Hold Me

Album: Whitney (1984)
Charted: 44 46
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Hold Me" is a ballad duet performed by Whitney Houston with former Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes lead singer Teddy Pendergrass.
  • Houston sings of her attraction to Pendergrass' honest and pure nature and her desire for him to hold her close. In the chorus, they both croon of their intention to cherish the night, fill it with pleasure, and make it last forever.
  • In February 1983, Gerry Griffith, an A&R representative from Arista Records, discovered Whitney performing with her mother, Cissy Houston, in a New York nightclub. He convinced Arista's head, Clive Davis, to see her sing. Impressed by her talent, Davis offered her a worldwide record deal, which she signed on April 10, 1983.

    "Hold Me" was her first recording. Released on May 24, 1984, it gave her a first taste of success, becoming a Top 5 R&B hit.
  • The song was written by Linda Creed and Michael Masser and was originally recorded solo by Diana Ross.

    Creed and Masser also wrote "The Greatest Love Of All." Penned for the 1977 film biography of Muhammad Ali, The Greatest, it was originally recorded by George Benson. Whitney Houston revived the song, and on May 17, 1986, it became her third Hot 100 #1.
  • Diana Ross included her version on her 1982 album Silk Electric under the title "In Your Arms," with slightly different lyrics.
  • Ross produced her original version and Masser helmed Houston and Pendergrass' duet version.
  • "Hold Me" appears on both Pendergrass's eighth studio album, Love Language (1984), and on Houston's self-titled debut studio album (1985).

    Love Language was Pendergrass' first album of new material since a March 1982 car crash left him paralyzed from the waist down. It was his first record for Asylum Records after being a longtime artist on Philadelphia International Records.
  • The musicians are:

    Guitars: Paul Jackson
    Bass: Nathan East
    Keyboards: Randy Kerber, Ray Parker Jr.
    Drums: Carlos Vega
    Background Vocals: Debbie Thomas

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"They're Playing My Song

Shears does very little promotion, which has kept him secluded from the spotlight. What changed when Cyndi Lauper had a hit with his song? Not much, really.

Country Song Titles

Country Song TitlesFact or Fiction

Country songs with titles so bizarre they can't possibly be real... or can they?

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Chris Rea

Chris ReaSongwriter Interviews

It took him seven years to recover from his American hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," but Chris Rea became one of the top singer-songwriters in his native UK.