Just Whitney

Whitney Houston | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 10, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: SBME SPECIAL MKTS.
• ASIN: B0026MOVOG
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > R&B > Quiet Storm
  • #4 in Music > Dance & DJ
  • #7 in Music > Pop > Dance Pop > General AAS

Track Listings

1. One Of Those Days

2. Tell Me No

3. Things You Say

4. My Love

5. Love That Man

6. Try It On My Own

7. Dear John Letter

8. Unasshamed

9. You Light Up My Life

10. Whatchulookinat (Main (A.K.A. Backing Vox Up))

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Whitney Houston recaptures some former glory on her first studio album, thanks to her undiminished vocal prowess and a cadre of impressive producers that includes Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, Babyface, Teddy Bishop, and Troy Taylor. Houston's pipes shine in the big break-up ballad "On My Own," which is cut from the same mold as 1993's massive "I Will Always Love You." But while her vocal chords are intact, some of the material here leaves much to be desired, including a flat version of Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Light" and the Missy Elliot-penned and -produced "Things You Say." On the plus side, the feisty "Tell Her No" finds Houston on defense, but she's much more interesting with her back against the wall as she huffs: "I can't wait for the day I can rub things in your face." The embattled diva doesn't attempt to gloss over her foibles, as evidenced by "Unashamed" ("Listen here and listen good/ I'm unashamed of the life that I lead, unashamed of the strength of my need"), "Love That Man," and "Whatchulookinat," a body slam at the tabloids that have documented Houston and hubby Bobby Brown's very public falls from grace. Houston may not have recovered her hegemony of the charts, but this album proves she's once again pointed in the right direction. This deluxe package includes a DVD featuring the "Whatchulookinat" and "Mega Mix" videos along with behind-the-scenes footage. --Jaan Uhelszki

Product Description

UK reissue of the R&B/Soul/Pop diva's fifth album, originally released in 2002. Includes one bonus track, Whatchulookinat? (P. Diddy Remix).Just Whitney was yet another hit album for Houston, entering the Billboard Top 10 and going platinum in no time at all. It was also her last non-Holiday studio album for seven years. Sony/BMG. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Than Just Whitney Here, February 12, 2012

By 

Andre S. Grindle "Andre' Grindle" (Brewer Maine) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just Whitney (Audio CD)

As I write this it actually has'nt been too long since I heard of the news of Whitney's passing,having not yet seen 50. She'd faltered badly during the 90's and stalled after a significant comeback which found her emphasing a more urban sound. This unforunately wound up being one of Whitney's final albums and her first of the new millenium. Much as with MJ's Invincible,Prince's The Rainbow Children and Madonna's Music from this same period,all showcased these 80's era pop icons looking to stage comeback after a decade of somewhat mixed results for them. Whitney Houston of course comes straight from the soul/gospel school of vocalizing. Of course the way many of her contemporaries were sounding,it was beginning to look as if,between that and her personal problems her time had finaly come to pass. Well not if she had anything to say about it.

At this point Whitney had more of a difficult reputation in the press than anything. No big movie roles,no albums in a little while and erratic public displays. While her life seemed to be crumbling around her,she released what I'd say is the best and and most consistant albums of her career. One of the reasons is not only her interest in pursuing more funk oriented music but also better taste in production. Basically this is a lean,mean album all around. The old school style sophistifunk of "One Of These Days and especially "Love That Mean" really leading the way. On some of the modern,slick dance shuffles "Tell Me No" and "Dear John Letter" it's clear her voice has diminished some with the wear of her life. But again her dogged defiance in defending her mistakes make for a more than interesting listen. That comes through as well on "My Love",a midtempo duet with her (still) husband Bobby Brown.

On "Unashamed" her doggedness is just a little much to bare even if it is powerful urban contemporary R&B/hip-hop musically. Same goes for the other old school groove "Whatchulookinat",dominated by it's "tabloid junkie" style lyrics,kind of retread what MJ had already done in the mid 90's. The ballads "Try It On My Own" and a cover of "You Light Up My Life" actually are the better of her usually overblown ballads. In that sense,the somewhat diminished production and her lesser voice work in her favor. So yes the bombast and growl of Whitney's old voice is now gone,replaced with a still recognizable but more nuanced tone. It won't be to everyone's taste. But the music here is probably underrated by a lot of people. Even myself perhaps. I'd even go as far as saying perhaps Whitney's later albums are not at all the worst of her career. They just have a different flavor. And I wonder now that she's not with us anymore if these albums will be objectively re-evaluated,without the pollution of her backstory getting in the way.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diffrent Sides, July 28, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Just Whitney (Special Edition) (CD & DVD) (Audio CD)

Just Whitney is excellent it has some up-beat jams like "One Of Those Days" , "Love That Man","Dear John Letter" are a hip-r&b songs with the beat that makes you dance.Then there's the jam tunes like" Things You Say",her duet with Bobby Brown on "My Love" shows they care,and love each other.There's the ballad's
"Try It On My Own","You Light up My Life","Unashamed",and Tell Me No" were she really expresses the way she feels.Then "Watchalookinat" the single were she fights back at the press for the rumors that is a good song

This album is excellent,it makes u feel like you are in a relationship
go out and by the album :)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Whitney...the title speaks for itself: EXCELLENT, December 11, 2002

By 

satisfied customer (Hyattsville, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just Whitney (Special Edition) (CD & DVD) (Audio CD)

I loved it, who said Whitney's voice is gone? This album proves she is still Whitney. I reccomend it! Her soulful voice and lyrics shines through. It has a positive edge to it you go WHITNEY!