With the release of her single "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" in early '88, Whitney Houston set the record as the only artist ever to reach the milestone of seven consecutive No. 1 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100. With her first two landmark albums, “Whitney Houston” in 1985 and “Whitney,“ in 1987, Queen of the Night Houston took to the stage with an entrance the world would never forget.
1. "Saving All My Love For You"
Released in 1985, "Saving All My Love for You" emerged from Houston's self-titled debut album Whitney Houston. The first hit song to kickstart her storied career, the staple love song reached the No. 1 spot the week of October 26, 1985.
2. "How Will I Know"
With the debut of her self-titled debut album on the charts in December 1986, sing-along single "How Will I Know" shot to No. 1 by February 1986, marking Houston's second No. 1 single of the new year.
Irresistibly danceable, the signature smash "How Will I Know" introduces Houston's bubbly, sweetheart personality as she pines over whether her lover feels similarly towards her. As she riffs up and down the vocal ladder, the pop superstar confidently channels an unprecedented energy into the synth-pop soul number.
3. "Greatest Love of All"
First recorded by George Benson, Houston brought the song back to life in '85 and by '86, Houston's version topped the Hot 100 chart for three weeks. Legend goes, Arista Records President Clive Davis first chanced on Houston performing at a New York night club performing this incredible cover.
"Whitney sang the song with such fervor, with such a natural vocal gift, with such passion, that I was stunned. I knew really right then and there that this was a special talent and I was blown away by her. As I reflect back on this, I can relive the experience for the very first time." He then immediately signed Houston.
4. "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
Tasked with releasing a follow-up that would match and surpass the smash success of her debut album and its three No. 1 singles, Houston raised the stakes with one of the greatest pop songs of the 80's. From the song's radiating harmonies to the climactic key change, Houston launched into the superstar fame with her sky-scraping vocals on full display in this No. 1 dance-floor single.
5. "Didn't We Almost Have It All"
With an energy that emanated both a profound sense of sadness ad artistic sensitivity, Houston bared her soul in this wistful number, stealing the gold with this fifth consecutive No. 1 hit. Houston worked with an A-list team to piece together this scorching ballad, teaming up with producer Michael Masser and lyricist Will Jennings, who was also writing for The Crusaders and B.B. King.
6. "So Emotional"
Music royalty Houston headed over to New York City to record this 1987 classic synth-pop track at Right Track Studios. Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger was recording next door and "had to come in and witness it," album producer Narada Michael Walden recounts. "He started jumping around, as he does, and he just couldn't believe the sound. Whitney was so excited about that."
"So Emotional" scaled to the very top of the Billboard charts in January 1988 as the year's first hit single, giving Houston her sixth consecutive No. 1 and placing her in a three-way tie with The Beatles and The Bee Gees.
7. "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
The fourth single from Houston's second album, "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" launched the glamour girl into the stratosphere, officially setting her apart as the only artist ever to wind up with seven consecutive No. 1's. Written by Jekyll & Hyde composer Frank Wildhorn and R&B singer Chuck Jackson, this ballad would top the Hot 100 as the last in her remarkable 7-hit string, while making a No. 1 appearance on the Adult Contemporary, No. 2 on the R&B Chart.
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