Saving All My Love For You

In this song, Whitney sings about loving a man who doesn't return her affections. Despite the advice of her friends and against her better judgment, she holds out for him, as he become her idealized lover. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

This was originally recorded by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr in 1978. The lyrics were written by Gerry Goffin and the music by Michael Masser, who also produced it.

According to 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Michael Masser heard Whitney at Sweetwater's in New York and was mesmerized by the way she performed one of his songs, Greatest Love Of All. He suggested another of his songs, Saving All My Love For You. He told Whitney, "This is going to make women cry. It is a woman's song." But her mother, Cissy Houston, was unsure, unwilling for her daughter to sing about adultery. Eventually, Whitney agreed to do the song, though the subject matter was even clearer in the video. Clive Davis had instructed Masser not to make the record 'Too Black,' so that it would appeal to black and white audiences. Masser included a sax solo from the veteran Tom Scott, but he did not complicate the arrangement as he wanted to showcase Whitney's voice."

Again according to 1000 UK #1 Hits, Gerry Goffin said of this, "I loved the melody. It's a great tune and it could have been written in the '30s."

This won the 1985 Grammy award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above)