I Look to You is the name of the long awaited seventh studio album by worldwide multi-platinum selling R&B recording artist Whitney Houston. It will be released first in Germany by Sony Music on August 28 before being release in the UK on August 31 by RCA Records and finally worldwide on September 1 by long-term record label Arista with distribution from Sony Music. Houston is one of the world’s best-selling music artists, having sold over 190 million albums and 50 million singles, worldwide. She is ranked as the fourth best-selling female artist in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with 54 million certified albums. Known as “The Voice” for her “powerful, penetrating pop-gospel” vocals, she has been listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Houston has been cited as an influence among numerous contemporary R&B and pop music artists.
Though Houston was seen as a good girl with a perfect image in the ’80s and early ’90s, during the late ’90s many noted a change in her behavior. She was often hours late for interviews, photo shoots, rehearsals, while canceling concerts and talk-show appearances. With the missed performances and weight loss, people began to wonder if something was wrong, and rumors began of drug use with her husband, Bobby Brown. Despite a vicious storm of rumors, Arista signed a contract with Houston for $100 million to deliver six new albums, on which she would also earn royalties. After losing many friends and associates due to her erratic behavior, her Father’s passing in 2003, Houston cleaned herself up and divorced Bobby Brown in 2006. Things have been looking up ever since, and this album could actually be the true resurrection of Whitney Houston.
The album will be a mixture of big ‘sweeping ballads’ and R&B/Pop dance music. The roster of producers and writers includes John Legend, Swizz Beatz, Sean Garrett, Alicia Keys, David Foster, R Kelly, Harvey Mason, Jr., Diane Warren and Akon who is the only guest vocalist on the album. The song “Million Dollar Bill” is expected to be the first single due to its growing popularity, but “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” or “Call You Tonight” are also possible contenders.
Track listing (total length – 56:02):
1. “Million Dollar Bill” — 4:53 (written by Alicia Keys & produced by Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean)
2. “Nothin’ But Love” — 4:47
3. “Call You Tonight” — 4:48 (written by Johntá Austin & produced by Stargate)
4. “I Look to You” — 6:03 (written by R. Kelly & co-produced by Harvey Mason, Jr.)
5. “Like I Never Left” — 5:45 (written by Claude Kelly & produced by Akon)
* featuring Akon
6. “A Song For You” — 5:11 (written by Leon Russell & produced by H. Mason)
* Cover of original song by Leon Russell
7. “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” — 3:47 (written by Diane Warren & produced by David Foster)
8. “Worth It” — 4:05
9. “For the Lovers” — 6:11
10. “I Got You” — 5:33
11. “Salute” — 4:59
Chief Creative Officer, Sony Music Worldwide, Clive Davis, left, and singers Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder pose during the Whitney Houston “I Look To You” CD Listening Party held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Thursday July 23, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. The other pictures are from the listening party as well.
