"Saving All My Love for You"
US vinyl edition
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album Whitney Houston
B-side
ReleasedAugust 13, 1985
Recorded1984
Genre
Length3:58
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Michael Masser
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"All at Once"
(1985)		 "Saving All My Love for You"
(1985)		 "Thinking About You"
(1985)
Music video
"Saving All My Love For You" on YouTube

"Saving All My Love for You" is a song written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin, originally recorded by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. for their album Marilyn & Billy (1978). American singer Whitney Houston recorded it for her self-titled debut studio album (1985). It was released on August 13, 1985, by Arista Records, as the second single from the album in the United States, and third worldwide. The following article talks about this version.

Houston's version of "Saving All My Love for You" garnered positive critical response, with reviewers praising its melodious production and her vocal performance, and picked it as one of the album's highlights. The song became a global success and represented a commercial breakthrough for Houston, topping the charts in four countries and reaching the top 10 in various other regions. It became her first song to top the US Billboard Hot 100, staying there for one week, and is certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over 1 million copies. At the 28th Annual Grammy Awards, it won for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Background and release

"Saving All My Love for You" was written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin during the 1970s and originally recorded with Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. on their LP "Marilyn and Billy" (1978).[2] Years later, Masser saw Whitney for the first time when he went into New York City's Sweetwater club, an invitation made by Arista Records president Clive Davis, and she was singing one of his songs, "The Greatest Love of All". After her performance, the singer told Masser that the song was one of her favorites and later, Masser was chosen by Arista to produce some tracks for Houston's self-titled debut.[3] After getting the right emotionally vulnerable-tailored take from Houston, the producer guaranteed her that it would become "a woman's song", meaning that women will feel a special affinity for the song.[3]

After the success of her previous single, "You Give Good Love", the label initially didn't think about releasing "Saving All My Love for You" as the next single. When Masser heard that another single besides the song was being considered for the next single, he made a friendly wager with Davis during one of Houston's performance at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles. He proposed that if all the women get on their feet when Houston sings "Saving All My Love for You", then Davis would agree that it should be the next single.[3] Ultimately, the song was released as the second single in the United States and third single worldwide.

Composition and lyrics

“Saving All My Love for You” is a soul and R&B song, composed in the key of A major,[4] having a slow tempo of 84 beats per minute. Houston's vocal range on the song extends from the low note of F♯3 to the high note of F♯5.[5] The song features a saxophone solo by Tom Scott[6] and its lyrics describe the thoughts of a young woman preparing for the arrival of her married lover,[7] with lyrics like, “You've got your family, and they need you there. Though I've tried to resist, being last on your list. But no other man's gonna do. So I'm saving all my love for you.” Dave Heaton of PopMatters wrote that Whitney sings some parts with bittersweet lightness (“that’s just an old fantasy”) and other parts with urgent heaviness (“tonight is the night”), which he considers exactly right for carrying the feelings in the song.[8]

The song caused controversy due to its theme of having an affair with a married man. Houston's mother, Cissy Houston, did not at all like the scenario described in the lyrics, claiming that the song's message would reflect badly on her daughter. However, Whitney herself confessed, “I was going through a terrible love affair.[9] He was married, and that will never work out for anybody. Never, no way.”[10]

Reception

Critical response

Houston performing the song during her HBO-televised concert Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston

"Saving All My Love for You" received critical acclaim. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic picked the song as a highlight on the album, writing that the song "burns slowly and seductively."[11] Dave Heaton of PopMatters praised Whitney for "singing as 'the other woman', ratcheting up the drama without overdoing it."[8] Liam Lacey of The Globe and Mail wrote that 'Saving All My Love for You', 'Greatest Love Of All' and 'Hold Me' "are some of the loveliest pop singing on vinyl since the glory days of Dionne Warwick."[12] Sputnikmusic called it "the sexiest, most romantic song on the record."[6] Brad Wete of Vibe called it "goliath", writing that the song "was a fresh serving of precocious talent compared to 1985's mildly flavored R&B bluffet."[13] Los Angeles Times praised her vocal performance, writing that, "it should mean a cinch Grammy nomination."[14]

Chart performance

Released in 1985, Houston's version of "Saving All My Love for You" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 53, jumping to number 39 the following week (August 24), and reaching the Top 10 five weeks later. The single reached the number-one spot the week of October 26, 1985,[15] and would become the first of seven record-setting consecutive number-one singles in the United States for Houston; a record that still holds. The single eventually spent fifteen weeks in the top forty, out of a total of 22 weeks on the Hot 100 overall. It also hit the top of the US Hot Black Singles chart.[16] It ranked number 5 on Billboard Year-end Top Black Singles chart.[17]

The song also became a global hit, hitting number-one or the Top 10 in various countries around the world. In the United Kingdom, the song hit number-one on December 8, 1985, spending two weeks at the top.[18] The single went on to become one of the top 25 best-selling singles of 1985 in the UK, and has since sold 740,000 copies.[19] In 2012, Dan Lane of The Official Charts Company listed "Houston’s Top 20 Biggest Selling Tracks In The UK To Date" and "Saving All My Love for You" was placed at number 3, only losing to "I Will Always Love You" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody".[20]

In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 45, on November 3, 1985. It kept on climbing in the following two weeks, until it peaked at number 6, before dropping to number 8. However, on December 8, 1985, the song reached a new peak of number 5.[21] The song was also a success in Switzerland, peaking at number 5, while in France, the song charted two times in different years. Firstly, the song charted when it was originally released in 1986, debuting at number 50 and peaking at number 11, while in 2012 (after Houston's death), the song peaked at number 39.[22]

Accolades

"Saving All My Love for You" earned Houston her first Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1986; she also won the American Music Award for Favorite R&B/Soul Video for the song. It has subsequently entered lists of her best songs. While listing her "25 Best Songs", editors from Entertainment Weekly placed the song at number 21, writing that, "The stuff that's been piped into thousands of dentist offices, it was also her first No. 1 hit."[23] BET placed the song at number 7 on their "40 Best Whitney Houston Songs", writing that, "The song has it all: her breathy come-ons, her trademark epic high notes, her delicate runs."[24] Kelley L. Carter of MTV also listed the track on their "Whitney Houston's Top 10 Songs", complimenting the singer for taking an already-recorded song and giving it new life."[25]

The New York Daily News ranked "Saving All My Love for You", at number 79 on its "The 100 Greatest Love Songs" list.[26] The song was also ranked by The Telegraph amongst "The 50 Best Love Songs of the 1980s", with the authors writing that, "The song that launched Houston, invented a newly minted variety of globe-storming soul diva", picking the line, "Though I try to resist, being last on your list/But no other man's gonna do/So I'm saving all my love for you," as "killer".[27]

Music video

The music video was directed by Stuart Orme and was filmed in London, where Houston was doing a promotional tour. The narrative for the music video follows the song's theme: Whitney's character is a recording artist who is emotionally involved with her married producer, played by American actor Ricco Ross. By the finale, he has returned to his wife and family, leaving her (the "other woman") romantically out in the cold.[28]

At the time of release, the adultery theme of the video for generated much media controversy, which led Houston to insist, "I could never see myself in that position. I wouldn't just take whatever someone wants to give to me, especially if I am giving a lot to him but not getting that much back. I could never find myself in that situation, but someone else might. The video tells a story but it's by no means my story."[28] It was also the first music video of Whitney's to be played on MTV after the channel had initially rejected her previous video for "You Give Good Love" for being "too R&B", but played the video for "Saving" because the song was too popular to ignore, stating, "I love it when they have no choice [but to play it]",[29] in a 2001 MTV interview. Despite the controversy, the video won "Favorite Soul/R&B Video" at the American Music Awards of 1986. As of October 2024, the video has garnered over 76M views and 369k likes on YouTube. Its final part shows Whitney Houston walking along Southbank in London, UK.

Live performances

Houston performing the track in 1991

Whitney performed "Saving All My Love for You" in a number of places. Whitney performed the track for the 28th Annual Grammy Awards and later took home the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Award for the song.[30] Her performance of the ballad at the GRAMMYs won her an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.[31] She also performed the song on Late Night with David Letterman in 1985, and on Wogan in the same year.[32] The performance was considered one of her best live performances by Digital Spy and VH1. While Liam O'Brien of Digital Spy wrote, "In this assured performance on Late Night With David Letterman, her vocal gymnastics left the host stunned,"[33] Mark Graham of VH1 simply picked it as her third best live performance.[34]

She also included the track in all of her concert tours: The Greatest Love World Tour (1986), Moment of Truth World Tour (1987–1988), Feels So Right Tour (1990), I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour (1991), The Bodyguard World Tour (1993–1994), Pacific Rim Tour (1997), The European Tour (1998), My Love Is Your Love World Tour (1999), Soul Divas Tour (2004) and on her final tour, Nothing but Love World Tour (2009–2010). "Saving All My Love for You" was also added to the setlist of her first ever solo televised concert and DVD/video release, Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston (1991) and on her second DVD/video, Whitney: The Concert for a New South Africa (1994).

Track listings

  • US 7" Vinyl
    • A "Saving All My Love for You" – 3:46
    • B "All at Once" — 4:26
  • German 7" Vinyl
  1. "Saving All My Love for You" – 3:57
  2. "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" (duet with Jermaine Jackson) – 3:46
  • UK 12" Vinyl
    • A "Saving All My Love for You"
    • B1 "All at Once"
    • B2 "Greatest Love of All"
  • German 7" Vinyl
    • A "Saving All My Love for You" – 3:57
    • B "How Will I Know" – 3:35

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[69] Gold 500,000^
United States (RIAA)[70] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Others

The song has been covered by many artists, including :

  • Céline Dion in 1986, in Montreal, for the Télé-Métropole channel. It will be sung a cappella by the same artist during the Live Grammy Salute To Whitney Houston in 2012.
  • In episode 17 of season 3 of Glee. It is performed by Joe (Samuel Larsen) and Quinn (Dianna Agron)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Harvey, Eric (May 19, 2012). "The Quiet Storm". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  2. ↑ Hamilton, Andrew. "Billy Davis, Jr. / Marilyn McCoo - Marilyn & Billy: Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Hogan, Ed. "Saving All My Love for You - Whitney Houston: Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  4. ↑ Michael, Masser; Whitney, Houston; Gerry, Goffin (April 3, 2001). "Saving All My Love for You". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Whitney Houston "Saving All My Love for You" Music Sheet". Musicnotes.com. Universal Music Publishing Group. April 3, 2001. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston (album review)". Sputnikmusic. November 9, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  7. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (November 7, 2012). "Whitney Houston: I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston - Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Heaton, Dabe (March 18, 2010). "Whitney Houston: Whitney Houston: The Deluxe Anniversary Edition". PopMatters. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ With Jermaine Jackson.
  10. ↑ Parish, James Robert (February 23, 2012). Whitney Houston 1963-2012: We Will Always Love You. John Blake Publishing. ISBN 9781857828771.
  11. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Review: Whitney Houston. Allmusic. Retrieved on August 7, 2009.
  12. ↑ Lacey, Liam (March 7, 1985). "Review: Whitney Houston". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  13. ↑ Wete, Brad. "The Beginning: Whitney Houston". Vibe: 106. September 2008.
  14. ↑ "Stylish Cops, Urgent Pop--a Shopper's Guide To The Top 40". Los Angeles Times. December 8, 1985. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Billboard - 26 Oct. 1985 Edition - Google Books". Google Books. October 26, 1985. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  16. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 263.
  17. ↑ "Billboard's Ratings of 1985's Top Pop Music Artists" San Francisco Chronicle. Jan 1 1986. Pg 48
  18. ↑ "Whitney Houston | Artist | Official Charts". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  19. ↑ "The Official UK Countdowns – Whitney Houston Official Top 20". MTV (UK and Ireland). Archived from the original on August 12, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  20. ↑ Lane, Dane (February 13, 2012). "Remembering Whitney: Her Top 20 biggest tracks revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love for You". Top 40 Singles.
  22. 1 2 "Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love for You" (in French). Les classement single.
  23. ↑ "Whitney Houston: Her 25 Best Songs". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  24. ↑ "7. Saving All My Love for You - The 40 Best Whitney Houston Songs". BET. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  25. ↑ L. Carter, Kelley (February 12, 2012). "Whitney Houston's Top 10 Songs". MTV News. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  26. ↑ "The 100 Greatest Love Songs". New York Daily News. February 13, 2007. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  27. ↑ "The 50 best love songs of the '80s". The Telegraph. February 14, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  28. 1 2 Parish, James Robert (February 23, 2012). Whitney Houston 1963-2012: We Will Always Love You. ISBN 9781857828771. Retrieved March 24, 2014. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  29. ↑ Whitney Houston Reminisces About '80s Music On MTV (2001). 2001. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  30. ↑ Brooks, Erika (February 12, 2012). "Whitney Houston's 8 Memorable Grammy Performances". Idolator. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  31. ↑ "The 5 Best Whitney Houston Performances". Fuse. February 11, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  32. ↑ Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love for You (Live on Wogan 1985), retrieved October 11, 2023
  33. ↑ O'Brien, Liam (February 12, 2012). "Whitney Houston: Her best live performances". Digital Spy. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  34. ↑ Graham, Mark (February 11, 2013). "One Year After Whitney Houston's Death, A Fond Look Back At Her 7 Greatest Live Performances". VH1. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  35. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 143. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and June 26, 1988.
  36. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love for You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  37. ↑ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. p. 134. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  38. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9262." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  39. ↑ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 2. January 13, 1986. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  40. 1 2 "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whitney Houston" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  41. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love for You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  42. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love for You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  43. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History". RÚV. March 22, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  44. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Whitney Houston". Irish Singles Chart.
  45. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love for You". VG-lista.
  46. 1 2 "Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love for You". Swiss Singles Chart.
  47. ↑ "Whitney Houston: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  48. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  49. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  50. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  51. ↑ "Cashbox Top 100: October 12, 1985". Cashbox. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  52. ↑ "Whitney Houston". Gghunt.utasites.cloud. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  53. ↑ "Saving all my love for you". Gghunt.utasites.cloud. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  54. ↑ "ARIA Charts: The ARIA Report week commencing 20 February 2012 - Issue #1147" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association Ltd. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  55. ↑ "Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love for You" (in French). Les classement single.
  56. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
  57. ↑ "2012 Week 09 Digital Chart - 국외". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  58. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  59. ↑ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  60. ↑ "australian-charts.com - Forum - Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  61. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0619." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  62. ↑ Bakker, Machgiel; Inglis, Cathy (December 23, 1985). "EUROTIPSHEET Year-End 1985" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 2, no. 51/52. p. 18. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 23, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  63. ↑ "Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1985". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  64. ↑ "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  65. ↑ ""1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Black Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  66. ↑ "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  67. ↑ "Year End Issue 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. December 27, 1986. pp. 28–29. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  68. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1986 Singles". Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  69. ↑ "British single certifications – Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love for You". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Saving All My Love for You in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  70. ↑ "American single certifications – Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love". Recording Industry Association of America.
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