Just Whitney

{{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: Template:Start date<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Love, Whitney2001One Wish: The Holiday Album2003studioJust WhitneyWhitney Houston - Just Whitney....pngyesWhitney HoustonTemplate:Start date<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>2001–2002* Daddy's House Recording Studios (New York, NY)<ref name="ReferenceA">Whitney Houston – Just Whitney (CD liner notes) – Arista Records 74321-97784-2</ref>

• Brandon's Way Recording Studios (Los Angeles, CA)<ref name="ReferenceA">Whitney Houston – Just Whitney (CD liner notes) – Arista Records 74321-97784-2</ref>
• Atlanta Premier Recordings (Atlanta, GA)<ref name="ReferenceA">Whitney Houston – Just Whitney (CD liner notes) – Arista Records 74321-97784-2</ref>
• Westlake Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA)<ref name="ReferenceA">Whitney Houston – Just Whitney (CD liner notes) – Arista Records 74321-97784-2</ref>
• Groove Factor Studios (Atlanta, GA)<ref name="ReferenceA">Whitney Houston – Just Whitney (CD liner notes) – Arista Records 74321-97784-2</ref>
• Crossway Studios (Mendham, NJ)<ref name="ReferenceA">Whitney Houston – Just Whitney (CD liner notes) – Arista Records 74321-97784-2</ref>
• Silent Sound Studios (Atlanta, GA)<ref name="ReferenceA">Whitney Houston – Just Whitney (CD liner notes) – Arista Records 74321-97784-2</ref>
• The Hit Factory Criteria (Miami, FL)<ref name="ReferenceA">Whitney Houston – Just Whitney (CD liner notes) – Arista Records 74321-97784-2</ref>
• Capitol Studios (Los Angeles, CA)<ref name="ReferenceA">Whitney Houston – Just Whitney (CD liner notes) – Arista Records 74321-97784-2</ref>Template:Hlist39:08Template:Hlist*Whitney Houston
• Babyface
• Bobby Brown
• Charlie "CSUN" Bereal
• Gordon Chambers
• Kenyn Bereal
• Kevin Briggs
• Missy Elliott
• Muhammad2G
• Ricky Minor
• Rob Fusari
• Ted Bishop
• Troy Taylorx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

Template:Use mdy dates Just Whitney is the fifth studio album by American singer and actress Whitney Houston, released on November 27, 2002, by Arista Records. It was her first studio album to be released after her greatest hits compilation, Whitney: The Greatest Hits (2000), and the follow-up to her multi-platinum fourth studio album, My Love is Your Love (1998). Just Whitney was also Houston's first to be released after re-signing her contract with Arista in 2001 for $100 million - the largest recording contract for a female artist at the time.

Upon release Just Whitney received mostly mixed reviews by the critics, and performed moderately, in the United States Just Whitney debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with sales of 205,147 copies in the first week. That beat the previous high first-week sales of 177,284 copies with the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, and also logged her highest debut sales out of her Nielsen SoundScan-era albums at the time of its release.

The album spawned four singles (in order), "Whatchulookinat", "One of Those Days", "Try It on My Own", and "Love That Man", with the first, third and forth singles peaking at number one on BillboardTemplate:'s Dance Club Songs chart. "Try It on My Own" also peaked at number ten on BillboardTemplate:'s Adult Contemporary chart while "One of Those Days" topped the Adult R&B Songs chart. Just Whitney has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide and has also earned Platinum certification in the United States and Switzerland, and Gold in France, Brazil and other countries. In 2003, the album was nominated at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards in the category for Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year.<ref name="award">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Background and production

Just Whitney is Houston's fifth studio album, that she recorded after renewing her contract with Arista for a record $100 million.<ref name="bb021214">Template:Cite magazine</ref> It is mixed with R&B ballads, R&B mid-tempo numbers, and dance songs. It also includes a rock song, "Tell Me No". Houston said that she wanted to make a "very soul oriented" album, something she felt was missing on the radio.<ref name="bb021214"/> It was somewhat a departure from her previous studio album My Love Is Your Love, which was blended with R&B, hip hop, and reggae.

She worked with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, with whom she had worked with previously, and Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs. Other producers included Missy Elliott, Teddy Bishop, Gordon Chambers, Rob Fusari, and Troy Taylor. Her then-husband, recording artist Bobby Brown, also co-produced one of the songs.

According to Houston,

"[t]his album for me is about surviving, raising a family, being a wife or girlfriend and all the challenges that go along with those things. These songs are more about creating a mood than about anything in particular."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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She also said that she wanted to give something to the fans, songs which they can sing along to and love the melody.<ref name="bb021214"/> She also incorporated samples into her songs such as in "One of Those Days" ㅡ album's second single, which sampled The Isley Brothers' song "Between the Sheets". She also covered Debby Boone's classic "You Light Up My Life".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The album also contains the rock-influenced "Tell Me No", which was produced by Babyface, who also produced some other songs on the album including the ballad "Try It on My Own" and dance-pop song "Love That Man" ㅡ both of which became singles. The song "Whatchulookinat" was produced by Brown and Mohammad 2G and became the project's lead single. The song, co-written by Houston, was taken by critics as an answer to the media for deeply invading her personal life.<ref name="ewwhit"/>

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings Upon its release, Just Whitney received mixed reviews from critics, with aggregated reviews on Metacritic awarding the album 53 out of 100.<ref name=metacritic/> Craig Seymour of Atlanta Journal and Constitution gave the album a favorable review stating, "On Just Whitney, Houston comes off as warm, lucid, open, and sharp.<ref name="atlanta"/> Keysha Davis of BBC gave a favorable review commenting, "With one of the exceptional voices in contemporary music, her latest album, aptly titled Just Whitney sees the diva return to her former glory with a combination of high-voltage ballads and smooth-liqueur R&B. [...] Whitney's return to big ballads will hopefully ensure that this pop princess will be able to lead the rest of her life like a clichéd fairy tale - happily ever after."<ref name="bbc">Template:Cite news</ref> Mike Bell from Jam! Showbiz, was also favorable in his review, saying "Maybe because of everything that's happened in her past, maybe because of the sideshow, she has the ability to give the songs real feeling, real life." In addition, he stated that her voice was in fine form, "showcasing those incredible pipes that launched a thousand imitators." He concluded by saying, "And it shows up all of those followers with recent releases ㅡ including Mariah Carey and Celine Dion ㅡ because not only does Houston have the lungs, but she has the soul."<ref name="canoe">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Jon Pareles of New York Times wrote, "Ms. Houston's voice sails and spirals through breathy ballads, staccato constructions and big-build anthems; she's strategic and improvisatory at the same time." He summarized by saying that even when she's seething, she's graceful.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Angus Batey from Yahoo! Music UK & Ireland graded the album seven stars out of ten commenting, "[...] this is a cogent, compact and really quite good record, one that mixes upbeat, perhaps slightly clinical R&B with uber-ballads and occasional snatches of what appears to be an attempt at intimacy."<ref name="yahoor"/> Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic commented that Just Whitney was "an assertion that she's returning to her basics."<ref name="AMG"/> He also said that "It would be a good standard-issue Whitney album if it wasn't for her disarming, defensive attempt to defuse every rumor hurled in her direction."<ref name="AMG"/> Billboard reviewed the album commenting that "Just Whitney appears and sounds more like a work-in-progress than a finished disk."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Steve Jones of USA Today graded the album fairly well, giving it two-and-half stars out of four, but stating, "At her best, Houston is full of sass and attitude and, most of all, joy. But with so much emphasis on what's bothering her, you can't help but wonder whether the thrill is gone."<ref name="usa"/> According to The Guardian, the album takes "a musical step backwards".<ref name="Guardian">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly graded the album a solid B− and noted that Just Whitney had quite a refreshingly "old-school vibe." He commented, "Whatever her personal problems, our gal Template:Sic sounds plucky and on top of her game. Still, in her third decade as a diva, Houston remains a formidable role model for American Idol wannabes.<ref name="ewwhit"/>"

Commercial performance

On the week ending December 28, 2002, Just Whitney debuted and peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 and number three on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.<ref name="bb021228bb200">Template:Cite book</ref> The album spent 26 initial weeks on the Billboard 200. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments exceeding one million copies. By 2009, the album had sold 737,000 copies in the USA according to Nielsen Soundscan.<ref name="BillWhit">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In its Billboard Year End chart in December 2003, the album ranked 101st place in the Top Billboard 200 Albums list and 30th place in the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list.<ref name=YE03>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Following Houston's sudden passing in 2012, Just Whitney returned to the charts, staying for an additional four weeks. In addition, Houston's record label released a three-CD box set, Triple Feature in March 2012, which featured Just Whitney, along with Houston's other hit albums, I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990) and My Love Is Your Love (1998), with the set peaking at number 21 on the Billboard 200 in its second week of release, and reached number five on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, becoming Houston's ninth album to reach the top five on the chart. The set stayed on the chart for six weeks on both charts.

In Australia, the album reached number 22 on the ARIA Urban Albums Chart.<ref>[1]Template:Cbignore</ref> The album debuted at number 85 on the Canadian Albums chart, selling 3,000 copies in its first week.<ref name="canada">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Austria, it entered the albums chart on December 8, 2002 at its peak position of number 33.<ref name="justwhitneyaustria">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Switzerland, the album saw its second highest peak, when it debuted at number 10 on the charts.<ref name="switz">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was certified Platinum by the IFPI Switzerland for shipment/sales of 30,000 copies or more.<ref name="switz"/> In France, the album charted at number 25 and was certified Gold, for shipment of 50,000 copies.<ref name="france">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="francec">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 70 on the albums chart.<ref name="dutch">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Just Whitney was certified Gold in Brazil. In the UK, it peaked at number 76.<ref name="uksales2" /> The album has sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide.<ref name="R&BHaven">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Singles

The album saw the release of five official singles - two preceding and three succeeding the album's release.

"Whatchulookinat" became the album's lead single released on September 17, 2002. The song received mixed to unfavorable reviews from critics.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The single became a moderate success worldwide, peaking inside the top forty in most countries. In the US, it became her tenth Hot Dance Club Play topper.<ref name="wylabbdance">Template:Cite book</ref> The corresponding music video was also considered as Houston's answer to the media for getting too deep into her personal life. The video showed a white set with cameras all over, following Houston's every move. The set was also full with old movie cameras and people dressed as reporters and photographers. Houston is shown dancing in front of them.

"One of Those Days" was the album's second single and was released on October 29, 2002.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song received many positive reviews from critics. It sampled The Isley Brothers' song "Between the Sheets". The single was a moderate success in the US. The accompanying music video's plot revolved around Houston and her friends, having a day for themselves and going to the club at night.

"Try It on My Own" became the project's third single and was released on February 11, 2003. The song received acclaim from critics as well as fans; most of them who named it as the album's highlight.<ref name="bbc"/> The song, like its predecessors, was a moderate success and topped Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.<ref name="tiomobbdance">Template:Cite book</ref> It also reached the top ten on the US Adult Contemporary chart. Internationally, the song performed fair. A music video was released to promote the single.

"My Love" was released to urban adult contemporary radio as the album's fourth single on March 10, 2003.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It became a moderate hit reaching number 39 on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs chart.<ref name="WHChartHistory">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

"Love That Man" was the fifth and final single from the album, released on May 20, 2003. It became another Dance Club chart-topping single, but failed to make the Hot 100. No accompanying video was released for the single.<ref name="ltmbbdance">Template:Cite book</ref>

Promotion

To promote the album, Houston appeared on the 2002 MTV Europe Music Awards, performing her new single "Whatchulookinat".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She also appeared on the 2003 VH1 Divas Duets: An Honors Concert for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation and performed her hits including two songs from the album; "My Love" and "Try It on My Own". Apart from these, she also performed "One of Those Days" and "Tell Me No" live on Good Morning America. It was the only non-Christmas studio album in Houston's career where no tour was launched from it.

Track listing

Notes

• ^{^[A]{{#if:| }}} on international editions, "Try It on My Own" is labeled as "On My Own".
• ^{^[B]{{#if:| }}} denotes co-producer

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic.<ref name="personnel">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Joey Arbagey – A&R
• Babyface – drum programming, guest artist, acoustic guitar, keyboards, producer, background vocals
• Tom Bender – assistant
• Charile "CSUN" Bereal – producer
• Kenny Bereal – producer
• Ted Bishop – arranger, drum programming, engineer, keyboards, producer, vocal arrangement
• Paul Boutin – engineer
• Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs – arranger, engineer, midi, producer
• Bobby Brown – featured artist, guest artist, primary artist, producer
• Matt Brown – assistant
• Melanie Byrd – production coordination
• Terrence Cash – engineer
• Gordon Chambers – producer, vocal arrangement, vocal producer, background vocals
• Greg Charley – guitar
• Corrado Sgandurra – guitar
• Nathan East – bass
• Kevin KD Davis – mixing
• Missy Elliott – producer
• Cortez Farris – engineer
• Steve Fisher – assistant
• Roxanna Floy – make-up
• Sherree Ford-payne – background vocals
• Rob Fusari – producer
• Jon Gass – mixing
• Steve Genewick – assistant
• Sharlotte Gibson – background vocals
• Kevin Guarnieri – engineer
• Mick Guzauski – mixing
• Gary Houston – background vocals
• Whitney Houston – primary artist, producer, vocal arrangement, vocals, background vocals, songwriter
• Jimmy Hoyson – assistant
• Kenya Ivey – background vocals
• Scott Kieklak – engineer
• Latrelle – background vocals
• Ellin La Var – hair stylist
• Ricky Lawson – drums
• Marc Stephen Lee – assistant
• Wayne Linsey – fender rhodes
• Manny Marroquin – mixing
• Bill Meyers – string arrangements, string conductor
• Ricky Minor – producer
• Muhammad2G – producer
• Sheryl Nields – photography
• Joe Mama-Nitzberg – creative director
• Greg Phillinganes – piano
• Josean Posey – assistant
• Herb Powers – mastering
• L.A. Reid – executive producer
• Dennis Rivadeneira – assistant
• Jeffrey Schulz – art direction, design
• Ivy Skoff – production coordination
• Antonique Smith – background vocals
• Patrice "ButtaPhly" Stewart – vocal producer
• Craig "Niteman" Taylor – assistant
• Shawndella Taylor – A&R
• Troy Taylor – producer, programming, rhythm arrangements, vocal producer
• Michael Hart Thompson – guitar
• Tweet – vocal producer, background vocals
• Tommy Vicari – string engineer
• Randy Waldman – string arrangements, string conductor
• Mike White – engineer
• Patti Wilson – stylist
• Theresa Wilson – A&R
• Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff – string engineer

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart

Chart (2002)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref>	114
Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	85
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	17
European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	34
Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	41

Template:Album chart

Chart (2012)	Peak position
US Billboard 200<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	50

Monthly charts

Chart (2002)	Peak position
South Korean Albums (RIAK)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)	Position
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	141

Chart (2003)	Position
US Billboard 200<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	101
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	30

External links

• Just Whitney at Discogs