The Greatest Love of All
"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 Soul Singles 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, and is performed during the opening credits.[1]
| "The Greatest Love of All" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
One of A-side track labels of the US vinyl release | ||||
| Single by George Benson | ||||
| from the album The Greatest soundtrack | ||||
| B-side | "Ali's Theme" | |||
| Released | June 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 1977 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:32 (Album full version) 3:29 (Single edited version) | |||
| Label | Arista | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Michael Masser | |||
| George Benson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Benson's original recording was released in 1977 in the United States, Japan, France, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Brazil, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Thailand, on an extended play (EP).[2] He officially recorded the song four times; in addition to the studio single, Benson also recorded three live versions,[3][4] the last time in a duet with Luciano Pavarotti in 2001.[5] Since 1977, a great number of artists have recorded this song, including Shirley Bassey, Oleta Adams, Alexandra Burke, Deborah Cox, Ferrante & Teicher and Kevin Rowland.
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 R&B chart in early 1986.
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.[6] 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 all—his dignity.[6]
In an interview with the 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."[7] 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."[6][7]
Benson recorded "The Greatest Love of All" for the soundtrack album of The Greatest. The song was released as a single in the same year and was a substantial hit, reaching 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.[8] 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 US, 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 included in The Greatest Hits of All.[9] and The Very Best of George Benson: The Greatest Hits of All,[10]
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[11] | 94 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[12] | 42 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] | 25 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts)[14] | 27 |
| US R&B Chart (Billboard)[15] | 2 |
| US Top 100 R&B (Cash Box)[16] | 3 |
| US R&B Singles (Record World)[17] | 4 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[18] | 22 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[19] | 24 |
| US Singles Chart (Record World)[20] | 27 |
| US Top 100 Singles (Cash Box)[21] | 29 |
Year-end charts
Whitney Houston version
| "Greatest Love of All" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Whitney Houston | ||||
| from the album Whitney Houston | ||||
| B-side | "Thinking About You" | |||
| Released | March 18, 1986 | |||
| Recorded | December 1984 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:56 (deluxe version) 4:51 (album version) | |||
| Label | Arista | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Michael Masser | |||
| Whitney Houston singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song was further popularized by American singer Whitney Houston under the title "Greatest Love of All", without the definite article "The". 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]
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
Masser said, "When I first met Whitney in 1981-82, she was about 19 or 20 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."[7]
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. In February 2020, the music video was restored in 4K.[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]
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]
Track listing and formats
|
|
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
All-time charts
Certifications
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other versions
A great number of other artists have covered this song, including Shirley Bassey, Oleta Adams, Alexandra Burke, Deborah Cox, Lea Salonga, Ferrante & Teicher, Randy Watson & the Sexual Chocolate, Kevin Rowland and Katy Perry.[79][80]
On May 29, 2001,[81] the Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti performed the concert "Pavarotti & Friends" in his hometown of Modena, Italy.[81] To raise money for refugees from Afghanistan under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,[81] this concert called "Pavarotti & Friends for Afghanistan"[81] featured guest artists, one of them being his friend George Benson.[81] The song performed in duet by the two was Benson's song "The Greatest Love of All",[81] 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,[82] and was recorded and released in CD in 2001.[81] The song was credited with the original title "The Greatest Love of All" recorded by Benson.[81]
Copyright infringement lawsuit and settlement
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."[83] 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.[84] Ultimately the case was settled out of court and Masser issued a public apology.[85]
References
- ^ "The Greatest (1977, George Benson - The Greatest Love Of All)". from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ 45cat. "Floating Gold - Various Artists (1977)". from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ "George Benson – Weekend In L.A. (1978)". AllMusic. from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ "George Benson – Live At Montreux (1986)". AllMusic. from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ Music-bazaar.com. "Pavarotti & Friends For Afghanistan (2001)". from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ a b c Jackie Helman (June 8, 1986). "Masser's Greatest Love". Los Angeles Times. from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
- ^ 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. from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ a b AmericanRadioHistory (December 24, 1977). "Billboard Soul Singles" (PDF). Retrieved February 27, 2018.
- ^ "George Benson – The Greatest Hits of All (2003)". AllMusic. from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ "The Very Best of George Benson: The Greatest Hits of All". AllMusic. from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 pp33
- ^ Library and Archives Canada (October 22, 1977). "RPM - Adult Contemporary" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ^ Library and Archives Canada (October 15, 1977). "RPM - Top Singles" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ The Official UK Charts Company (September 24, 1977). "George Benson - Chart History (UK Charts Songs)". OfficialCharts.com. from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
- ^ Billboard (September 10, 1977). "George Benson - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ^ Cash Box Magazine (September 24, 1977). "Cash Box - Top 100 R&B" (PDF). Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ AmericanRadioHistory (September 10, 1977). "Record World - R&B Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 25, 2017.
- ^ Billboard (October 15, 1977). "George Benson - Adult Contemporary Songs". Billboard. from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ "George Benson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
- ^ AmericanRadioHistory (October 1, 1977). "Record World - Singles Chart" (PDF). Retrieved May 22, 2017.
- ^ Cash Box Magazine (October 8, 1977). "Cash Box - Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 22, 2017.
- ^ Library and Archives Canada (December 31, 1977). "RPM Top 200 Singles of 1977" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ AmericanRadioHistory (December 31, 1977). "Record World R&B Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 25, 2017.
- ^ AmericanRadioHistory (December 31, 1977). "CASH BOX Top R&B Singles" (PDF). Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ Rate Your Music based on Billboard. "The Top 200 Hits of 1977". Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ "Whitney Houston's Biggest Hits". Billboard. from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ "Whitney Houston - Chart history". Billboard. from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Hits, 5th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 636.
- ^ Kellman, Andy (November 10, 2014). "Live: Her Greatest Performances - Whitney Houston | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ Whitney Houston - "Greatest Love of All" February 18, 2017, at the Wayback Machine on Vevo
- ^ Holden, Stephen. "Whitney Houston – Pop's New Queen". NY Times. March 18, 1986. Pg A18.
- ^ Shewey, Don. Rolling Stone
- ^ a b Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of number 1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 306.
- ^ Top 20 Pop Singles for 1986. Newsday. December 28, 1986. Pg 19.
- ^ "Whitney Houston Returns to Hot 100's Top 10 With 'I Will Always Love You'". Billboard. February 15, 2012. from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ "Rock On The Net: 14th American Music Awards (presented in 1987)". www.rockonthenet.com. from the original on December 19, 2005. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ Hunt, Dennis (January 9, 1987). "Grammy Nominations: Highs and Lows: Winwood, Gabriel and Simon Garner Most Nominations". Los Angeles Times. p. 2. from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ^ Weaver, Maurice (March 23, 1987). "'Soul Train' Awards Are a 1st for Black Music". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All (1986, Vinyl)". Discogs. from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ "Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All (1986, Spain, 12" Single)". Discogs. from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ "Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All (1988, CD Single)". Discogs. from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9422." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. p. 134. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0682." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Finland: Otava. p. 161. ISBN 951-1-21053-X.
- ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History". RÚV. March 22, 2016. from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Whitney Houston". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whitney Houston" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Houston, Whitney – Greatest Love of All". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "2012 Week 08 Digital Chart - 국외". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All" Canciones Top 50.
- ^ "Whitney Houston: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100 – Week of March 3, 2012". Billboard.
- ^ "Kent Music Report No 650 – 29 December 1986 > National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Vol. 45, no. 14. December 27, 1986. p. 5. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles (January to December 1986)" (PDF). Music Week. January 24, 1987. p. 24. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 27, 1986). "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. p. Y-21.
{{cite magazine}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^ "1986 The Year in Music and Video: Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 27, 1986. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- ^ "1986 The Year in Music and Video: Top Black Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 27, 1986. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Whitney Houston – The Greatest Love of All". Music Canada. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Whitney Houston – The Greatest Love of All". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
- ^ "American single certifications – Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ . repertoire.bmi.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ "Cover versions of The Greatest Love of All written by Michael Masser, Linda Creed". SecondHandSongs. from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Billboard. "Pavarotti & Friends Sing For Refugees (30/05/2001)". Billboard. from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
- ^ BBC NEWS. "Pavarotti and Bono sing for Iraq (08/04/2003)". from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
- ^ BODENSEHER, Florian. "Gordon Lightfoot - Biography". Corfid.com. from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ Wake, Matt (February 17, 2015). "Gordon Lightfoot on Elvis, Dylan covering his songs, not suing Whitney over 'The Greatest Love of All'". AL.com. from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
- ^ "Greatest Love". August 29, 2009. from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2019.