Just Whitney

Just Whitney is Houston's fifth studio album, that she recorded after renewing her contract with Arista for a record $100 million. It is mixed with R&B ballads, R&B mid-tempo numbers, and dance songs. It also includes a rock song, "Tell Me No". Houston said that she wanted to make a "very soul oriented" album, something she felt was missing on the radio. The album also contains the rock-influenced "Tell Me No", which was produced by Babyface, who also produced some other songs on the album including the ballad "Try It on My Own" and dance-pop song "Love That Man", both of which became singles. The song "Whatchulookinat" was produced by Brown and Mohammad 2G and became the project's lead single. The song, co-written by Houston, was taken by critics as an answer to the media for deeply invading her personal life. ==Critical reception==

Upon its release, Just Whitney received mixed reviews from critics, with aggregated reviews on Metacritic awarding the album 53 out of 100. Mike Bell from Jam! Showbiz, was also favorable in his review, saying "Maybe because of everything that's happened in her past, maybe because of the sideshow, she has the ability to give the songs real feeling, real life." In addition, he stated that her voice was in fine form, "showcasing those incredible pipes that launched a thousand imitators." He concluded by saying, "And it shows up all of those followers with recent releases ㅡ including Mariah Carey and Celine Dion ㅡ because not only does Houston have the lungs, but she has the soul." Jon Pareles of New York Times wrote, "Ms. Houston's voice sails and spirals through breathy ballads, staccato constructions and big-build anthems; she's strategic and improvisatory at the same time." He summarized by saying that even when she's seething, she's graceful. Angus Batey from Yahoo! Music UK & Ireland graded the album seven stars out of ten commenting, "[...] this is a cogent, compact and really quite good record, one that mixes upbeat, perhaps slightly clinical R&B with uber-ballads and occasional snatches of what appears to be an attempt at intimacy." Steve Jones of USA Today graded the album fairly well, giving it two-and-half stars out of four, but stating, "At her best, Houston is full of sass and attitude and, most of all, joy. But with so much emphasis on what's bothering her, you can't help but wonder whether the thrill is gone." Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly graded the album a solid B− and noted that Just Whitney had quite a refreshingly "old-school vibe." He commented, "Whatever her personal problems, our gal sounds plucky and on top of her game. Still, in her third decade as a diva, Houston remains a formidable role model for American Idol wannabes." ==Commercial performance==

On the week ending December 28, 2002, Just Whitney debuted and peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 and number three on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album spent 26 initial weeks on the Billboard 200. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments exceeding one million copies. By 2009, the album had sold 737,000 copies in the USA according to Nielsen Soundscan. In its Billboard Year End chart in December 2003, the album ranked 101st place in the Top Billboard 200 Albums list and 30th place in the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list. Following Houston's sudden passing in 2012, Just Whitney returned to the charts, staying for an additional four weeks. In addition, Houston's record label released a three-CD box set, Triple Feature in March 2012, which featured Just Whitney, along with Houston's other hit albums, ''I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990) and My Love Is Your Love (1998), with the set peaking at number 21 on the Billboard'' 200 in its second week of release, and reached number five on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, becoming Houston's ninth album to reach the top five on the chart. The set stayed on the chart for six weeks on both charts. In Australia, the album reached number 22 on the ARIA Urban Albums Chart. The album debuted at number 85 on the Canadian Albums chart, selling 3,000 copies in its first week. In Austria, it entered the albums chart on December 8, 2002 at its peak position of number 33. In Switzerland, the album saw its second highest peak, when it debuted at number 10 on the charts. It was certified Platinum by the IFPI Switzerland for shipment/sales of 30,000 copies or more. In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 70 on the albums chart. Just Whitney was certified Gold in Brazil. In the UK, it peaked at number 76. ==Singles==

The album saw the release of five official singles - two preceding and three succeeding the album's release. "Whatchulookinat" became the album's lead single released on September 17, 2002. The song received many negative reviews from critics. The single became a moderate success worldwide, peaking inside the top forty in most countries. In the US, it became her tenth Hot Dance Club Play topper. The corresponding music video was also considered as Houston's answer to the media for getting too deep into her personal life. The video showed a white set with cameras all over, following Houston's every move. The set was also full with old movie cameras and people dressed as reporters and photographers. Houston is shown dancing in front of them. "One of Those Days" was the album's second single and was released on October 29, 2002. The song received many positive reviews from critics. It sampled The Isley Brothers' song "Between the Sheets". The single was a moderate success in the US. The accompanying music video's plot revolved around Houston and her friends, having a day for themselves and going to the club at night. "Try It on My Own" became the project's third single and was released on February 11, 2003. The song received acclaim from critics as well as fans; most of them who named it as the album's highlight. It also reached the top ten on the US Adult Contemporary chart. Internationally, the song performed fair. A music video was released to promote the single. "My Love" was released to urban adult contemporary radio as the album's sole promotional single on March 10, 2003. It became a moderate hit reaching number 39 on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs chart. "Love That Man" was the fourth and final single from the album, released on May 20, 2003. It became another Dance Club chart-topping single, but failed to make the Hot 100 or any international market. No accompanying video was released for the single. ==Promotion==

To promote the album, Houston appeared on the 2002 MTV Europe Music Awards, performing her new single "Whatchulookinat". She also appeared on the 2003 VH1 Divas Duets: An Honors Concert for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation and performed her hits including two songs from the album; "My Love" and "Try It on My Own". Apart from these, she also performed "One of Those Days" and "Tell Me No" live on Good Morning America. It was the only non-Christmas studio album in Houston's career where no tour was launched from it. ==Track listing==

Credits taken from liner notes. Track 11 (international) samples Step into a World (Rapture's Delight). ;Notes • on international editions, "Try It on My Own" is labeled as "On My Own". • denotes co-producer ==Personnel==

Adapted from AllMusic. • Joey Arbagey – A&R • Babyface – drum programming, guest artist, acoustic guitar, keyboards, producer, background vocals • Tom Bender – assistant • Charile "CSUN" Bereal – producer • Kenny Bereal – producer • Ted Bishop – arranger, drum programming, engineer, keyboards, producer, vocal arrangement • Paul Boutin – engineer • Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs – arranger, engineer, midi, producer • Bobby Brown – featured artist, guest artist, primary artist, producer • Matt Brown – assistant • Melanie Byrd – production coordination • Terrence Cash – engineer • Gordon Chambers – producer, vocal arrangement, vocal producer, background vocals • Greg Charley – guitar • Corrado Sgandurra – guitar • Nathan East – bass • Kevin KD Davis – mixing • Missy Elliott – producer • Cortez Farris – engineer • Steve Fisher – assistant • Roxanna Floy – make-up • Sherree Ford-payne – background vocals • Rob Fusari – producer • Jon Gass – mixing • Steve Genewick – assistant • Sharlotte Gibson – background vocals • Kevin Guarnieri – engineer • Mick Guzauski – mixing • Gary Houston – background vocals • Whitney Houston – primary artist, producer, vocal arrangement, vocals, background vocals, songwriter • Jimmy Hoyson – assistant • Kenya Ivey – background vocals • Scott Kieklak – engineer • Latrelle – background vocals • Ellin La Var – hair stylist • Ricky Lawson – drums • Marc Stephen Lee – assistant • Wayne Linsey – fender rhodes • Manny Marroquin – mixing • Bill Meyers – string arrangements, string conductor • Ricky Minor – producer • Muhammad2G – producer • Sheryl Nields – photography • Joe Mama-Nitzberg – creative director • Greg Phillinganes – piano • Josean Posey – assistant • Herb Powers – mastering • L.A. Reid – executive producer • Dennis Rivadeneira – assistant • Jeffrey Schulz – art direction, design • Ivy Skoff – production coordination • Antonique Smith – background vocals • Patrice "ButtaPhly" Stewart – vocal producer • Craig "Niteman" Taylor – assistant • Shawndella Taylor – A&R • Troy Taylor – producer, programming, rhythm arrangements, vocal producer • Michael Hart Thompson – guitar • Tweet – vocal producer, background vocals • Tommy Vicari – string engineer • Randy Waldman – string arrangements, string conductor • Mike White – engineer • Patti Wilson – stylist • Theresa Wilson – A&R • Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff – string engineer ==Charts==

Weekly charts Monthly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications and sales==