The Greatest Love of All

The song's music was composed by Michael Masser, and its lyrics were written by Linda Creed, in 1976 for The Greatest.{{cite news |first=Jackie|last=Helman |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-08-ca-9259-story.html |title=Masser's Greatest Love |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 8, 1986 |access-date=May 26, 2011 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306014501/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-06-08/entertainment/ca-9259_1_greatest-love |url-status=live }} According to the Los Angeles Times, after he had been asked to write the song for the movie, Masser felt drawn to Jerusalem, even though he was not a religious man, "to get the feelings—not just my own."{{what|date=March 2025}} Masser also told the Los Angeles Times his special feelings about Ali:

Here was a man who wanted to change his name and religion. That's all. Ali hadn't believed in the war in Vietnam and had refused to fight in it. He won that battle through the legal system. Still, he lost everything—including his title. But Ali retained the most important thing of all—his dignity.

In an interview with the Ocala Star-Banner in 1988, similarly, Masser said that "He (Ali) represented to me a tremendous athlete who suffered prejudice from the white man's world. He didn't give up what he believed even though he lost his title."{{cite news |work=Ocala Star-Banner |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=July 15, 1988 |access-date=June 13, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XbdPAAAAIBAJ&pg=1196,4500727&dq |title=Michael Masser's music is his greatest love |first=Jay|last=Padroff |page=5C |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029101043/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XbdPAAAAIBAJ&pg=1196%2C4500727&dq= |url-status=live }} Masser also told the Los Angeles Times that the song had another personal meaning for him to give up a legal career to pursue his interest in music, adding, "People thought I was crazy. I had to starve. Had no money. Marriage broke up. But I had to do what I'd wanted to do since I was 6... write music." Upon his return from Jerusalem, he contracted with lyricist Creed to work on the song and wrote it right from the heart, with Creed drawing inspiration from her family.{{cite web |title="The Greatest Love of All" |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/whitney-houston/the-greatest-love-of-all |website=Songfacts |access-date=May 8, 2023}} Then Masser had George Benson perform the song for the soundtrack. He said, "The record came out and the song became an underground theme for black people."

Benson recorded "The Greatest Love of All" for the soundtrack album of The Greatest. The song was released as a single in the same year and was a substantial hit, reaching number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart, the first R&B Top Ten hit for Arista Records, and ended the year at position 33.{{cite web |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-12-24.pdf |date=December 24, 1977 |access-date=February 27, 2018 |title=Billboard Soul Singles |author=AmericanRadioHistory}} The single also reached positions number 3 on the Cash Box Top 100 R&B and number 4 on the Record World R&B Singles. In other charts, the single was between positions number 22 and number 29 in the US, number 27 in the UK, and number 25 and 42 in Canada. "The Greatest Love of All" is one of George Benson's most successful hits, and for this reason was included in two of his many collections, The Greatest Hits of All{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-greatest-hits-of-all-mw0000037857 |access-date=July 1, 2018 |title=George Benson – The Greatest Hits of All (2003) |website=AllMusic |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701083535/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-greatest-hits-of-all-mw0000037857 |url-status=live }} and The Very Best of George Benson: The Greatest Hits of All.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/very-best-of-george-benson-the-greatest-hits-of-all-mw0000524838 |access-date=July 21, 2018 |title=The Very Best of George Benson: The Greatest Hits of All |website=AllMusic |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722070124/https://www.allmusic.com/album/very-best-of-george-benson-the-greatest-hits-of-all-mw0000524838 |url-status=live }}

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{{Infobox song

| name = Greatest Love of All

| type = single

| cover = Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All.png

| alt =

| artist = Whitney Houston

| album = Whitney Houston

| B-side = Thinking About You

| released = March 18, 1986

| recorded = December 1984

| genre = * R&B

• soul
• pop

| length = * 4:51 (album version)

• 4:56 (deluxe version)

| label = Arista

| composer = Michael Masser

| lyricist = Linda Creed

| producer = Michael Masser

| prev_title = How Will I Know

| prev_year = 1985

| next_title = I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)

| next_year = 1987

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|IYzlVDlE72w|"Greatest Love of All"}}}}

}}

The song was further popularized by American singer Whitney Houston under the title "Greatest Love of All", without the definite article "The". The song was recorded in December 1984 for her 1985 self-titled debut studio album. The song became a major hit, topping the charts in Australia, Canada and the US, while reaching the top 20 in most countries, including Italy, Sweden and the UK. It remains her third biggest US hit, after "I Will Always Love You" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)".{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/506203/whitney-houstons-biggest-billboard-hits-a-look-at-her-legendary-chart-career |title=Whitney Houston's Biggest Hits |work=Billboard |access-date=October 12, 2016 |archive-date=February 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217164504/http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/506203/whitney-houstons-biggest-billboard-hits-a-look-at-her-legendary-chart-career |url-status=live }} The three songs, in order of their former popularity, re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart, after Houston's death in 2012, debuting the same week at numbers 7, 35 and 41, respectively, giving Houston three posthumous chart hits.{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/431329/whitney+houston/chart |title=Whitney Houston - Chart history |work=Billboard |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=July 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709002923/http://www.billboard.com/artist/431329/whitney+houston/chart |url-status=live }}

Clive Davis, founder of Houston's label Arista Records, was initially against Houston recording the song for her debut studio album, Whitney Houston, but he eventually gave in after persuasion from Houston and Masser. It was released as the B-side to the single "You Give Good Love", a previous Top 5 hit by Houston. The song, eventually released as a single in its own right on March 18, 1986, was the seventh release from Houston's debut album, and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May of that year.Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Hits, 5th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 636. The single cemented Houston's status as a global pop star.

Her live performance in 1990 in the 15th anniversary of Arista Records concert in Radio City Music Hall was included in the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of Whitney Houston and the 2014 CD/DVD release, Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances.{{cite web |first=Andy |last=Kellman |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-her-greatest-performances-mw0002759110 |title=Live: Her Greatest Performances - Whitney Houston | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=November 10, 2014 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |archive-date=February 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227075920/http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-her-greatest-performances-mw0002759110 |url-status=live }}

Masser said, "When I first met Whitney in 1981–82, she was about 19 or 20 and unknown. I went into Sweetwater's, and I thought I must be totally out of it—I said, 'I must be going crazy, I think I'm hearing one of my songs.' She was singing 'The Greatest Love of All' just as I walked in, and that meant something to me. Two and a half years later when I was doing Teddy Pendergrass there was a duet and everybody wanted me to use this or that known person. Only because I had heard Whitney singing 'The Greatest Love of All'. I chose her."

Houston's music video was filmed at Harlem's Apollo Theater in New York City. In the video, she is a successful singer who is about to perform in front of an audience. She reminisces about the time when she was a child performing in a talent competition and receiving encouragement from her mother. The video features Houston's mother Cissy Houston playing herself, supporting a young Houston, as well as hugging present Houston at the end of the video. It was directed by Peter Israelson, filmed with James Contner as DP and Steadicam operator Robin Buerki shooting 35mm film. In February 2020, the music video was restored in 4K.{{cite web | url=http://www.vevo.com/watch/whitney-houston/Greatest-Love-Of-All/USAV70000013 | title=Whitney Houston - "Greatest Love of All" on Vevo | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218063458/http://www.vevo.com/watch/whitney-houston/Greatest-Love-Of-All/USAV70000013 | date=February 18, 2017 | archive-date=February 18, 2017 | url-status=dead}}

Many critics called the song the centerpiece of Houston's debut album. Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote that "Houston sings it with a forceful directness that gives its message of self-worth an astounding resonance and conviction" and called the song a compelling assertion of spiritual devotion, black pride, and family loyalty, all at once.Holden, Stephen (March 18, 1986). "Whitney Houston – Pop's New Queen". The New York Times. p. A18. Don Shewey of Rolling Stone wrote that as the song builds, Houston "slowly pours on the soul, slips in some churchy phrasing, holds notes a little longer and shows off her glorious voice."Shewey, Don. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071001195802/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/whitneyhouston/albums/album/301396/review/5943797/whitney_houston "Whitney Houston Album Review".] Rolling Stone

Benson's 1977 version was an R&B hit, reaching number 2 on the R&B chart. It was a moderate pop hit, making the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of number 1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 306. Houston's version reached number one on the Hot 100 chart for three weeks in 1986. The single was the fourth hit (and third number 1) from her debut album, she became the first female artist to score three number ones from one album.{{cite magazine |author=Paul Grein |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0iQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA6 |title=Chart Beat: Houston has 3rd No.1 from debut |magazine=Billboard |date=May 17, 1986 |access-date=August 22, 2024 |volume=98 |number=20 |page=6}}

To date, this song was her second longest stay atop this chart, behind 1992's "I Will Always Love You". The song also reached number one on both component charts, the Hot 100 Singles Sales and the Hot 100 Airplay, her second consecutive release to do so, and stayed for 14 weeks inside the top 40. On other Billboard charts, Houston also performed well, reaching number three on the R&B chart. The song topped the adult contemporary chart for five weeks, Houston's longest stay at the top of that chart at the time. The song ranked No. 11 on Billboard{{'}}s year end pop singles chart.Top 20 Pop Singles for 1986. Newsday. December 28, 1986. Pg 19.

After her death, the single returned to the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 41.{{cite web|title=Whitney Houston Returns to Hot 100's Top 10 With 'I Will Always Love You'|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/505143/whitney-houston-returns-to-hot-100s-top-10-with-i-will-always-love-you|work=Billboard|access-date=February 16, 2012|date=February 15, 2012|archive-date=March 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330220614/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/505143/whitney-houston-returns-to-hot-100s-top-10-with-i-will-always-love-you|url-status=live}}

Houston's version of the song was featured in the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race, being performed by contestants Akashia and Shannel in a "lipsync for your life".

Houston won the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Video Single, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and a Soul Train Music Award for Single of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1987/amas.htm|title=Rock On The Net: 14th American Music Awards (presented in 1987)|website=www.rockonthenet.com|access-date=February 17, 2017|archive-date=December 19, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051219110305/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1987/amas.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-01-09-ca-2676-story.html|title=Grammy Nominations: Highs and Lows: Winwood, Gabriel and Simon Garner Most Nominations|last=Hunt|first=Dennis|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=2|date=January 9, 1987|access-date=February 17, 2014|archive-date=October 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024204607/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-01-09/entertainment/ca-2676_1_record-category|url-status=live}}{{cite news | first = Maurice | last = Weaver | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/03/23/soul-train-awards-are-a-1st-for-black-music/ | title = 'Soul Train' Awards Are a 1st for Black Music | publisher = Tribune Company | work = Chicago Tribune | date = March 23, 1987 | access-date = December 15, 2015 | archive-date = September 27, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120927092512/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-03-23/features/8701220565_1_soul-train-awards-music-awards-show-executive-producer-don-cornelius | url-status = live }}

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• US 7-inch vinyl single

:A: "Greatest Love of All" – 4:51

:B: "Thinking About You" – 4:06

• UK 12-inch vinyl maxi single

:A1: "Greatest Love of All" – 4:49

:B1: "Thinking About You" – 4:03

:B2: "Shock Me" (duet with Jermaine Jackson) – 5:05

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• Spain 12-inch vinyl maxi single

:A1: "Greatest Love of All" – 4:49

:B1: "Someone for Me" – 4:58

:B2: "Thinking About You" – 4:07

• Japanese CD single

1. "Greatest Love of All" – 4:51
2. "Thinking About You" – 4:03

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Whitney Houston|title=The Greatest Love of All|award=Platinum|relyear=1886|certyear=2020|access-date=July 11, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Whitney Houston|title=The Greatest Love of All|award=Gold|relyear=1986|certyear=2022|source=radioscope|access-date=January 13, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Whitney Houston|title=The Greatest Love of All|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=15727-1531-1|access-date=February 4, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Whitney Houston|title=Greatest Love of All|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1986|certyear=2023|access-date=January 28, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

File:Katy Perry Play at Resorts World, Las Vegas.jpg performing "The Greatest Love of All" at the Play]]

A number of other artists have covered this song, including Shirley Bassey, Oleta Adams, Alexandra Burke, Deborah Cox, Lea Salonga, Ferrante & Teicher, Kevin Rowland and Jane Olivor.{{Cite web|url=https://repertoire.bmi.com/Main/NotFound|title=BMI | Songview Search|website=repertoire.bmi.com|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506230459/https://repertoire.bmi.com/Main/NotFound|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://secondhandsongs.com/work/20876/versions |title=Cover versions of The Greatest Love of All written by Michael Masser, Linda Creed |work=SecondHandSongs |access-date=March 1, 2020 |archive-date=March 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301023220/https://secondhandsongs.com/work/20876/versions |url-status=live }}

On May 29, 2001, the Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti performed the concert "Pavarotti & Friends" in his hometown of Modena, Italy.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/79591/pavarotti-friends-sing-for-refugees |access-date=May 24, 2017 |title=Pavarotti & Friends Sing For Refugees (30/05/2001) |author=Billboard |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204172443/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/79591/pavarotti-friends-sing-for-refugees |url-status=live }} Intended to raise money for refugees from Afghanistan under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, this concert was called "Pavarotti & Friends for Afghanistan" and featured various guest artists, one of them being his friend George Benson. The song performed in duet by the two was Benson's song "The Greatest Love of All", sung in parts by Benson in English and elsewhere by Pavarotti in Italian. This complete concert "Pavarotti & Friends for Afghanistan" raised $3.3 million for its cause,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2929083.stm |access-date=May 24, 2017 |title=Pavarotti and Bono sing for Iraq (08/04/2003) |author=BBC NEWS |archive-date=May 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506033726/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2929083.stm |url-status=live }} and was recorded and released in CD in 2001. The song was credited with the original title "The Greatest Love of All" recorded by Benson.

In April 1987, Gordon Lightfoot filed a lawsuit against Michael Masser, alleging that Masser's song "The Greatest Love of All" stole twenty-four bars from Lightfoot's 1970 hit "If You Could Read My Mind". According to Maclean's, Lightfoot commented, "It really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't want the present-day generation to think that I stole my song from him."{{cite web |first=Florian |last=BODENSEHER |url=http://www.corfid.com/gl/biography.htm |title=Gordon Lightfoot - Biography |website=Corfid.com |access-date=October 12, 2016 |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305003755/http://www.corfid.com/gl/biography.htm |url-status=live }} Lightfoot has stated that he dropped the suit when he felt it was having a negative effect on Houston, as the suit was about Masser and not her.{{cite web|last1=Wake|first1=Matt|title=Gordon Lightfoot on Elvis, Dylan covering his songs, not suing Whitney over 'The Greatest Love of All'|url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/02/gordon_lightfoot_talks_elvis_a.html|website=AL.com|date=February 17, 2015 |access-date=July 26, 2015|archive-date=June 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604031344/http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/02/gordon_lightfoot_talks_elvis_a.html|url-status=live}} Ultimately the case was settled out of court and Masser issued a public apology.{{cite web |url=http://storyofsongs.blogspot.com/2009/08/greatest-love.html |title=Greatest Love |date=August 29, 2009 |access-date=May 5, 2019 |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029101114/http://storyofsongs.blogspot.com/2009/08/greatest-love.html |url-status=live }}

{{reflist}}

• {{YouTube|i4yH7en-q64|Benson's "The Greatest Love of All" music video (from The Greatest)}}
• [https://www.discogs.com/master/view/64174 Benson's "The Greatest Love of All"] page at Discogs
• [http://www.45cat.com/record/as0251 Benson's "The Greatest Love of All"] page at 45cat
• {{YouTube|IYzlVDlE72w&ob|Houston's "Greatest Love of All" music video}}
• [http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-Greatest-Love-Of-All/master/51610 Houston's "Greatest Love of All"] page at Discogs

{{George Benson}}

{{Whitney Houston singles}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greatest Love Of All, The}}

Category:1977 singles

Category:1977 songs

Category:1986 singles

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:CBS Sports

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:George Benson songs

Category:Number-one singles in Australia

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Rhythm and blues ballads

Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Songs involved in plagiarism controversies

Category:Songs written by Linda Creed

Category:Songs written by Michael Masser

Category:Soul ballads

Category:Whitney Houston songs