Whitney Houston Albums Ranked

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Referred to as “The Voice”, she is regarded as one of the most successful and influential vocalists of all time. Houston released seven studio albums and two soundtrack albums, all of which have been certified diamond, multi-platinum, platinum, or gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). With sales of over 200 million records worldwide, she is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. Her crossover appeal on the popular music charts as well as her prominence on MTV influenced generations of African American artists. Following the critical and commercial success of My Love Is Your Love (1998), Houston renewed her contract with Arista for $100 million. However, her personal struggles began overshadowing her career, and the album Just Whitney (2002) received mixed reviews. Her drug use and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown received widespread media coverage. After a six-year break from recording, Houston returned to the top of the Billboard 200 chart with her final studio album, I Look to You (2009). On February 11, 2012, Houston was found dead at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. The coroner’s report showed that she had accidentally drowned in the bathtub, with heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors. News of her death coincided with the 2012 Grammy Awards and was featured prominently in international media. Houston was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Here are all of Whitney Houston’s albums ranked.

Don’t miss out on the TIMELESS Whitney Houston music below! Click to experience the legendary songs of Whitney Houston!

10. The Essential Whitney Houston (2010)

“I miss Whitney! I love her voice. This album has great quality and quantity of songs. The price was great used and would have been great new. My favorite version of the Star Spangled Banner is Whitney’s! This album to me represents when music was great.”

9. The Ultimate Collection (2007)

“This is a reminder of how great Whitney was before drugs and alcohol took charge of her life. It shows all her top songs and performances and is a sad lesson that even the greatest talent can disintegrate under the stress of fame and drugs. Whitney will live on in her songs and videos but it is a tragedy she left so early.”

8. The Preacher’s Wife: Original Soundtrack Album (1996)

“My favorite track is “I Love the Lord.” Even though I’m not particularly religious, Houston’s rendering of this song transcends earthly pain. Here, the orchestration rises to the level of Houston’s vocals, although I think her performance of the song with a smaller band in the movie, The Preacher’s Wife, is more tender because she sings using her head voice more often and she doesn’t push her voice as much. Nevertheless, the recording on the soundtrack is equally moving.”

See more: Dolly Parton Songs Ranked

7. Whitney: The Greatest Hits (2000)

“Whitney had an amazingly beautiful and supremely powerful voice. I personally believe that her loss can be credited to the losers in her life and those who duped her and robbed her blind. But, thankfully, no-one could take away her amazing voice. This two cd collection consists of her very best songs that she recorded for us. So, it goes without saying, if you like her voice and her singing / songs, this greatest hits is for you. Buy it and be proud that you did. It is a very sad loss that she is no longer with us.”

6. I Look To You (2009)

“Contrary to many people’s pre-conceptions, her last album is actually one of her best. Sure she may have lost some of her power and purity of tone, but the production presented here is great, the beats are hot, and it’s still unmistakably Whitney.”

5. Just Whitney (2002)

“Just Whitney, Whitney Houston’s 2002 album, her last studio effort has been re-released in anticipation to her upcoming comeback album I Look To You in September. The collection of songs focused on the heartbreak and fallout Whitney had to ordeal in her life, from being a tabloid target, to the end of a difficult and struggling relationship to her dad, and many other issues with her family life. The album was also the first release Whitney recorded without Clive Davis, mainly because Clive was focused on his work with J Records, and acts like Alicia Keys & Rod Stewart.”

4. I’m Your Baby Tonight (1990)

“One of my most played albums of my teens, this is great Whitney. “I’m Your Baby Tonight” is one of her best dance songs with astonishing vocals. Ballads “All The Man That I Need”, and “Miracle” show off her pipes, and the subtle “After We Make Love” slows things down again. My absolute favorite Whitney song “Lover For Life”, however is the main reason to snap this up immediately.”

See more: Tina Turner Albums Ranked

3. My Love Is Your Love (1998)

“This is Whitney at her best, exploring new territory, ie. RnB which she excels at. The best songs here are “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay”, “When You Believe” (a duet with Mariah Carey), “I Learned From The Best” and “Until You Come Back”. Well done Whitney; her voice is powerful and richly toned as usual, and is not dominated by her new sound; indeed she helps create it. A very pleasing and enjoyable album.”

2. Whitney (1987)

“Back in 1987 Whitney Houston was one of the most popular female artists in the world. Her beautiful voice was heard everywhere: on the radio, on TV…She was the best and most talented black singer of the 80s. “Whitney” is her second record and in my opinion, it’s much better than her debut album. It’s pop music with elements of soul and it sounds really great. “

1. Whitney Houston (1985)

“This album was the bestselling debut album by a woman in its day. Whitney Houston’s voice is both supernatural and distinct. As for the song writing, the poppier tunes on the first side are average but enjoyable, but towards the middle/end, it just soars. For audiophiles, there’s a lot to admire here – ballads like ‘all at once’ are like crystal, both polished to perfection but the genuinely inspired performance is beyond synthesis. Whitney’s collaboration with the producers and arrangers here often meet’s classic status, but it definitely has low points.”