’s "Heart to Heart" and Michael Jackson’s "Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’." Miss Houston clowned around with her 11-piece band, offering sexy shrugs and asking her male players for dates. She even took time to answer shouted praises—and occasionally annoying remarks—from audience members, though it appeared to slow the pace of the show.
Twice, a young man exuberantly danced down the middle aisle near the stage before security motioned him back to his seat. The crowd applauded. Miss Houston smiled.
Comedian and impersonator Sylvia Traymoore proved a delightful opener. Her broad, song-filled portrayals of Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle, and others earned her well-deserved laughter and applause.
(The Kansas City Star)
September 01, 1986
St. Louis, MO
The Muny
Attendance: 9,846
Revenue: $189,980
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
August 31, 1986
Hoffman Estates, IL
Poplar Creek Music Theater
Attendance: ≈17,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
August 30, 1986
Hoffman Estates, IL
Poplar Creek Music Theater
Attendance: ≈17,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
August 27, 1986
Philadelphia, PA
Mann Music Center
Attendance: ≈14,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Freed from the pressures that Arista Records (and her own rookie status) may have placed upon her, Whitney Houston seemed able to work her God-given gift to its fullest potential.
That freedom also breathed new life into some overplayed radio cuts. One of the few disappointments was her treatment of “Saving All My Love for You,” slowed to a bluesy halt, with a good deal of finesse replacing the growling belts she used during her last visit in November. “Take Good Care of My Heart” was almost too harmonious, if that’s possible, with her duets with her oldest brother, Gary Garland, diverging a bit too far.
But the other numbers Houston chose to round out her 90-minute, 15-song set showed the makings of an original interpreter. Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” which opened the show (after strains of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” from 2001: A Space Odyssey trumpeted her arrival), surpassed the punch it had on Jackson’s Victory Tour.
And Kenny Loggins’s “Heart to Heart” was another burner.
Early on, Houston acknowledged her beginnings by pulling out the ballad “Eternal Love,” from a Paul Jabara and Friends album on which she had a solo at age 16. (It also contained The Weather Girls’ hit “It’s Raining Men,” written by Paul Shaffer, David Letterman’s longtime musical director.)
The Dreamgirls selection “I Am Changing,” originally recorded by Jennifer Holliday, had Houston stopping and starting for dramatic effect.
She also showcased material from her “almost finished” upcoming album, set for release in January. “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” a ballad about a love that slipped through her slender fingers, was reminiscent of “What I Did for Love” from A Chorus Line. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” if lyrically simple, had an upbeat, celebratory flavor.
The evening wouldn’t have been complete without “The Greatest Love of All,” her most recent chart-topper and an audience sing-along. One might have expected a nod to its recently deceased lyricist, Linda Creed, especially since the concert took place in Creed’s hometown.
Houston also lost points for not following “The Greatest Love of All” with an encore for her bliss-laden audience.
For that reason alone, Whitney Houston fell just short of giving them their money’s worth.
(The Times)
August 25, 1986
Montreal, QC, Canada
Forum de Montréal
Attendance: ≈18,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
The only real question heading into pop singer Whitney Houston’s concert last night at The Forum concerned stage presence. Would she project, live, the maturity of her debut album, the sensuality of her videos, and the energy of her television commercials?
The answer, friends, was a resounding yes.
With the poise and style of a young Diana Ross, Houston dazzled the capacity Forum crowd with her vocal pyrotechnics and friendly, elegant presentation.
Mostly, she took the fans on a musical tour of her debut album, Whitney Houston, which has sold 7 million copies, produced four hit singles, and vaulted her in just a year to the arena circuit. Ballads like “You Give Good Love” and “Saving All My Love for You” are excellent showcases for her powerful voice, and she made them memorable last night for her predominantly female and wildly enthusiastic audience.
But she can swing, too, as she proved on the irresistible “How Will I Know” and another album cut, “Someone for Me.”
Wearing a slinky gray outfit, Houston took the stage to the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Her first song was a surprise: Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.”
Also on her set list was “Heart to Heart,” a hit for Kenny Loggins, and “I Am Changing” from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which earned her a standing ovation and a rose from one admirer.
The weakest parts of the show were the duets with her older brother, Gary Garland. On record, Jermaine Jackson and Teddy Pendergrass handled the male leads, and the versions with Gary tended to be slow and somewhat overdramatic.
On the whole, though, the show confirmed the wonderful promise of Whitney Houston, just 23. Being able to entertain on record doesn’t necessarily mean you can do it effectively in front of 18,000 people. This model-turned-singer can.
She has a voice that can fill the Forum without losing its character or intimacy—and she should be around for years.
(The Gazette)
August 24, 1986
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Grandstand at Lansdowne Park
Attendance: ≈15,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Before you saw the woman, you heard the voice. And when she left, the voice stayed with you.
As the cold wind whipped Whitney Houston onstage Sunday at Lansdowne Park, she wrapped her black jacket close to her, threw back her head, and belted out song after song with a voice that seemed to blow the clouds away. The sellout crowd of about 15,000 people loved her for it, leaping to its feet for a standing ovation long before the final strains of the finale were over. Few minded when she didn’t give an encore.
From the top of the show to the end, that year’s Grammy Awards winner for Best New Artist had given plenty. Houston teased her audience by singing out of sight for a few moments before appearing—wearing long, low-heeled black leather boots and an electric-blue one-piece jumpsuit with a shiny silver belt slung low on her waist—and prancing onto the stage to the cheers of thousands.
What was probably the most fun about seeing Whitney Houston in concert, besides seeing the stunningly beautiful 23-year-old, was hearing her play with the songs she was singing. She opened the 90-minute show with Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” and then moved through a dozen of her own familiar hits and other tunes destined to become hits.
Each time, Houston sounded as if she were singing the song in a way she had just discovered. Four vocalists—who provided tight, terrific harmony on “You Give Good Love”—and a seven-piece band backed her up. Except for two duets with her eldest brother, Gary Garland, her stage support remained mostly in the background, letting Houston’s powerful voice soar over the audience.
When she broke into a funky version of her video hit “How Will I Know,” Houston became a tight ball of energy ready to explode, and thousands in the stands danced. Fawning fans threw earrings, papers, and plush toys onto the stage, much to Houston’s dismay.
“Aw, you guys are throwing things at me,” she admonished them. “You might hit me. Well, we’re gonna fight.”
Then, to the delight of screaming teenagers, she laughed and added, “No, I’m a lover, not a fighter. But don’t you hit me.”
And to the delight of parents, she asked a father in the audience to hold his child up, giving the youngster a big hug and kiss.
But as much as she sang and danced her heart out, the chill in the August night air didn’t go unnoticed. Her shoulder-length hair tossed in the wind, Houston finally complained in a staccato voice: “Boy, is it cold in Canah-da.”
Clearly a professional performer, however, Houston wouldn’t let that stop her. She launched into a slow, pained, seductive version of another of her No. 1 hits, “Saving All My Love for You,” building it into a gutsy chorus with her backup singers before winding down into a vocal-saxophone duet with saxophonist Josh Harris.
It was surprising she still had even more to give when she sang what was obviously the crowd’s favorite, “The Greatest Love of All.” At her invitation, thousands of spectators joined in and sang along.
Immediately after finishing that No. 1 hit and waving broad goodbyes to the crowd, Houston was wrapped in a blanket by stagehands and whisked away in a long gray—one hopes warm—limousine.
(The Ottawa Citizen)
August 22, 1986
Toronto, ON, Canada
CNE Grandstand
Attendance: 25,370
Revenue: $465,286
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
The girl with the tousled hair and oversized earrings leaned over, barely able to contain her enthusiasm, and gushed: “Isn’t she awesome?”
Well, in a word: yes.
Whitney Houston turned in the best and most pleasantly surprising of the Canadian National Exhibition Grandstand shows so far. It was a dazzling performance, one that suggested her debut album only hinted at her true power. At times there was nothing to do but sit awestruck; there was simply no way she should have been this good.
Her 100-minute show (which seemed much shorter) was the perfect blend of artistry and commerce, a magnificent display of pop and gospel vocal power, slickly and attractively packaged.
There were plenty of reasons to expect a good show. Her debut album, Whitney Houston, had already sold three-quarters of a million copies in Canada and counting, suggesting an enormous amount of talent. Pedigree is also on her side: Cissy Houston is her mother, Dionne Warwick her cousin, and brother Gary Garland—with whom she sang several duets—was onstage.
But there were reasons for skepticism, too. Houston may already have won a Grammy Awards, but her only album was already 18 months old. She had also become almost as well known for her Diet Coke commercials as for her singing. And while she first drew raves in New Jersey cabaret clubs, many great performers have struggled to translate that intimacy to stadium-sized venues.
Any fears about the statuesque, impossibly pretty singer’s ability to hold the attention of a large audience disappeared minutes after she hit the stage. Before a transfixed crowd of about 23,000, she radiated confidence.
Clad in pink skin-tight pants, a shirt, and a matching jacket, she began with a few bars of “The Greatest Love of All,” which segued into a tightly reined version of Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” From there it was an endless series of emotional peaks and valleys, a masterful pacing of introspective ballads and celebratory uptempo numbers.
“Eternal Love” (during which you could hear a watch ticking) led into “You Give Good Love.” The climaxes of “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do” (a duet with Garland) and “Saving All My Love for You” produced goosebumps.
The newer songs pointed toward the future: “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” a sweeping emotional ballad in the style dominating AM radio, and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” a funky, sax-driven number in the vein of “How Will I Know.” They were as strong as anything she sang that evening and just as warmly received—clear bets to become future hits.
Her backing band was precise and professional, providing a suitably lush sound, while a quartet of backing singers (including Garland) filled out the harmonies impressively.
If Houston had one weakness, it was in her stage patter. Everything she said—including her announcement that she was happy to be performing in Canada for the first time—sounded choreographed and polite. There was a hint of Las Vegas stiffness, unusual for someone so young. A little more spontaneity might have helped.
Still, her disarmingly bright eyes and toothpaste-advertisement smile erased any fears of insincerity.
What was most impressive about Houston was her poise. Like an Olympic gymnast, she seemed completely in control, even during her most acrobatic vocal runs. She never strained; singing appeared as natural as breathing. And even at her most unrestrained, you sensed she was still holding something back.
The most exciting thing about this near-perfect show is that at 22, Whitney Houston could only get better.
(Waterloo Region Record)
August 20, 1986
Clarkston, MI
Pine Knob Music Theatre
Attendance: N/A
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Tomorrow
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
August 19, 1986
Clarkston, MI
Pine Knob Music Theatre
Attendance: ≈15,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
All at Once (Audience request, tour debut)
The Greatest Love of All
Despite the No. 1 singles, the multi-million-selling debut album, the magazine covers, and even the No. 1 home music video in the country, Whitney Houston is still working her first album and her first major tour. That means she is still introducing herself to the masses and setting the foundation for what she hopes will be a long, lucrative singing and acting career.
So Tuesday was “Meet Whitney Houston Night” at Pine Knob Music Theatre, the first of the 23-year-old singer’s two shows.
Like a proper pop debutante, she presented herself with an encore-less, 16-song, hour-and-45-minute show that went beyond her album to touch on her gospel and soul roots, gave an indication of her musical tastes, and offered a glimpse at the future. Overall, it was a smooth, likable concert that showed Houston’s singing prowess could be just as striking live as it is on record.
Because the show was designed to show off her admirable vocal cords, however, there were moments of showy indulgence, as well as the kind of thin spots most young artists encounter when they move beyond familiar material.
As her seven-piece band finished the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Houston strolled onstage in a colorful print dress, crooning a snippet of her recent chart-topper. Then came Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” capped with a modified high-energy finish.
She followed that by dipping into “Eternal Love,” a song she recorded years earlier. It wasn’t the voice of a fragile newcomer, but that of a singer who clearly knew how to use her instrument.
That song led directly into her first touring hit parade. Houston rolled through “Hold Me,” “How Will I Know,” “Take Good Care of My Heart,” “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do,” “Saving All My Love for You,” and “Someone for Me,” all of which brought thunderous ovations from the near-capacity crowd. They were deserved ovations.
Rather than playing the songs exactly as they appear on her debut album, Whitney Houston, Houston and her band rearranged them, presenting stripped-down versions that moved away from the slick studio originals. The vocal arrangements with her four backup singers—including her older brother Gary Garland, who handled the duets on “Take Good Care of My Heart,” “Hold Me,” and “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do”—gave the material more depth and dimension.
Placing most of the album material in the middle of the show had its drawbacks, however, clearing a path for a long stretch of unfamiliar songs. Houston’s rendition of “I Am Changing,” Jennifer Holliday’s showstopper from Dreamgirls, was creditable until the end, which she stretched with a series of needless vocal gymnastics. The moment was nearly disrupted when bassist Ricky Minor’s strap broke.
Her cover of Kenny Loggins’s “Heart to Heart” served mainly as an excuse for a lengthy band introduction, and “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” slated for her second album, was too subdued to grab much attention.
(Detroit Free Press)
August 18, 1986
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Blossom Music Center
Attendance: ≈19,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston probably would be a star even if she couldn’t sing. Folks would likely come from miles around waving paychecks, roses, and plastic bottles loaded with refreshments just to behold her beguiling smile and bask in the shimmering glow of her presence. And who could blame them? This is an uncommonly fetching 23-year-old.
But the fact is, Whitney Houston can sing. She can really sing—sometimes maybe too well.
Houston’s voice is an electrifying combination of dizzying power, range, and emotion, frequently reminiscent of such illustrious predecessors and mentors as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, cousin Dionne Warwick, and mother Cissy Houston. And that’s great. All singers should be so blessed.
The problem, however, is that she sometimes has a tendency to bring this formidable inventory into play all at once.
The result: overkill.
In her Blossom Music Center debut Monday before a capacity crowd of some 19,000, Houston’s nearly two-hour performance seemed at times more a showcase for vocal gymnastics than an interpretation of music. In some instances—“I Am Changing,” from the Broadway hit Dreamgirls, is a particularly notable one—melody and lyrics were all but lost in the workout, smothered with needless adornment by her magnificent vocal cords.
Such demonstrations may be impressive, but on Monday less would have been more. She proved that in no uncertain terms during versions of “Someone for Me” and her hit “Saving All My Love for You,” in which embellishment and restraint coexisted spectacularly. But they were the exception rather than the rule.
And besides, there were other problems with the show. For one, the six-piece band—drummer Brian Blake, bassist Rick Minor, guitarist Curt Nieshloss, percussionist Ohene Kwadwo Larbi, keyboardist Jack Perry, and saxophonist Josh Harris—had trouble getting untracked.
Whether it was simply their playing, the musical arrangements, or Houston’s vocal embroidery, instrumental accompaniment was often bland and sluggish. “How Will I Know,” the rousing No. 1 tune that helped keep Houston’s namesake debut LP, Whitney Houston, riding the charts for some 75 weeks, barely kept the adoring throng on its feet.
Another drawback was Houston’s inability to add continuity and cohesiveness to the production. With a cloud of frosted curls framing that radiant smile and her slim figure sheathed in a silver, black, and gold sequined minidress depicting the Manhattan skyline, she looked great. But her movements and manner were often tentative—not at all like they appear in her Diet Coke television commercial. When she did lock into some fancy footwork, she seemed to abandon it just as the crowd was tuning in.
Likewise, her between-song exchanges with the audience, while well-intentioned, seemed uncertain.
She sang “You Give Good Love,” “The Greatest Love of All,” “Eternal Love,” and all the other songs her fans wanted to hear. But somehow they just didn’t sound as good as expected.
Of course, what ever does?
(The Akron Beacon Journal)
August 16, 1986
Indiana State Fair
State Fairgrounds Grandstand / Indianapolis, IN
Attendance: 16,287
Revenue: $225,965
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Forget about the four No. 1 hits from her debut album, which has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Forget about her radiant good looks. Forget anything you've ever read about her.
To believe Whitney Houston, you simply have to see her. An estimated 17,300 fans did just that at her Grandstand performance Saturday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Gate receipts from the show broke the record set the previous night by Alabama.
If you think that’s impressive, you should hear Houston’s voice. Fans were practically bursting with excitement while waiting for her to take the stage, and they weren’t disappointed.
Houston was first heard singing offstage, and as soon as the cheering hit a fever pitch, she appeared. Dressed in a sparkling white jumpsuit and a jacket that competed in brilliance with her smile, she opened the show with a vibrant cover of Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.”
“I’m sure that each and every one of you has come here tonight to have a good time,” Houston told her fans.
Houston performed the four big hits from her self-titled debut album, Whitney Houston—“You Give Good Love,” “How Will I Know,” “Saving All My Love for You,” and “The Greatest Love of All”—and earned a deservedly strong response from the crowd for each.
Her voice is so supple, so powerful and subtle, that it practically defies accurate description. She is without equal: Patti LaBelle, with all her histrionics, can’t compare, and neither can the powerful Jennifer Holliday. What’s really so amazing about Houston is that she makes it all seem so easy. She has such control, such an incredible range, and she’s so young. One can only marvel at her potential.
The only complaint heard all night had nothing to do with Houston’s singing. A male contingent in the stands seemed disappointed that the lean, leggy singer didn’t wear a slinky dress.
Aside from songs from her own album, Houston performed “Eternal Love,” a tune she recorded at age 16 that appears on Paul Jabara and Friends. She also sang a few duets originally recorded with Teddy Pendergrass and Jermaine Jackson, including “Hold Me,” “Take Good Care of My Heart,” and “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do.” Joining Houston on these love songs was backup singer Gary Garland, who just happens to be her brother.
Houston also included two cover songs in her set: “I Am Changing” from Dreamgirls, originally recorded by Jennifer Holliday, and Kenny Loggins’ “Heart to Heart.”
She used the latter to introduce her impressive band and closed the show with two new songs that will appear on her next album, which, she said, “hopefully will be released in January 1987.” The first, “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” was a dramatic ballad that took full advantage of her wide vocal range. The second, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” was an up-tempo tune with “hit” written all over it.
Houston closed the show after just over an hour and a half with a marvelously expressive version of “The Greatest Love of All.” She did not return for an encore.
Sylvia Seymoure opened the evening with a 20-minute set.
(The Indianapolis Star)
August 15, 1986
Kentucky State Fair
Freedom Hall / Louisville, KY
Attendance: ≈15,600
Revenue: $156,310
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
August 14, 1986
Cincinnati, OH
Riverbend Music Center
Attendance: 16,289
Revenue: $251,000
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
August 12, 1986
Nashville, TN
Starwood Amphitheatre
Attendance: ≈14,000
Revenue: N/A
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston poured emotion into “You Give Good Love” in concert last night, leaving a crowd of 14,000 begging for more of her astonishing vocal gifts at Starwood Amphitheatre. America’s top new female record seller became one of Nashville’s biggest concert attractions of the year, ranking among the top three ticket draws of the season.
The young sensation gave the audience its money’s worth and then some. After opening with the The Jacksons’ “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” Houston sang the ballad “Eternal Love,” the first tune of the evening that hinted at the vocal fireworks to come. She segued directly into her breakout hit “You Give Good Love,” which was greeted with shrieks before the lanky, leggy star even began sliding through the notes.
Houston demonstrated considerably more fluidity, grit, range, and phrasing than her 10-million-selling debut LP suggests. In concert, she uses her voice like a jazz instrument, scatting, growling, vaulting into an airy soprano, and plunging into a chesty alto. Throughout the show, she toyed with notes like a kitten with a ball of twine. While she slinked across the stage with languid dips and turns, she echoed her body’s moves with equally liquid vocal tricks.
When she sang “Saving All My Love for You,” Houston had the crowd on its feet, screaming in response to her stratospheric high notes. She gave the number a bluesy, after-hours quality by vocalizing along with sax player Josh Harris, trading wordless notes like mockingbirds in the treetops.
She was just as adept with up-tempo dance numbers as she was with her lush romantic ballads. During “How Will I Know,” she had the audience dancing, and when she introduced her steamy disco number “Someone for Me” with the coy remark, “I think I want to go out tonight, but I don’t seem to have a date,” a man shouted from the crowd, “Look down here: I’m in the white suit!”
Houston also wowed with duets. Standing in for her famous partners Teddy Pendergrass, Kashif, and Jermaine Jackson was her brother Gary Garland. On “Take Good Care of My Heart” (co-written by Peter McCann), Houston and Garland cantered through the melody, their voices like matched thoroughbreds crossing a springtime field. On “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do,” the pair built to a harmony crescendo followed by a hushed, scatted finale.
Other highlights included a sustained mid-song ovation for her rendition of Jennifer Holliday’s Dreamgirls showstopper “I Am Changing.” Individual notes during Kenny Loggins’ “Heart to Heart” drew wild applause.
With just one LP under her belt, Houston did not yet have enough material for a full concert, so she made others’ songs her own. She didn’t have to reach far for the gospel closer: “I Believe” comes from the repertoire of her illustrious mother, Cissy Houston, a gospel legend and leader of The Sweet Inspirations. Whitney’s first cousin is Dionne Warwick, another member of the famous musical family.
Early in the concert Houston told the crowd, “Tonight this show is your show. I am sure that each and every one of you are here to have a good time.” She was right. The audience left knowing they had been in the presence of greatness.
(The Tennessean)
August 11, 1986
Atlanta, GA
Chastain Park Amphitheater
Attendance: ≈6,300
Revenue: ≈$130,000
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
August 10, 1986
Atlanta, GA
Chastain Park Amphitheater
Attendance: ≈6,300
Revenue: ≈$130,000
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
'WE LOVE YOU, WHITNEY!" screamed a clutch of females at stage left. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WHITNEY!" bellowed most of the audience on Sunday night, several times over, as fans brought her flowers and a cake.
The fresh-faced former cover girl, looking like a radiant young bride in a mirrored Roaring '20s dress, took the rowdy approval in stride. Politely, she smiled and waited for the interruptions to subside, attempting to introduce Jennifer Holliday's stormy waltz, "I'm Changing." Miss Holliday (from Houston), that other "overnight sensation," gave "I'm Changing" a formidable performance in the musical "Dreamgirls," and it is a tribute to the talent of Miss Houston (from Newark, N.J.) that she made the piece her own.
She was able to do this because, like Miss Holliday, Miss Houston has one marvelous set of pipes. In concert, one can hear the full range of a voice that is smoothed over on her 6.4 million-selling debut album, "Whitney Houston." In concert, there are bravura swoops into the upper registers. There are smoky growls and scatting and Aretha Franklin-esque embellishments.
Most of all, there are remarkable shifts, especially when Miss Houston's voice jumps from a breathy pianissimo to a brassy shout, producing a jolt that reached even the most wayward and drunken members of the Chastain crowd. Her voice, supported expertly by an 11-piece band, delivered four No. 1 hits Monday night "You Give Good Love," "How Will I Know?" "The Greatest Love of All" and "Saving All My Love for You" plus a sampling of tunes from her upcoming album, due out in January. During the upbeat Miss Houston successfully held the wandering attention of the audience, whose sparklers threatened to turn: the amphitheater into a bowl of magnesium smoke.
As the show slowed down in its second half, the tension waned. Following Miss' Houston's signature closing tune, "The Greatest Love of All," the crowd applauded briefly and requested no encores, apparently realizing that none were forthcoming. Yet, on the whole, it was a very happy birthday for Miss Houston, now 23 years old, and for those at her party.
(The Atlanta Journal)
August 06, 1986
Wantagh, NY
Jones Beach Theater
Attendance: ≈13,000
Revenue: ≈$188,000
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
"Last Wednesday night, Whitney Houston knocked them out again. Only this time, three years later, the crowd filled all 10,000 seats at Jones Beach Theater. And by now, her fans were cheering hit after hit from Houston's first album, the best-selling debut album ever. One similarity remained: The man from Sweetwaters was there, although no longer as a stranger. Clive Davis sipped a cold beer backstage after the show, then met privately with Houston in her dressing room."
(Newsday)
August 04, 1986
Holmdel, NJ
Garden State Arts Center
Attendance: ≈10,600
Revenue: $156,647
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Make some room, Bruce Springsteen. New Jersey has another performer whose gift to entertain and inspire is so attractive, and whose dedication to her Jersey roots is so strong, that it’s impossible not to cheer her to the top. Her name is Whitney Houston.
And last night at the Garden State Arts Center, she demonstrated why she’s not only the state’s most exciting performer since Springsteen, but also why she’s the most compelling Black female vocalist to come on the scene since Aretha Franklin. That’s a mighty large statement, to be sure. But Whitney Houston is a mighty large talent. Whether it was a romantic ballad or a saucy, upbeat dance tune, Houston excelled.
It’s easy to dwell on her dynamic flair, her rangy, power-packed vocals, or her incredible beauty. But the aspect of her show that was truly impressive was Houston’s immaculately polished stage presence and poise. She carries herself like a seasoned veteran of the stage, yet she’s only 22 (she’ll be 23 this Saturday, as she proudly announced to her audience) and has been headlining for a little more than a year. Nonetheless, her vocal accents and execution were practically flawless as she paced both herself and her top-notch backup band with striking results.
Predictably, her show consisted of songs from her self-titled debut album, Whitney Houston, along with a smart selection of interpretive material. The sold-out crowd was also treated to a sampling from Houston’s soon-to-be-released second album, set to arrive on Arista Records next month. The song, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” will probably be the first single released from the album, and if the recorded version is as good as the one heard on the Garden State Arts Center stage last night, it’s certain to be a huge hit.
But it was the more familiar Whitney Houston songs “How Will I Know,” “Saving All My Love for You,” and “You Give Good Love” that drew the loudest response from the sold-out audience.
And rightfully so. These songs are perfectly tailored to bring out the best of Houston’s wonderful voice. Her crisp, clean delivery of them made them sound better than ever.
(Asbury Park Press)
August 02, 1986
Wantagh, NY
Jones Beach Theater
Attendance: ≈13,000
Revenue: ≈$188,000
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
August 01, 1986
Miller Music Festival
Boston Common / Boston, MA
Attendance: ≈12,000
Revenue: ≈$222,000
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
July 31, 1986
Miller Music Festival
Boston Common / Boston, MA
Attendance: ≈12,000
Revenue: ≈$222,000
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
July 29, 1986
Miller Music Festival
Boston Common / Boston, MA
Attendance: ≈12,500
Revenue: ≈$222,000
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
July 28, 1986
Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Attendance: 19,350
Revenue: $218,735
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Every silence was broken with screams of “We love you, Whitney” as 19,350 people braved the rain to see Whitney Houston Monday night at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Before Ms. Houston took the stage, comedian Mark McCullum from television’s FTV stretched out a half-hour routine. He did not get much of a response from the audience, but he gave it a good try. He had his funnier moments parodying David Bowie as the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, and David Byrne as the Tin Man.
His mix of music and comedy simply was not the right warm-up for more than 19,000 people who wanted to see Whitney Houston. When Ms. Houston finally took the stage, the show really kicked off. Her hits "You Give Good Love" and "How Will I Know" came early in the set. Most of her other songs were not radio hits, but they were magnificent anyway.
As far as SPAC performances go, Ms. Houston came as close to perfection as she could. The concert sound was just loud enough to be powerful without becoming painful, and her stage presentation was something that had to be seen to be understood. If anyone could do justice to Jennifer Holliday’s song "I Am Changing" from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, Whitney Houston could and did. When she finally ended the stirring performance, it earned her a standing ovation.
Ms. Houston, the first lady of pop music, continues to top record charts and break records. Her debut release, "Whitney Houston," has sent four songs into the Top 10, three of them reaching No. 1, sold more than six million copies, and become the best-selling album by a Black female vocalist in pop music history.
As the daughter of soul singer Cissy Houston, Ms. Houston’s career began in the gospel choir at her church. When she was fifteen, she started singing in her mother’s nightclub act. While developing her voice, she also became a model, appearing in many of today’s top fashion magazines. Before her solo career, Houston sang background vocals on albums by Lou Rawls, Paul Jabara, Chaka Khan, and the Neville Brothers.
Whitney Houston has risen above a field that includes Tina Turner, Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and her first cousin Dionne Warwick.
Though often described as an overnight sensation, she is no flash on the charts. She stands a strong chance of being as big a star ten years from now as she is today.
(The Post-Star)
July 26, 1986
Columbia, MD
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Attendance: ≈13,000
Revenue: $176,267
The Greatest Love of All (Intro)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eternal Love
You Give Good Love
Hold Me (With Gary Garland)
How Will I Know
Take Good Care of My Heart (With Gary Garland)
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (With Gary Garland)
Saving All My Love for You
Someone for Me
I Am Changing
Heart to Heart
Didn't We Almost Have It All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
He / I Believe
The Greatest Love of All
Riding the wave of her popularity generated by her debut, Whitney Houston, the 22-year-old singer managed to sell out Merriweather Post Pavilion in a mere 30 minutes. No wonder the fans began filling the lawn by 6 p.m., sitting almost three hours through stultifying heat, humidity, and a brief thunderstorm to see their idol.
Not even the star herself was spared from the swelter. Somehow, though, Whitney Houston remained incomparably elegant throughout, even while dabbing sweat from her brow with a white towel. Dressed simply in a stylish white jacket and jumpsuit, she seemed impossibly attractive, the sort of singer one could watch all night even if she hardly sang a note.
Not that Houston was one to keep quiet. If anything, the greatest strength of her 90-minute set was the extent to which it allowed her to stretch vocally. Unlike her album, which scaled her singing down to the confines of slick, studio-savvy production, Houston’s concert performance emphasized that she is, above all else, a singer firmly rooted in tradition.
The concert’s highlights came when she fully invested herself in the material. “You Give Good Love,” for instance, evinced a sultry carnality as Houston elaborated on the lyrics with breathy melismas. “Saving All My Love for You” sparked with improvised phrasing through the final chorus.
Mind you, there were some weak points in the show. To begin with, Houston’s rapid ascent hasn’t exactly bestowed her with a wealth of material. At one point, she joked, “You’ve probably just heard my whole album.” Indeed, she performed all but one of the LP’s songs, leaving her with a rather limited repertoire.
Furthermore, the opening of the show was flat-out terrible, beginning with a hackneyed Also sprach Zarathustra fanfare that segued into an incredibly ill-chosen cover version of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” originally by Michael Jackson. It was bad enough that Houston could do little more with the song than mimic Jackson’s mannerisms; as a dancer, she’s barely better than Christie Brinkley.
Still, the mood quickly shifted when she performed a gospel song dedicated to her mother, Cissy Houston (seated proudly in the first row), followed by a stirring rendition of “The Greatest Love of All.” That Houston could infuse such vitality into something so clichéd shows beyond the shadow of a doubt that she’s more than just another pretty face.
Here’s hoping her future recordings continue to reflect that same power and passion.
(The Baltimore Sun)