I Say a Prayer With Every Heartbeat: Vinyl Me, Please Expands Whitney Houston’s Debut for 35th Anniversary
Thirty-five years ago today — on Valentine’s Day, 1985 — Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut was released. With three consecutive No. 1 singles, “You Give Good Love,” “How Will I Know” and “Greatest Love Of All,” the album was a smash hit that introduced listeners to one of the most talented vocalists of all time.
Now, to celebrate that anniversary, Vinyl Me, Please will partner with Legacy Recordings to press a special 2LP, peaches-and-cream-colored 180-gram vinyl pressing. The first disc features the original album, while disc two features the rare Japanese remix album Whitney Dancin’ Special, which will see digital release later in the year. With extended remixes, dub versions, and instrumentals of the key singles from the first album, this long-out-of-print remix disc is sure to get your toes tapping.
Both albums will be packaged in a gatefold sleeve and housed in a rigid slipcase, accompanied by a 32-page hardback book with photos and new essays by Pat Houston of the Houston Estate, producer Narada Michael Walden and others.
While this pressing is exclusive to the Vinyl Me, Please online shop, it is available for all to order — not just VMP subscribers. Fans can expect the album to arrive around the start of May, just in time for Whitney’s induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on May 2. Fans can also mark the album’s 35th anniversary with a newly-remastered version of the original music video to “Greatest Love Of All” in 4K!
Whitney Houston: 35th Anniversary Edition (Arista/Legacy/Vinyl Me, Please, 2020)
LP 1: Whitney Houston (released as Arista AL8-8212, 1985)
- You Give Good Love
- Thinking About You
- Someone For Me
- Saving All My Love For You
- Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (with Jermaine Jackson)
- How Will I Know
- All At Once
- Take Good Care Of My Heart (with Jermaine Jackson)
- Greatest Love Of All
- Hold Me (with Teddy Pendergrass)
LP 2: Whitney Dancin’ Special (released as Arista 20RS-69 (Japan), 1986)
- How Will I Know (Dance Remix)
- You Give Good Love (Extended Dance Version)
- Thinking About You (Extended Dance Version)
- Someone For Me (Remix)
- Thinking About You (Dub Version)
- How Will I Know (Instrumental)
Tracks 1 and 6 released as Arista 12″ AD1-9449, 1985
Track 2 released as Arista U.K. 12″ 12625, 1985
Tracks 3 and 5 released as Arista 12″ AD1-9413, 1985
Track 4 released as Arista U.K. 12″ 12614, 1985
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4 thoughts on “I Say a Prayer With Every Heartbeat: Vinyl Me, Please Expands Whitney Houston’s Debut for 35th Anniversary”
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Not a vinyl romanticist, so I have no interest in this. I’m curious to know where the the comp. of unreleased tracks from her first album’s sessions is. Arista hinted at this release last year. With a relatively small discography, releasing vaulted material is really the only opportunity to keep Houston’s legacy moving forward. With albums that were so meticulously assembled it’s more than reasonable that there’s enough finished material at Arista’s disposal.
I would not expect the quality of the unreleased music to be very high. Considering songs such as if you say my eyes are beautiful or moment of truth. I would like her estate to release to release expanded editions of the second & third albums. Does not have to have all the remixes just the main 7′ & 12″ would be great.
When are they gonna show some to love to Whitney’s 2nd and 3rd albums? They both need to be expanded with remixes. Now sure why they haven’t done so already. People love Whitney and they would sell well.
I meant on CD, not vinyl. Vinyl is nasty.