Remember when Whitney Houston could do no wrong? She was all over the pop charts like a rash with her first two albums and even recording American idol-esque type songs for the Olympics in 1988 (why no Idol has chosen this as their first single remains beyond me). Then she took a bit of a break, I moved onto Debbie, Kylie et al until her stunning return in late 1990. Just as it seemed pre-slutty Mariah might take over the world, Whitney came back with a funky jill-swing pop of an album called I'm Your Baby Tonight. As a piece of work it addressed the criticisms of her last album being too "pop" by being firmly routed in the r'n'b works of LA Reid and Babyface, yet not jarringly so that it would offend her existing fanbase. Lead off single and title track was a sublime meaty pop track that reigned in the vocal acrobatics somewhat and focused on providing a catchy chorus, some faux rapping and beats perfectly in sync with what the kids in the clubs were getting down to those days (and by clubs I mean mormon discos of course!) My Name Is Not Susan was almost a prequel for It's Not Right… and was a similiarly clubby slice of hip-pop berating her fella for getting her name wrong (the cad), while All The Man I Need bought back the classic ballads she was so famous for. There was also a rather jaunty duet with Stevie Wonder on We Didn't Know which fair warmed the cockles of my heart! However, the album highlight was a restrained masterpiece that was curiously overlooked for single status in the UK – Miracle remains one of her strongest tracks on her strongest album and is an exercise in how sometimes less can really be a lot more. One of the most beautiful Whitney ballads out there, this track shows an artist at the very top of her game.
Coming soon: memorable albums from Pebbles, Sheena Easton, Karyn White, Sweet Sensation and more…
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LINK: Purchase I'm Your Baby Tonight
MP3: Whitney – Miracle
MP3: Whitney – I'm your baby tonight
MP3: Whitney and Stevie – Who Do You Love (Live on Arsenio)
