How Clive Davis Engineered Whitney Houston's Seventh Consecutive

In January 1988, Whitney Houston achieved a historic milestone with her seventh consecutive #1 hit, “Where Do Broken Hearts Go.”

This accomplishment made her one of the most successful artists of her time, joining the exclusive company of the Beatles and the Bee Gees.

Clive Davis, overseeing her career at Arista Records, strategically navigated Houston’s trajectory, even releasing the album cut “Thinking About You” as a single to R&B radio, showcasing his control over her chart performance.

The race for record-breaking success was in full swing, with Davis aiming for unprecedented achievements in the late ‘80s.

As the story goes, “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” written by Broadway veteran Frank Wildhorn and Chuck Jackson, didn’t resonate well with Houston.

In a 2000 interview, Houston revealed her initial reluctance, stating, “I didn’t want to do ‘Broken Hearts.’ I hated the song. And Clive Davis literally told me, ‘You’re going to do the song. This song is your #1 song.’”

Frank Wildhorn composed 90% of the song in just 40 minutes. The narrative explores the universal theme of heartbreak and reconciliation, with Houston’s powerful vocals navigating emotionally charged lyrics.

While critics may dismiss it as sentimental schmaltz, the song’s commercial success cannot be denied.

Producer Narada Michael Walden, known for his work on Houston’s dance-pop hits, took charge of “Where Do Broken Hearts Go.”

The result, however, lacked the dynamic ‘80s style associated with Walden, presenting a more subdued musical backdrop compared to Houston’s previous chart-toppers.

Following the triumph of “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” Houston’s career trajectory shifted.

The R&B audience, who initially embraced her, started to feel left behind, evidenced by muted reactions and even boos at award shows.

Rather than dismissing them, she reshaped her approach, steering away from crossover adult-contemporary audiences and diving deeper into R&B.

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