Three albums released in 1985 are among the 40 top-selling albums of all time. I covered two of them in recent weeks: Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms and Phil Collins’ No Jacket Required.
The third is Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut, an album that crawled out of the gate in February of ’85 and slowly picked up steam, eventually becoming a record-breaking juggernaut. Despite coming out in early ’85, it ended up as the best-selling album of 1986. It also produced three #1 singles, a first for a debut album or an album by a solo woman.
When I first put on this album, I was prepared to dismiss it as the sort of boring R&B I just can’t get into. Despite Houston’s famously strong vocals, the first three tracks are forgettable.
But then the album hits its stride with the hit ‘Saving All My Love for You,’ and from that moment on its a runaway train of sticky melodies and undeniable performances. Following that #1 hit you have ‘How Will I Know,’ ‘All at Once,’ ‘Greatest Love of All,’ and ‘Hold Me,’ along with a couple of Jermaine Jackson duets that hold their own among all the hits.
Though I’m not a big fan of this sort of music, I can’t deny the skill with which it’s executed here. It’s all the more impressive that Houston pulled it off on her first album. Even more impressive is that she did it again two years later on her sophomore release, Whitney. But I’ll get to that when the Decades series reaches 1987.
In the meantime, here’s the track from this album I know and like best. Not surprisingly, it’s the least R&B and most pop song in the batch.
There’s a boy I know, he’s the one I dream of
Looks into my eyes, takes me to the clouds above
Ooh, I lose control, can’t seem to get enough, uh-huh
When I wake from dreaming, tell me, is it really love?
[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh, how will I know? (Don’t trust your feelings)
How will I know?
How will I know? (Love can be deceiving)
How will I know?
[Chorus]
How will I know if he really loves me?
I say a prayer with every heartbeat
I fall in love whenever we meet
I’m asking you ’cause you know about these things
How will I know if he’s thinking of me?
I try to phone, but I’m too shy (Can’t speak)
Falling in love is so bittersweet
This love is strong, why do I feel weak?
[Verse 2]
Oh, wake me, I’m shaking
Wish I had you near me now, uh-huh
Said there’s no mistakin’
What I feel is really love
Ooh, tell me
[Pre-Chorus]
How will I know? (Don’t trust your feelings)
How will I know?
How will I know? (Love can be deceiving)
How will I know?
[Chorus]
How will I know if he really loves me?
I say a prayer with every heartbeat
I fall in love whenever we meet
I’m asking you ’cause you know about these things
How will I know if he’s thinking of me?
I try to phone, but I’m too shy (Can’t speak)
Falling in love is so bittersweet
This love is strong, why do I feel weak?
[Bridge]
If he loves me
If he loves me not (Mm)
If he loves me
(Ooh) If he loves me not
(Hey) If he loves me
If he loves me not
Oh, how will I know?
How will I know?
How will I know?
Hey, how will I know? (Ooh)
[Chorus]
How will I know if he really loves me?
I say a prayer with every heartbeat
I fall in love whenever we meet
I’m asking you ’cause you know about these things
How will I know if he’s thinking of me?
I try to phone, but I’m too shy (Can’t speak)
Falling in love is so bittersweet
This love is strong, why do I feel weak?
[Outro]
How will I know? (How will I know?)
How will I know?
How will I know? (I say a prayer)
How will I know? Ooh
How will I know? (I fall in love)
How will I know?
Hey, how will I know?
I’m asking you
How will I, how will I know?
Meet Me In Montauk 
It really is amazing how strong 1985 was in the music industry!