The Greatest Love of All

Last updated

"The Greatest Love of All"
Greatest love of all george benson vinyl.jpg
One of A-side track labels of the US vinyl release
Single by George Benson
from the album The Greatest soundtrack
B-side "Ali's Theme"
ReleasedJune 1977
Recorded1977
Genre
Length
  • 5:32 (full album version)
  • 3:29 (edited single version)
Label Arista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Michael Masser
George Benson singles chronology
"Gonna Love You More"
(1977)		"The Greatest Love of All"
(1977)		"On Broadway"
(1978)

"The Greatest Love of All" is a song written by Michael Masser, who composed the music, and Linda Creed, who wrote the lyrics. It was originally recorded in 1977 by George Benson, who made the song a substantial hit, peaking at number two on the US Hot Soul Singles chart that year, the first R&B chart top-ten hit for Arista Records. The song was written and recorded to be the main theme of the 1977 film The Greatest, a biopic of the boxer Muhammad Ali, and is performed during the opening credits. [1]

Contents

Benson's original recording was released in 1977 in the United States, Japan, France, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Brazil, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Thailand, on an extended play (EP). [2] He officially recorded the song four times; in addition to the studio single, Benson also recorded three live versions, [3] [4] the last time in a duet with Luciano Pavarotti in 2001. [5] Since 1977, a great number of artists have recorded this song, including Shirley Bassey, Oleta Adams, Alexandra Burke, Deborah Cox, Ferrante & Teicher and Kevin Rowland.

Eight years after Benson's original recording, the song became even more well known for a version by Whitney Houston, whose 1985 cover (with the slightly amended title "Greatest Love of All") eventually topped the charts, peaking at number one in the United States, Australia, Canada and on the US R&B chart in early 1986.

Background and composition

The song's music was composed by Michael Masser, and its lyrics were written by Linda Creed, in 1976 for The Greatest . [6] According to the Los Angeles Times , after he had been asked to write the song for the movie, Masser felt drawn to Jerusalem, even though he was not a religious man, "to get the feelings—not just my own." Masser also told the Los Angeles Times his special feelings about Ali:

Here was a man who wanted to change his name and religion. That's all. Ali hadn't believed in the war in Vietnam and had refused to fight in it. He won that battle through the legal system. Still, he lost everything—including his title. But Ali retained the most important thing of all—his dignity. [6]

In an interview with the Ocala Star-Banner in 1988, similarly, Masser said that "He (Ali) represented to me a tremendous athlete who suffered prejudice from the white man's world. He didn't give up what he believed even though he lost his title." [7] Masser also told the Los Angeles Times that the song had another personal meaning for him to give up a legal career to pursue his interest in music, adding, "People thought I was crazy. I had to starve. Had no money. Marriage broke up. But I had to do what I'd wanted to do since I was 6... write music." Upon his return from Jerusalem, he contracted with lyricist Creed to work on the song and wrote it right from the heart, with Creed drawing inspiration from her family. [8] Then Masser had George Benson perform the song for the soundtrack. He said, "The record came out and the song became an underground theme for black people." [6] [7]

Benson recorded "The Greatest Love of All" for the soundtrack album of The Greatest. The song was released as a single in the same year and was a substantial hit, reaching number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart, the first R&B Top Ten hit for Arista Records, and ended the year at position 33. [9] The single also reached positions number 3 on the Cash Box Top 100 R&B and number 4 on the Record World R&B Singles. In other charts, the single was between positions number 22 and number 29 in the US, number 27 in the UK, and number 25 and 42 in Canada. "The Greatest Love of All" is one of George Benson's most successful hits, and for this reason was included in two of his many collections, The Greatest Hits of All [10] and The Very Best of George Benson: The Greatest Hits of All . [11]

Charts

Whitney Houston version

"Greatest Love of All"
Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All.png
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album Whitney Houston
B-side "Thinking About You"
ReleasedMarch 18, 1986
RecordedDecember 1984
Genre
Length
  • 4:51 (album version)
  • 4:56 (deluxe version)
Label Arista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Michael Masser
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"How Will I Know"
(1985)		"Greatest Love of All"
(1986)		"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
(1987)
Music video
"Greatest Love of All" on YouTube

The song was further popularized by American singer Whitney Houston under the title "Greatest Love of All", without the definite article "The". The song was recorded in December 1984 for her 1985 self-titled debut studio album. The song became a major hit, topping the charts in Australia, Canada and the US, while reaching the top 20 in most countries, including Italy, Sweden and the UK. It remains her third biggest US hit, after "I Will Always Love You" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)". [27] All three songs, in order of their former popularity, re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart, after Houston's death in 2012, debuting the same week at numbers 7, 35 and 41, respectively, giving Houston three posthumous chart hits. [28]

Clive Davis, founder of Houston's label Arista Records, was initially against Houston recording the song for her debut studio album, Whitney Houston , but he eventually gave in after persuasion from Houston and Masser. It was released as the B-side to the single "You Give Good Love", a previous Top 5 hit by Houston. The song, eventually released as a single in its own right on March 18, 1986, was the seventh release from Houston's debut album, and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May of that year. [29]

Her live performance in 1990 in the 15th anniversary of Arista Records concert in Radio City Music Hall was included in the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of Whitney Houston and the 2014 CD/DVD release, Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances . [30]

Background

Masser said, "When I first met Whitney in 1981–82, she was about 19 or 20 and unknown. I went into Sweetwater's, and I thought I must be totally out of it—I said, 'I must be going crazy, I think I'm hearing one of my songs.' She was singing 'The Greatest Love of All' just as I walked in, and that meant something to me. Two and a half years later when I was doing Teddy Pendergrass there was a duet and everybody wanted me to use this or that known person. Only because I had heard Whitney singing 'The Greatest Love of All'. I chose her." [7]

Music video

Houston's music video was filmed at Harlem's Apollo Theater in New York City. In the video, she is a successful singer who is about to perform in front of an audience. She reminisces about the time when she was a child performing in a talent competition and receiving encouragement from her mother. The video features Houston's mother Cissy Houston playing herself, supporting a young Houston, as well as hugging present Houston at the end of the video. It was directed by Peter Israelson, filmed with James Contner as DP and Steadicam operator Robin Buerki shooting 35mm film. In February 2020, the music video was restored in 4K. [31]

Reception

Critical reception

Many critics called the song the centerpiece of Houston's debut album. Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote that "Houston sings it with a forceful directness that gives its message of self-worth an astounding resonance and conviction" and called the song a compelling assertion of spiritual devotion, black pride, and family loyalty, all at once. [32] Don Shewey of Rolling Stone wrote that as the song builds, Houston "slowly pours on the soul, slips in some churchy phrasing, holds notes a little longer and shows off her glorious voice." [33]

Chart performance

Benson's 1977 version was an R&B hit, reaching number 2 on the R&B chart. It was a moderate pop hit, making the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. [34] Houston's version reached number one on the Hot 100 chart for three weeks in 1986. The single was the fourth hit (and third number 1) from her debut album, she became the first female artist to score three number ones from one album. [35]

To date, this song was her second longest stay atop this chart, behind 1992's "I Will Always Love You". The song also reached number one on both component charts, the Hot 100 Singles Sales and the Hot 100 Airplay, her second consecutive release to do so, and stayed for 14 weeks inside the top 40. On other Billboard charts, Houston also performed well, reaching number three on the R&B chart. The song topped the adult contemporary chart for five weeks, Houston's longest stay at the top of that chart at the time. [34] The song ranked No. 11 on Billboard's year end pop singles chart. [36]

After her death, the single returned to the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 41. [37]

Usage in media

Houston's version of the song was featured in the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race , being performed by contestants Akashia and Shannel in a "lipsync for your life".

Accolades

Houston won the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Video Single, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and a Soul Train Music Award for Single of the Year. [38] [39] [40]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [77] Platinum80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [78] Gold400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [79] 2× Platinum2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

Katy Perry performing "The Greatest Love of All" at the Play Katy Perry Play at Resorts World, Las Vegas.jpg
Katy Perry performing "The Greatest Love of All" at the Play

A number of other artists have covered this song, including Shirley Bassey, Oleta Adams, Alexandra Burke, Deborah Cox, Lea Salonga, Ferrante & Teicher, Kevin Rowland and Jane Olivor. [80] [81]

On May 29, 2001, the Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti performed the concert "Pavarotti & Friends" in his hometown of Modena, Italy. [82] Intended to raise money for refugees from Afghanistan under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, this concert was called "Pavarotti & Friends for Afghanistan" and featured various guest artists, one of them being his friend George Benson. [82] The song performed in duet by the two was Benson's song "The Greatest Love of All", sung in parts by Benson in English and elsewhere by Pavarotti in Italian. This complete concert "Pavarotti & Friends for Afghanistan" raised $3.3 million for its cause, [83] and was recorded and released in CD in 2001. [82] The song was credited with the original title "The Greatest Love of All" recorded by Benson. [82]

In April 1987, Gordon Lightfoot filed a lawsuit against Michael Masser, alleging that Masser's song "The Greatest Love of All" stole twenty-four bars from Lightfoot's 1970 hit "If You Could Read My Mind". According to Maclean's , Lightfoot commented, "It really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't want the present-day generation to think that I stole my song from him." [84] Lightfoot has stated that he dropped the suit when he felt it was having a negative effect on Houston, as the suit was about Masser and not her. [85] Ultimately the case was settled out of court and Masser issued a public apology. [86]

Related Research Articles

<i>Whitney Houston</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston is the debut studio album by American singer Whitney Houston, released on February 14, 1985, by Arista Records. Whitney Houston initially had a slow commercial response, but began getting more popular in mid-1985. It eventually topped the Billboard 200 for 14 weeks in 1986, generating three number-one singles—"Saving All My Love for You", "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love of All"—on the Billboard Hot 100, which made it both the first debut album and the first album by a solo female artist to produce three number-one singles in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Will Always Love You</span> 1974 single by Dolly Parton

"I Will Always Love You" is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Written as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, expressing Parton's decision to pursue a solo career, the country single was released in 1974. The song was a commercial success for Parton, twice reaching the top spot of the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart: first in June 1974, then again in October 1982, with a re-recording for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Will I Know</span> 1985 single by Whitney Houston

"How Will I Know" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her self-titled debut studio album. It was released on November 22, 1985, by Arista Records as the album's third single. Originally written and composed by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, it was originally intended for pop singer Janet Jackson, who passed on it. Houston then recorded the song with altered lyrics and production from Narada Michael Walden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)</span> 1987 single by Whitney Houston

"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her second studio album, Whitney (1987). It was released as the lead single from the album on April 28, 1987, by Arista Records. It was produced by Narada Michael Walden, and written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, of the band Boy Meets Girl, who had previously collaborated with Houston on "How Will I Know". At the 30th Annual Grammy Awards, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" won for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, marking Houston's second win in the category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saving All My Love for You</span> 1985 single by Whitney Houston

"Saving All My Love for You" is a song written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin, originally recorded by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. for their album Marilyn & Billy (1978). American singer Whitney Houston recorded it for her self-titled debut studio album (1985). It was released on August 13, 1985, by Arista Records, as the second single from the album in the United States, and third worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Didn't We Almost Have It All</span> 1987 single by Whitney Houston

"Didn't We Almost Have It All" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her second studio album, Whitney (1987). The song was written by Michael Masser and Will Jennings and produced by Masser. Initially, Houston's cover version of the Isley Brothers' "For the Love of You" was intended to be released as the second single from the album. However, the record label decided to release "Didn't We Almost Have It All", believing all Houston's material should be original. The song was released in July 1987 by Arista Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where Do Broken Hearts Go</span> 1988 single by Whitney Houston

"Where Do Broken Hearts Go" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her second studio album, Whitney (1987). It was released as the fourth single from the album in February 1988. The song was written by Frank Wildhorn and Chuck Jackson and produced by Narada Michael Walden. A pop ballad set in the key of D major, the record is about someone seeking for a former lover to return after a breakup. Upon its release, the song received mixed reviews from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All the Man That I Need</span> Song written by Dean Pitchford and Michael Gore

"All the Man That I Need" is a song written by Dean Pitchford and Michael Gore. The song was first recorded as "All the Man I Need" by Linda Clifford for her album I'll Keep on Loving You (1982). In 1990, American singer Whitney Houston had a number-one multiple chart hit with this song, recorded as "All the Man That I Need", from her third album, I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Have Nothing</span> 1993 single by Whitney Houston

"I Have Nothing" is a song by American singer and actress Whitney Houston, released on February 20, 1993 as the third single from The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album (1992) by Arista Records. The song was written by David Foster and Linda Thompson, and produced by Foster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run to You (Whitney Houston song)</span> 1993 single by Whitney Houston

"Run to You" is a song performed by American singer and actress Whitney Houston, released on June 21, 1993, by Arista Records as the fourth single from The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album (1992). It was written by Jud Friedman and Allan Rich, and produced by David Foster. Originally intended to be a break-up song, it was approved by the production and stars. However, a month later, the director of The Bodyguard called, saying he liked the song so much, but he'd rather have it to be a love song so the entire song was rewritten, except for the title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Give Good Love</span> 1985 single by Whitney Houston

"You Give Good Love" is the debut solo single by American singer Whitney Houston for her 1985 eponymous debut studio album. It was written by La Forrest 'La La' Cope and produced by Kashif. When La La sent Kashif a copy of the song, originally offered to Roberta Flack, he thought it would be a better fit for Houston and told Arista Records he would be interested in recording with her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Not Right but It's Okay</span> 1999 single by Whitney Houston

"It's Not Right but It's Okay" is the third single from American singer Whitney Houston's fourth studio album, My Love Is Your Love. It was written by LaShawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, Isaac Phillips, Toni Estes and produced by Rodney Jerkins, who went by the nickname Darkchild. The song examines a woman confronting her lover about his infidelity. Houston won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for this song. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked "It's Not Right but It's Okay" at number 638 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever". In 2019, Billboard listed it as one of the Greatest Songs of 1999. In 2022, the Thunderpuss club mix was listed in the list of the 200 greatest dance songs of all time on Rolling Stone. The single reached number one in Spain and the top five in Canada, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

"I Believe in You and Me" is a song written by Sandy Linzer and David Wolfert in 1982. The song was first recorded and released by the R&B group The Four Tops, who released it as a single from their album One More Mountain (1982). While it failed to reach the US Top 40, it became a moderate hit for the group on the US Billboard R&B chart, peaking at number 40 in early 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Love Is Your Love (song)</span> 1999 single by Whitney Houston

"My Love Is Your Love" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston. It was written and produced by Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis for Houston's fourth studio album of the same name (1998). Released on May 31, 1999, as the album's fourth single, it received positive reviews and was successful worldwide, hitting the top 10 in 23 international markets. The song peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two in the United Kingdom, and number one in New Zealand and Poland. It was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You</span> Song by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin

"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" is a song written by composer Michael Masser and lyricist Gerry Goffin. It was originally recorded by American singer and guitarist George Benson for his 1985 studio album 20/20, released by Warner Bros. Records. This original version was produced by co-writer Masser, and was released as a single in Europe only in 1985. In 1987, Hawaii born singer Glenn Medeiros released a version, which became a worldwide success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All at Once (Whitney Houston song)</span> 1985 song by Whitney Houston

"All at Once" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston from her self-titled debut album. The song was released in March 1985 by Arista Records as a single in several European countries, as well as in Japan in 1985–1986. It was not released as a single in North America, but did receive steady radio airplay on Pop and R&B/soul stations there. It is a ballad about a love who leaves without warning and the heartbreak that is felt afterwards. It is written by Michael Masser and Jeffrey Osborne and produced by Masser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold Me (Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston song)</span> 1984 single by Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston

"Hold Me" is a ballad duet performed by American singers Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston. The song was originally recorded solo by Diana Ross for her 1982 album Silk Electric under the title "In Your Arms", with slightly different lyrics. The Pendergrass and Houston version appears on Pendergrass's eighth studio album Love Language (1984) and Houston's self-titled debut album (1985). It was written by Linda Creed and Michael Masser and production overseen by Masser. "Hold Me" was the first single release of Houston's career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitney Houston singles discography</span>

American singer Whitney Houston, known as "The Voice", released 57 singles as a leading artist and 4 as a featured artist. Houston is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 220 million records sold worldwide. In the United States, Houston amassed 11 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, all of whom have been certified either gold, platinum, multi-platinum or diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America and was one of a selected group of artists to have a top ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in four different decades. She is currently ranked in seventh place of the artists with the most number one singles in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to the introduction of digital singles, Houston sold 16.5 million physical singles in the country, the most ever by a female recording artist. In October 2012, the Official Charts Company claimed Houston was the fourth biggest-selling female singles artist of all time with a sales total of 8.5 million singles in that country.

References

  1. ↑ "The Greatest (1977, George Benson - The Greatest Love Of All)". May 5, 2017. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020– via www.youtube.com.
  2. ↑ 45cat. "Floating Gold - Various Artists (1977)". Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "George Benson – Weekend In L.A. (1978)". AllMusic . Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  4. ↑ "George Benson – Live At Montreux (1986)". AllMusic . Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  5. ↑ Music-bazaar.com. "Pavarotti & Friends For Afghanistan (2001)". Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 Jackie Helman (June 8, 1986). "Masser's Greatest Love". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 Jay Padroff (July 15, 1988). "Michael Masser's music is his greatest love". Ocala Star-Banner . The New York Times Company. p. 5C. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  8. ↑ ""The Greatest Love of All"". Songfacts. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  9. 1 2 AmericanRadioHistory (December 24, 1977). "Billboard Soul Singles" (PDF). Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  10. ↑ "George Benson – The Greatest Hits of All (2003)". AllMusic . Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  11. ↑ "The Very Best of George Benson: The Greatest Hits of All". AllMusic . Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  12. ↑ Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 pp33
  13. ↑ Library and Archives Canada (October 22, 1977). "RPM - Adult Contemporary" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  14. ↑ Library and Archives Canada (October 15, 1977). "RPM - Top Singles" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  15. ↑ "George Benson: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  16. ↑ Billboard (October 15, 1977). "George Benson - Adult Contemporary Songs". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  17. ↑ "George Benson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  18. ↑ Billboard (September 10, 1977). "George Benson - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  19. ↑ AmericanRadioHistory (September 10, 1977). "Record World - R&B Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  20. ↑ AmericanRadioHistory (October 1, 1977). "Record World - Singles Chart" (PDF). Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  21. ↑ Cash Box Magazine (September 24, 1977). "Cash Box - Top 100 R&B" (PDF). Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  22. ↑ Cash Box Magazine (October 8, 1977). "Cash Box - Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  23. ↑ Library and Archives Canada (December 31, 1977). "RPM Top 200 Singles of 1977" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  24. ↑ AmericanRadioHistory (December 31, 1977). "Record World R&B Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  25. ↑ AmericanRadioHistory (December 31, 1977). "CASH BOX Top R&B Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  26. ↑ Rate Your Music based on Billboard. "The Top 200 Hits of 1977" . Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Whitney Houston's Biggest Hits". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Whitney Houston - Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  29. ↑ Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Hits, 5th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 636.
  30. ↑ Kellman, Andy (November 10, 2014). "Live: Her Greatest Performances - Whitney Houston | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Whitney Houston - "Greatest Love of All" on Vevo". February 18, 2017. Archived from the original on February 18, 2017.
  32. ↑ Holden, Stephen. "Whitney Houston – Pop's New Queen". NY Times. March 18, 1986. Pg A18.
  33. ↑ Shewey, Don. "Whitney Houston Album Review". Rolling Stone
  34. 1 2 Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of number 1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 306.
  35. ↑ Paul Grein (May 17, 1986). "Chart Beat: Houston has 3rd No.1 from debut". Billboard . Vol. 98, no. 20. p. 6. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  36. ↑ Top 20 Pop Singles for 1986. Newsday. December 28, 1986. Pg 19.
  37. ↑ "Whitney Houston Returns to Hot 100's Top 10 With 'I Will Always Love You'". Billboard. February 15, 2012. Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Rock On The Net: 14th American Music Awards (presented in 1987)". www.rockonthenet.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2005. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  39. ↑ Hunt, Dennis (January 9, 1987). "Grammy Nominations: Highs and Lows: Winwood, Gabriel and Simon Garner Most Nominations". Los Angeles Times. p. 2. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  40. ↑ Weaver, Maurice (March 23, 1987). "'Soul Train' Awards Are a 1st for Black Music". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  41. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 143. ISBN   0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and June 26, 1988.
  42. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  44. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9422." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  45. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0682." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  46. ↑ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. p. 134. ISBN   1-896594-13-1.
  47. ↑ "European Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media . Vol. 3, no. 22. June 7, 1986. p. 12.
  48. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Finland: Otava. p. 161. ISBN   951-1-21053-X.
  49. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History". RÚV. March 22, 2016. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  50. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Whitney Houston". Irish Singles Chart.
  51. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whitney Houston" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  52. 1 2 "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  53. 1 2 "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  54. ↑ "Las canciones más populares en Latinoamérica". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). June 30, 1986. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  55. ↑ "Whitney Houston – dorobek wykonawcy na LP3" (in Polish). LP3 . Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  56. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  57. 1 2 "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  58. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  59. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  60. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  61. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  62. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Houston, Whitney – Greatest Love of All" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  63. ↑ "ARIA Charts: The ARIA Report week commencing 20 February 2012 – Issue #1147" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia.
  64. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard . Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  65. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in French). Les classement single.
  66. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
  67. ↑ "2012 Week 08 Digital Chart - 국외". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  68. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" Canciones Top 50.
  69. ↑ "Whitney Houston: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  70. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 – Week of March 3, 2012". Billboard.
  71. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 650 – 29 December 1986 > National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2019– via Imgur.
  72. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Vol. 45, no. 14. December 27, 1986. p. 5. ISSN   0315-5994 . Retrieved December 18, 2021– via Library and Archives Canada.
  73. ↑ "Top 100 Singles (January to December 1986)" (PDF). Music Week. January 24, 1987. p. 24. ISSN   0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  74. ↑ "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-21.
  75. ↑ "1986 The Year in Music and Video: Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 27, 1986. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  76. ↑ "1986 The Year in Music and Video: Top Black Singles". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 27, 1986. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  77. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Whitney Houston – The Greatest Love of All". Music Canada . Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  78. ↑ "British single certifications – Whitney Houston – The Greatest Love of All". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  79. ↑ "American single certifications – Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  80. ↑ "BMI | Songview Search". repertoire.bmi.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  81. ↑ "Cover versions of The Greatest Love of All written by Michael Masser, Linda Creed". SecondHandSongs. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  82. 1 2 3 4 Billboard. "Pavarotti & Friends Sing For Refugees (30/05/2001)". Billboard . Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  83. ↑ BBC NEWS. "Pavarotti and Bono sing for Iraq (08/04/2003)". Archived from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  84. ↑ BODENSEHER, Florian. "Gordon Lightfoot - Biography". Corfid.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  85. ↑ Wake, Matt (February 17, 2015). "Gordon Lightfoot on Elvis, Dylan covering his songs, not suing Whitney over 'The Greatest Love of All'". AL.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  86. ↑ "Greatest Love". August 29, 2009. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.