Jump to content

The Greatest Love of All

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 170.250.222.6 (talk) at 15:50, 21 March 2019 (→Whitney Houston version). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the popular song. For the Singaporean TV series, see The Greatest Love of All (TV series). For the Brazilian film, see The Greatest Love of All (film).

"The Greatest Love of All" is a song written by Michael Masser, who composed the music, and Linda Creed, who wrote the lyrics. It was originally recorded in 1977 by George Benson, who made the song a substantial hit, peaking at number two on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart that year, the first R&B chart top-ten hit for Arista Records. The song was written and recorded to be the main theme of the 1977 film The Greatest, a biopic of the boxer Muhammad Ali. Eight years after Benson's original recording, the song became even more well known for a version by Whitney Houston, whose 1985 cover (with the slightly amended title "Greatest Love of All") eventually topped the charts, peaking at number one in the United States, Australia, Canada and on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in early 1986.

The original recording by Benson was released in 1977 in the United States, Japan, France, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Brazil, Netherlands, United Kingdom and in Thailand, on an extended play (EP).[1] He officially recorded the song four times; in addition to the studio single, Benson also recorded three live versions,[2][3] the last time in a duet with Luciano Pavarotti in 2001.[4]

Background and composition

The song's music was composed by Michael Masser, and its lyrics were written by Linda Creed, in 1976 for The Greatest, a film based on the life of former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali.[5] According to the Los Angeles Times, after he had been asked to write the song for the movie, Masser felt drawn to Jerusalem, even though he was not a religious man, "to get the feelings—not just my own." Masser also told the Los Angeles Times his special feelings about Ali:

Here was a man who wanted to change his name and religion. That's all. Ali hadn't believed in the war in Vietnam and had refused to fight in it. He won that battle through the legal system. Still, he lost everything—including his title. But Ali retained the most important thing of al—his dignity.[5]

In an interview with Ocala Star-Banner in 1988, similarly, Masser said that "He (Ali) represented to me a tremendous athlete who suffered prejudice from the white man's world. He didn't give up what he believed even though he lost his title."[6] Masser also told the Los Angeles Times that the song had another personal meaning for him to give up a legal career to pursue his interest in music, adding, "People thought I was crazy. I had to starve. Had no money. Marriage broke up. But I had to do what I'd wanted to do since I was 6... write music." Upon his return from Jerusalem, he contracted with lyricist Creed to work on the song and wrote it right from the heart. Then Masser had George Benson perform the song for the soundtrack. He said, "The record came out and the song became an underground theme for black people."[5][6] He was later accused by Gordon Lightfoot of plagiarizing 24 bars of his 1971 hit "If You Could Read My Mind," but Lightfoot eventually dropped the suit out of respect for singer Whitney Houston.

The George Benson version, 1977

"The Greatest Love of All"
One of A-side track labels of the U.S. vinyl release
Single by George Benson
from the album The Greatest soundtrack
B-side"Ali's Theme"
ReleasedJune 1977
Recorded1977
Genre
Length5:32 (Album full version)
3:29 (Single edited version)
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Michael Masser
George Benson singles chronology
"Gonna Love You More"
(1977) 		"The Greatest Love of All"
(1977) 		"On Broadway"
(1978)

The original version of "The Greatest Love of All" was recorded in 1977 by Benson and originally released on the soundtrack album for The Greatest. The song was released as a single in the same year and was a substantial hit, reaching at number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart, the first R&B Top Ten hit for Arista Records, and ended the year at position 33.[7] The single also reached positions number 3 on the Cash Box Top 100 R&B and number 4 on the Record World R&B Singles. In other charts, the single was between positions number 22 and number 29 in the U.S., number 27 in the UK, and number 25 and 42 in Canada. "The Greatest Love of All" is one of George Benson's most successful hits, and for this reason, two of his numerous collections were intutated as The Greatest Hits of All,[8] and The Very Best of George Benson: The Greatest Hits of All,[9] both released in 2003.

(Another selection from the film soundtrack among the same lines, again with Masser's music and Creed's lyrics, and again performed by Benson, was called "I Always Knew I Had It In Me." This, selection mumber 2 on the soundtrack album, was not released as a single.)

Charts positions

The original version of "The Greatest Love of All" recorded in 1977 by George Benson reached the following positions:

Weekly charts

Track listing

Year Side Song Length Interpreter Writer/Composer Producer Arrangers Original Album
1977 A-side "The Greatest Love of All" 3:29
(Edit single) 		George Benson Michael Masser,
Linda Creed 		Michael Masser Lee Holdridge,
Michael Masser 		The Greatest soundtrack
1977 B-side "Ali's Theme" 5:18 Michael Masser Michael Masser Michael Masser Lee Holdridge,
Michael Masser 		The Greatest soundtrack
  • The full length of "The Greatest Love of All" on the album The Greatest is 5:32. The length of 3:29 on the 7" single is an edited version of the song.

Personnel

George Benson and Luciano Pavarotti

On May 29, 2001,[24] the Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti performed the concert "Pavarotti & Friends" in his hometown of Modena, Italy.[24] To raise money for refugees from Afghanistan under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,[24] this concert called "Pavarotti & Friends for Afghanistan"[24] featured guest artists, one of them being his friend George Benson.[24] The song performed in duet by the two was Benson's song "The Greatest Love of All",[24] sung in parts by Benson in English and elsewhere by Pavarotti in Italian. This complete concert "Pavarotti & Friends for Afghanistan" raised $3.3 million for its cause,[25] and was recorded and released in CD in 2001.[24] The song was credited with the original title "The Greatest Love of All" recorded by Benson.[24]

Versions of the single in other countries

The original single of "The Greatest Love of All" by George Benson has also been released in several other countries, as shown in the chart below.

Year Country Label Catalogue Format A-Side
"The Greatest Love Of All" 		B-Side
"Ali's Theme"
1978 United States
(Reissue in 1978) 		Arista /
Flashback Records 		AFS-9170 7" single 5:35 (Full length) 5:18
1977 Japan Arista IER-20349 7" single 5:34 (Full length) 5:19
1977 Italy Arista 3C 006 9989 7" single 5:32 (Full length) 5:17
1977 Germany Arista /
EMI Electrola 		1C 006-99 489 7" single 4:23 (Edit single) 5:15
1977 France Arista 2C 006-99.489 7" single 4:18 (Edit single) 5:18
1977 Netherlands Arista NG 891 7" single 4:18 (Edit single) 5:18
1977 Australia Arista AR-11530 7" single 4:18 (Edit single) 5:18
1977 New Zealand Arista ATA 251 7" single 4:18 (Edit single) 5:18
1977 United Kingdom Arista ARISTA 133 7" single (uninformed) (uninformed)
1977 Brazil Arista AR-31043 7" single (uninformed) (uninformed)

Single with "Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)"

In July 1984, a single was released in the UK by label Old Gold, with "The Greatest Love of All". Benson's original recording remained on the A-side of the single, and on the B-side was another hit single of another artist: "Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)" by Tom Browne, originally released in 1980.

Year
Recording 		Side Song Length Interpreter Writer/Composer Producer Original Album
1977 A-side "The Greatest Love of All" 5:32
(Full length) 		George Benson Michael Masser,
Linda Creed 		Michael Masser The Greatest soundtrack
1980 B-side "Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)" 3:29 Tom Browne Tom Browne,
Toni Smith 		Dave Grusin,
Larry Rosen 		Love Approach

The Floating Gold EP in Thailand

In 1977, an extended play (EP) with four successful soul music songs from that year was released in Thailand. The EP was called Floating Gold, released by label Royalsound, in reference to the song "Float On" by the Floaters, the first track of the EP. The second track was the Manhattans' "We Never Danced To Love Song" and the third was the Brothers Johnson's "Strawberry Letter 23". To finish the EP, the fourth track was "The Greatest Love of All" by George Benson.

Year
Recording 		Side Song Interpreter Writer/Composer Producer Original Album
1977 A-side 1 "Float On" The Floaters Marvin Willis,
James Mitchell,
Arnold Ingram 		Marvin Willis,
James Mitchell 		Floaters
1977 A-side 2 "We Never Danced To a Love Song" The Manhattans Gerald Alston,
Edward 'Sonny' Bivins 		The Manhattans,
Bobby Martin 		It Feels So Good
1977 B-side 1 "Strawberry Letter 23" The Brothers Johnson Shuggie Otis Quincy Jones Right on Time
1977 B-side 2 "The Greatest Love of All" George Benson Michael Masser,
Linda Creed 		Michael Masser The Greatest soundtrack

Whitney Houston version

"Greatest Love of All"
File:Whitney Houston – The Greatest Love of All.jpg
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album Whitney Houston
B-side"Thinking About You"
ReleasedMarch 18, 1986
RecordedDecember 1984
Genre
Length4:56 (album version)
4:48 (single version)
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Michael Masser
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"How Will I Know"
(1985) 		"Greatest Love of All"
(1986) 		"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
(1987)

The song was further popularized by American singer Whitney Houston under the title "Greatest Love of All," without the "The". In the Whitney Houston version of this song, the Yamaha DX7 "Electric Piano 1" internal patch was heard. The song was recorded in December 1984 for her 1985 self-titled debut studio album. The song became a major hit, topping the charts in Australia, Canada and the US, while reaching the top 20 in most countries, including Italy, Sweden and the UK. It remains her third biggest US hit, after "I Will Always Love You" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)".[26] All three songs, in order of their former popularity, re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart, after Houston's death in 2012, debuting the same week at numbers 7, 35 and 41, respectively, giving Houston three posthumous chart hits.[27]

Clive Davis, founder of Houston's label Arista Records, was initially against Houston recording the song for her debut studio album, Whitney Houston, but he eventually gave in after persuasion from Houston and Masser. It was released as the B-side to the single "You Give Good Love," a previous Top 5 hit by Houston. The song, eventually released as a single in its own right, on March 18, 1986, was the seventh release from Houston's debut album, and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May of that year.[28]

Houston's album version features a piano intro, while the single version begins with a keyboard intro. After the single became a success, it replaced the original album version on subsequent pressings of the album. However, the original version was restored for the 2010 Deluxe Anniversary Edition reissue of the album and international releases.

Her live performance in 1990 in the 15th anniversary of Arista Records concert in Radio City Music Hall was included in the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of Whitney Houston and the 2014 CD/DVD release, Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances.[29]

Background

Whitney Houston was still an unknown hopeful when then the president of Arista Records, Clive Davis, and Masser heard her sing "Greatest Love" in a New York club on Amsterdam Avenue at about 68th St. a few years before her debut. Davis later described the first time he heard Houston sing:

I went down there [Sweetwater's club] instead of having her audition in a studio; I was seeing her before an audience. She did backup singing and you could see she was a beautiful young girl. But then she stepped out and she did two solo numbers, one of which was the song "The Greatest Love of All." 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. There was no hesitation. I wanted to sign Whitney.

Masser said, "When I first met Whitney, she was about 19 and unknown. I went into Sweetwater's, and I thought I must be totally out of it—I said, 'I must be going crazy, I think I'm hearing one of my songs.' She was singing 'The Greatest Love of All' just as I walked in, and that meant something to me. Two and a half years later when I was doing Teddy Pendergrass there was a duet and everybody wanted me to use this or that known person. Only because I had heard Whitney singing 'The Greatest Love of All'. I chose her."[6] (The eventual duet between Pendergrass and Houston to which Masser referred, which served as Houston's debut single, was titled "Hold Me in Your Arms".)

Music video

Houston's music video was filmed at Harlem's Apollo Theater in New York City. In the video, she is a successful singer who is about to perform in front of an audience. She reminisces about the time when she was a child performing in a talent competition and receiving encouragement from her mother. The video features Houston's mother Cissy Houston playing herself, supporting a young Whitney, as well as hugging present Whitney at the end of the video. It was directed by Peter Israelson, filmed with James Contner as DP and Steadicam operator Robin Buerki shooting 35mm film. [30]

Reception

Critical reception

Many critics called the song the centerpiece of Houston's debut album. Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote that "Houston sings it with a forceful directness that gives its message of self-worth an astounding resonance and conviction" and called the song a compelling assertion of spiritual devotion, black pride, and family loyalty, all at once.[31] Don Shewey of Rolling Stone wrote that as the song builds, Houston "slowly pours on the soul, slips in some churchy phrasing, holds notes a little longer and shows off her glorious voice."[32]

Chart performance

Benson's 1977 version was an R&B hit, reaching number 2 on the R&B chart. It was a moderate pop hit, making the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.[33] Houston's version reached number one on the Hot 100 chart for three weeks in 1986. The single was the fourth hit (and third number 1) from her debut album. To date, this song was her second longest stay atop this chart, behind 1992's "I Will Always Love You." The song also reached number one on both component charts, the Hot 100 Singles Sales and the Hot 100 Airplay, her second consecutive release to do so, and stayed for 14 weeks inside the top 40. On other Billboard charts, Houston also performed well, reaching number three on the R&B chart. The song topped the adult contemporary chart for five weeks, Houston's longest stay at the top of that chart at the time.[33] The song ranked No. 11 on Billboard's year end pop singles chart.[34] Houston's single fared well globally as well, reaching No. 8 in the United Kingdom and the top ten or No. 1 in several other European countries. It became her first No. 1 single in Australia. After her death, the single returned to the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 41.[35]

Accolades

Houston won the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Video Single, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and a Soul Train Music Award for Single of the Year.[36][37][38]

Controversy

In April 1987, Gordon Lightfoot filed a lawsuit against Michael Masser, alleging that Masser's song "The Greatest Love of All" stole twenty-four bars from Lightfoot's 1970 hit "If You Could Read My Mind." According to Maclean's, Lightfoot commented, "It really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't want the present-day generation to think that I stole my song from him."[39] Lightfoot has stated that he dropped the suit when he felt it was having a negative effect on Whitney Houston, as the suit was about Masser and not her.[40]

Track listing

  • US vinyl/7"/Single
    • A "Greatest Love of All" – 4:51
    • B "Thinking About You" – 4:06

Personnel

  • Writer – Michael Masser, Linda Creed
  • Producer – Michael Masser
  • Arranger – Gene Page, Jr.
  • The players – Robbie Buchanan, Nathan East, Dann Huff, Paul Jackson, Jr., Randy Kerber, Richard Marx, Lou Shelton, Debbie Thomas, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters, John Robinson
  • Mixer – Bill Schnee
  • Engineers – Michael Mancini, Russell Schmitt

Charts and certifications

References

  1. ^ 45cat. "Floating Gold - Various Artists (1977)". Retrieved July 1, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ AllMusic. "George Benson – Weekend In L.A. (1978)". Retrieved July 1, 2018. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ AllMusic. "George Benson – Live At Montreux (1986)". Retrieved July 1, 2018. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ Music-bazaar.com. "Pavarotti & Friends For Afghanistan (2001)". Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Jackie Helman (June 8, 1986). "Masser's Greatest Love". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c Jay Padroff (July 15, 1988). "Michael Masser's music is his greatest love". Ocala Star-Banner. The New York Times Company. p. 5C. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  7. ^ a b AmericanRadioHistory (December 24, 1977). "Billboard Soul Singles" (PDF). Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  8. ^ AllMusic. "George Benson – The Greatest Hits of All (2003)". Retrieved July 1, 2018. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ AllMusic. "The Very Best of George Benson: The Greatest Hits of All". Retrieved July 21, 2018. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ Library and Archives Canada (October 22, 1977). "RPM - Adult Contemporary" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  11. ^ Library and Archives Canada (October 15, 1977). "RPM - Top Singles" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  12. ^ The Official UK Charts Company (September 24, 1977). "George Benson - Chart History (UK Charts Songs)". Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  13. ^ Billboard (September 10, 1977). "George Benson - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  14. ^ Cash Box Magazine (September 24, 1977). "Cash Box - Top 100 R&B" (PDF). Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  15. ^ AmericanRadioHistory (September 10, 1977). "Record World - R&B Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  16. ^ Billboard (October 15, 1977). "George Benson - Adult Contemporary Songs". Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  17. ^ "George Benson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  18. ^ AmericanRadioHistory (October 1, 1977). "Record World - Singles Chart" (PDF). Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  19. ^ Cash Box Magazine (October 8, 1977). "Cash Box - Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  20. ^ Library and Archives Canada (December 31, 1977). "RPM Top 200 Singles of 1977" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  21. ^ AmericanRadioHistory (December 31, 1977). "Record World R&B Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  22. ^ AmericanRadioHistory (December 31, 1977). "CASH BOX Top R&B Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  23. ^ Rate Your Music based on Billboard. "The Top 200 Hits of 1977". Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h Billboard. "Pavarotti & Friends Sing For Refugees (30/05/2001)". Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  25. ^ BBC NEWS. "Pavarotti and Bono sing for Iraq (08/04/2003)". Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  26. ^ "Whitney Houston's Biggest Hits". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  27. ^ "Whitney Houston - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  28. ^ Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Hits, 5th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 636.
  29. ^ Kellman, Andy (November 10, 2014). "Live: Her Greatest Performances - Whitney Houston | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  30. ^ Whitney Houston - "Greatest Love of All" on Vevo
  31. ^ Holden, Stephen. "Whitney Houston – Pop's New Queen". NY Times. March 18, 1986. Pg A18.
  32. ^ Shewey, Don. "Whitney Houston Album Review". Rolling Stone
  33. ^ a b Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of number 1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 306.
  34. ^ Top 20 Pop Singles for 1986. Newsday. December 28, 1986. Pg 19.
  35. ^ "Whitney Houston Returns to Hot 100's Top 10 With 'I Will Always Love You'". Billboard. February 15, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  36. ^ "Rock On The Net: 14th American Music Awards (presented in 1987)". www.rockonthenet.com.
  37. ^ Hunt, Dennis (January 9, 1987). "Grammy Nominations: Highs and Lows: Winwood, Gabriel and Simon Garner Most Nominations". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. p. 2. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  38. ^ Weaver, Maurice (March 23, 1987). "'Soul Train' Awards Are a 1st for Black Music". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  39. ^ BODENSEHER, Florian. "Gordon Lightfoot - Biography". Corfid.com. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  40. ^ Wake, Matt. "Gordon Lightfoot on Elvis, Dylan covering his songs, not suing Whitney over 'The Greatest Love of All'". AL.com. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  41. ^ 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.
  42. ^ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  43. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Finland: Otava. p. 161. ISBN 951-1-21053-X.
  44. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History". RÚV. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  45. ^ [1]
  46. ^ "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Anno: 1986". Hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  47. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whitney Houston" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  48. ^ a b "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Top 40 Singles.
  49. ^ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Singles Top 100.
  50. ^ a b "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Swiss Singles Chart.
  51. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  52. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  53. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  54. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  55. ^ "ARIA Charts: The ARIA Report week commencing 20 February 2012 – Issue #1147" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association Ltd. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  56. ^ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in French). Les classement single.
  57. ^ "Top 40". Top40.nl. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  58. ^ "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: February 12, 2012 to February 18, 2012)". Gaon Chart. January 5, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  59. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All". Spanishcharts.com. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  60. ^ "Whitney Houston - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  61. ^ [2]
  62. ^ [3]
  63. ^ "USA Top 100 Songs of Decade-End 80s, Eighties [HD 1080p". YouTube. November 26, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  64. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  65. ^ [4]
  66. ^ https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=greatest+love+of+all+houston#search_section
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Greatest_Love_of_All&oldid=888810317"