Editing I'm Your Baby Tonight

{{About|the Whitney Houston album|her song of the same name|I'm Your Baby Tonight (song)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2013}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = I'm Your Baby Tonight
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Whitney Houston]]
| cover      = Whitney Houston - I'm Your Baby Tonight.png
| alt        =
| released   = November 6, 1990
| recorded   = 1989–1990
| genre      =
*[[New jack swing]]<ref name=rolling/>
*[[Dance music|dance]]<ref name=rolling/><ref name=washingtonmaterial/>
*[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]<ref name=washingtonmaterial>{{cite news|first= Geoffrey |last= Himes |title= Whitney Houston's 'I'm Your Baby' Strong Voice, Weak Material |date= November 11, 1990 |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1990/11/11/whitney-houstons-im-your-baby-strong-voice-weak-material/2c7d702a-a965-4600-b2e6-002a50f98c1f/ |access-date= December 25, 2020|quote=The new album, her first in three years matches her with her best collaborators yet and finally makes a convincing case that she can sing R&B-dance numbers.}}</ref>
| length     = 53:45
| label      =
*[[Arista Records|Arista]]
*[[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG Entertainment]]
| producer   =
*Whitney Houston
*[[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]]
*[[L.A. Reid]]
*[[Luther Vandross]]
*[[Michael Masser]]
*[[Narada Michael Walden]]
*[[Ricky Minor]]
*[[Stevie Wonder]]
| prev_title = [[Whitney (album)|Whitney]]
| prev_year  = 1987
| next_title = [[The Bodyguard (soundtrack)|The Bodyguard]]
| next_year  = 1992
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = I'm Your Baby Tonight
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[I'm Your Baby Tonight (song)|I'm Your Baby Tonight]]
 | single1date = October 2, 1990
 | single2     = [[All the Man That I Need]]
 | single2date = December 4, 1990
 | single3     = [[Miracle (Whitney Houston song)|Miracle]]
 | single3date = April 16, 1991
 | single4     = [[My Name Is Not Susan]]
 | single4date = July 21, 1991
 | single5     = [[I Belong to You (Whitney Houston song)|I Belong to You]]
 | single5date = October 18, 1991
 | single6     = [[We Didn't Know]]
 | single6date = April 14, 1992
}}
}}
'''''I'm Your Baby Tonight''''' is the third [[studio album]] by American singer [[Whitney Houston]]. It was released on November 6, 1990, by [[Arista Records]]. The album was a response to [[music journalism|music critics]] in the [[black music]] community, who accused Houston of neglecting her [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] and [[soul music|soul]] music roots following the release of the [[pop music|pop]]-heavy sound of her eponymous sophomore album, ''[[Whitney (album)|Whitney]]'' three years before. The album also signaled a change in Houston's musical direction as she attained creative control for the first time in her career and became the first album where she attained [[executive producer]] credits. The record incorporated the then-current popular sound of [[new jack swing]] music while keeping an R&B sound on the majority of the tracks, along with elements of [[hip-hop]], [[funk]] and [[dance music|dance]] music. Its themes also took a more mature direction than in Houston's previous albums with songs such as [[I'm Your Baby Tonight (song)|the title track]], "[[My Name Is Not Susan]]" and "[[I Belong to You (Whitney Houston song)|I Belong to You]]" taking on a more sexually aggressive approach. It was the first album to feature production from the team of [[Antonio "L.A." Reid]] and [[Babyface (musician)|Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds]], who would produce four of the album's songs, while Houston maintained her previous producers [[Narada Michael Walden]] and [[Michael Masser]] on several other tracks, with smaller contributions from Houston's lifelong friends, [[Luther Vandross]] and [[Stevie Wonder]], the latter of whom Houston sung with on the album's only duet track, "[[We Didn't Know]]". In addition to [[arrangement (music)|vocally arranging]] every track, Houston also added to the production on the record on at least one song.

Upon its release, ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' received mixed to positive reviews from music critics, some of who complimented Houston's ability to adapt to singing harder forms of black music while some complained that her move to an urban direction was "superficial". The album became a global commercial success upon its release, reaching number three on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], whilst staying inside the top ten of that chart for 22 weeks. The same album topped the [[R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|Top R&B Albums]] chart, Houston's first album to reach the pole position on that chart since her groundbreaking [[Whitney Houston (album)|self-titled debut album]], accumulating eight cumulative weeks atop the chart, outperforming the six-week run from the debut. Houston became the first female artist to have their first three albums reach the top three of the ''Billboard'' 200 as well as the R&B Albums chart. Her record on the pop charts was later broken by singer [[Britney Spears]], who became the first female artist to send her first three albums to number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 after her album, ''[[Britney (album)|Britney]]'', topped the chart. The album would go on to win four [[Billboard Music Awards]], including [[Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Album|Top R&B Album]], at the second annual ceremony and earn [[American Music Award]] and [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] nominations. With worldwide sales of over 10 million copies, ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' is one of the [[List of best-selling albums by women|best-selling female albums]] of all time and has been certified quadruple platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45worlds.com/cdalbum/cd/261039|title=Whitney Houston: I'm Your Baby Tonight|website=45worlds.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Whitney+Houston&ti=Tonight&lab=&genre=&format=Album&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title=Whitney Houston: I'm Your Baby Tonight|website=riaa.com}}</ref>

''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' produced six singles. Its lead single, the title track, hit number one in four countries, including the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and reached the top ten in 13 other countries. "[[All the Man That I Need]]" followed the title track to number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and helped to establish a chart record for Houston being the first woman to have multiple chart-toppers off three or more albums while also achieving international success, topping the Canadian ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' chart and hitting the top 20 in the UK. "[[Miracle (Whitney Houston song)|Miracle]] also achieved US success, peaking inside the top ten, while "[[My Name Is Not Susan]]" reached the top 20 of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The remaining two singles — "I Belong to You" and "We Didn't Know" — was only released to R&B retail and radio where it found R&B chart success, both peaking inside the top 20 while the former reached the R&B top ten. To further promote the album, Houston embarked on her third concert tour, titled the [[I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour]], from March 1991 until October 1991.

{{TOC limit|2}}

==Background==
{{quote box
| quote  = That is me. It's been the real Whitney all along. This album was not a real effort to bring me back anywhere. It really does say something to me when they say my songs aren't black enough. I sang, and I arranged a lot of stuff that I did. Black people have no barriers — we can do anything.
| source = –Whitney Houston (1991)<ref name="WhitneyR&B">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-02-23.pdf |title=Houston Touches Her R&B Base With New Album |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |author=Janine McAdams |date=February 23, 1991 |access-date=May 4, 2025}}</ref>
| width = 20em
| align = right
| style = padding:8px;
}}
In 1987, Houston released her sophomore album, ''[[Whitney (album)|Whitney]]'', which was aimed to give her a more accessible [[pop music|pop]] audience in contrast to the [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] and [[love ballad]] material composed on Houston's [[Whitney Houston (album)|self-titled debut]] (1985). The record made history for Houston as she became the first female artist to debut at number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and produced four consecutive number one singles on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] — a record at a time for a female artist. The album also cemented her reputation as a [[Cultural impact of Whitney Houston|global superstar]], with her two albums selling a combined thirty million units by 1989. Her successful [[crossover music|crossover blend]] of pop, R&B and [[gospel]] helped Houston to break racial barriers on pop radio stations and [[MTV]], which along with the commercial breakthrough of [[Michael Jackson]], led to the music industry enjoying "the best time for crossover artists since the height of disco in the mid-to-late [[1970s in music|'70s]]", according to journalist Frank Rizzo in 1987.<ref name="whitneymtv">{{cite web |url=https://www.macleans.ca/culture/how-whitney-houston-changed-mtv/ |title=How Whitney Houston changed MTV |date=February 12, 2012 |author=Jaime Weinman |access-date=June 21, 2022}}</ref>

Despite this, however, some black critics began to voice their disapproval of Houston's music, especially with her sophomore release, ''Whitney'', which included the number-one hits, the dance-pop hit "[[I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)]]" and, in particular, the rock song, "[[So Emotional]]". These critics accused the singer of "[[selling out]]" by neglecting black musical influences in favor of music intended to appeal to white audiences.<ref name=Soul>{{cite episode |series = A History of Soul Music |network =[[VH1]]|airdate=October 18, 2007}}</ref> They also felt that her records lacked the soul of her live performances of the same songs.<ref name="Cain-1990">{{cite magazine|author=Duckett Cain, Joy|date=December 2003|title=The Soul of Whitney|magazine=Essence Magazine}}</ref> Houston's name was jeered by some in the audience at the [[Soul Train Music Awards]] ceremonies of [[1988 Soul Train Music Awards|1988]] and [[1989 Soul Train Music Awards|1989]] after her name was announced as nominee in several categories.<ref name="Company1991a">{{cite magazine|last=Norment|first=Lynn|title=Whitney Houston Talks About The Men In Her Life – And The Rumors, Lies And Insults That Are The High Price Of Fame|magazine=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UdQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA112|date=May 1991|page=112|issn=0012-9011}}</ref> Houston defended herself against the criticism telling ''[[Essence (magazine)|Essence]]'' magazine in 1990, "If you're gonna have a long career, there's a certain way to do it and I did it that way. I'm not ashamed of it."<ref name="Cain-1990" /> Later on, Houston steadfastly denied claims that her R&B base had deserted her to ''Billboard'' magazine.<ref name="WhitneyR&B"/>

Contrary to popular belief, Houston and label head [[Clive Davis]] had discussed plans to go into a more urban direction as early as the spring of 1988 as popular music was starting to embrace a new urban pop genre called [[new jack swing]]. Even as her sophomore album ''[[Whitney (album)|Whitney]]'' was blanketing airwaves that year, music industry insiders were speculating that "[t]here is talk her next album will have a 'black direction'."<ref>{{Cite news |last=George |first=Nelson |date=May 7, 1988 |title=Debate Over Whitney Gets So Emotional |pages=20 |work=Billboard Magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-05-07.pdf |access-date=April 10, 2023}}</ref> Houston decided to assert more creative control of her music and became an [[executive producer]] for the first time on an album. Houston convinced Davis to hire the new jack swing production team of [[L.A. Reid]] and [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]], citing their work on artists such as [[Karyn White]] and [[The Whispers]] among others.

==Music and production==
{{Multiple image
| align = left
| image1 = L.A. Reid.jpg
| width1 = 146
| alt1 = 
| caption1 = 
| image2 = KennethBabyfaceEdmondsHWOFMay2013.jpg
| width2 = 130
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| footer = [[L.A. Reid]] (left) and [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]] (right) were brought in to produce ''I'm Your Baby Tonight''.
}}

Following the end of her [[Moment of Truth World Tour|second world tour]] in November 1988, Houston took a break from recording. The singer's label began assembling new material during this period. In Houston's previous album, ''Whitney'', producer [[Narada Michael Walden]] had been given the bulk of the material to produce since Walden's productions were quick. In addition to Houston's music, Walden had also been behind the production of fellow label mate [[Aretha Franklin]]'s two commercially successful albums, ''[[Who's Zoomin' Who]]'' (1985) and ''[[Aretha (1986 album)|Aretha]]'' (1986). In the meantime, Houston had begun a friendship with [[Detroit]]-based [[gospel music|gospel]] sibling [[Duo (music)|duo]] [[BeBe & CeCe Winans]]. Houston had collaborated on the duo's breakthrough  album, ''[[Heaven (BeBe & CeCe Winans album)|Heaven]]'' (1988), which she was featured on the songs "Hold Up the Light" and "Celebrate New Life" and helped to promote the album on programs such as the [[NAACP Image Awards]] and ''[[The Arsenio Hall Show]]''.

Encouraged by Winans after some hesitation, Houston composed her first song, an uptempo [[contemporary R&B|pop-R&B]] song called "[[Takin' a Chance]]", which was released as a Japan-only single in October 1989, with Houston using the song in a [[Sanyo]] ad there. The song became a chart hit in Japan and was performed on Houston's Japanese tour, ''The Feels So Right Tour'', in January 1990. As a result of the song, Houston soon took up [[record producer|record production]] on a composition by her musical director [[Rickey Minor]], [[Rhett Lawrence]] and Winans himself titled "I'm Knockin'", a [[funk]]-inspired song that includes horns, [[bass guitar]] and [[organ (music)|organ]] and one in which Houston used gospel vocal inflections that were only hinted at in previous songs. With Walden, Houston worked on a variety of [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] songs between October 1989 and March 1990. The sessions, mostly held at the Right Track studio in [[Manhattan]], included a [[Sam Dees]] [[jazz]]-inflected song "Lover for Life", a [[Franne Golde]] and Derek Bramble tune "[[I Belong to You (Whitney Houston song)|I Belong to You]]" and the Dean Pitchford and [[Michael Gore]] ballad "[[All the Man That I Need]]", originally recorded by [[Linda Clifford]] seven years before and made into a minor R&B hit by [[Sister Sledge]]. Additional Walden productions included a collaborative track with previous Houston composer [[Michael Masser]] and artist [[Leon Ware]] called "Far Enough for Love", a [[David Lasley]] and Robbie Long composition called "Dancin' on the Smooth Edge", the [[Bryan Loren]] composition "Feels So Good" and a gospel-inflected cover of [[Steve Winwood]]'s "[[Higher Love]]". When Houston took the stage for the 14-date ''Feels So Right Tour'' in Japan, Houston would perform "Takin' a Chance", "All the Man That I Need" and "Higher Love" alongside her previous hits.

Around this time, Walden was also hard at work at [[Mariah Carey]]'s [[Mariah Carey (album)|debut]], eventually helping to produce three songs — "[[Vision of Love]]", "[[I Don't Wanna Cry]]" and "[[There's Got to Be a Way]]" — for Carey. In the middle of the Carey production, the young artist asked the producer to play her some of the stuff he was working on with Houston prior to recording. Walden eventually played her two of the songs — "Feels So Good" and "I Belong to You" — which Carey was blown away by and, Walden admitted, a bit intimidated. Walden later wrote that he and frequent collaborator [[Preston Glass]] had presented five other unnamed songs for the project to Davis, who instantly rejected them, desiring a more R&B sound than Walden's previous songs in past projects. On the album's final track listing, "Far Enough", "Higher Love", "Feels So Good" and "Dancin' on the Smooth Edge" were discarded, though the latter two would be later featured as [[b-side]]s on the singles released from the album. Around the same time she worked with Walden, the singer requested to work with longtime buddies and musical heroes [[Stevie Wonder]] and [[Luther Vandross]]. Vandross would end up producing and co-writing the uptempo R&B number, "Who Do You Love", while Wonder offered her the song "[[We Didn't Know]]", which the pair recorded as a duet.

Beginning in March 1990, Houston worked with Reid and Babyface at Elumba Studios in Hollywood. The offer to work with Houston came with an offer by Davis to distribute the records that were to be recorded under the duo's recently formed [[record label]] [[LaFace Records]], which had formed in late 1989 by Reid and Babyface and soon became a joint venture between the duo and Clive Davis. The musicians first presented Houston with the song that would be the album's title track, "[[I'm Your Baby Tonight (song)|I'm Your Baby Tonight]]", and arranged in a way that was similar to a [[jazz]] vocalist. The producers admitted to being blown away by Houston's vocal performance on the song as she did it in a single take and, after overdubbing her background vocals, only took about a couple of hours. Afterwards, Houston went to a Hollywood [[shopping mall]] to find a pair of high-heeled shoes Houston had seen earlier that day. The duo and Houston further collaborated on three more songs — two other [[hip-hop]] influenced "[[My Name Is Not Susan]]" and "Anymore" and the [[soul music|soul]] ballad, "[[Miracle (Whitney Houston song)|Miracle]]". Babyface later presented her with a fifth song, "[[Why Does It Hurt So Bad]]" but at the time, Houston refused to record it because she hadn't yet to experience the type of relationship described in the song, only for Houston to record it for the ''[[Waiting to Exhale]]'' [[Waiting to Exhale (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] five years later. In addition to helping to compose and co-produce "Far Enough (For Love)", Masser presented Houston with the [[quiet storm]] ballad, "After We Make Love", written with [[Gerry Goffin]], the same lyricist behind Houston's breakthrough hit "[[Saving All My Love for You]]" (1985), while also featuring saxophone work from [[Tom Scott (saxophonist)|Tom Scott]], who had also performed on "Saving All My Love for You". It would be Masser's final recording with Houston. The album was finished by September and Arista set for a November release for the album.

==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="Battel">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/im-your-baby-tonight-mw0000309480|title=''I'm Your Baby Tonight''|author=Ashley S. Battel |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=January 11, 2012}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''
| rev2Score = (negative)<ref name="Considine">[https://www.baltimoresun.com/1990/11/06/whitney-houstons-latest-release-never-quite-ignites/ Whitney Houston's latest release never quite ignites]  - ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3Score = D+<ref name="Browne">{{cite magazine |author=David Browne (journalist) |url=https://ew.com/article/1990/11/23/im-your-baby-tonight/ |title=I'm Your Baby Tonight Review |magazine=EW.com |date=November 23, 1990 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=February 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216232023/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,318684,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}<ref name="William">{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Willman|title=Whitney Houston's Daring New Move?|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 4, 1990|page=|access-date=January 21, 2023|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-04-ca-5441-story.html}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Hunter">{{cite magazine |author=Hunter, James |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/im-your-baby-tonight-19910110 |title=I'm Your Baby Tonight &#124; Album Reviews |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=January 10, 1991 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-date=February 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216213000/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/im-your-baby-tonight-19910110 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev6Score = {{rating|1.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac | url-access=registration | page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/397 397] | quote=the bodyguard rolling stone album guide. |title = (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide| publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn = 9780743201698|last1 = Brackett|first1 = Nathan|last2 = Hoard|first2 = Christian David|year = 2004}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Smash Hits]]''
| rev7Score = 5/10<ref name="Smash Hits Review">{{cite magazine |first=Marc |last=Andrews |title=Review: ''Whitney Houston: I'm Your Baby Tonight (Arista)'' |magazine=[[Smash Hits]] |date=November 28 – December 11, 1990 |page=60}}</ref>
}}
Upon its release in 1990, the album received mixed reviews from music critics. David Browne of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' called the album "the most perfectly realized Houston work to date", comparing it to her first two albums where, Browne argues, were "spoon-fed generic pop-R&B" that were "at best, patchwork quilts juxtaposing bouncy dance tracks and ballads that could have been lifted from late-night help-an-orphan TV ads", while ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' by comparison, "adhere[d] doggedly to one agenda: to prove Houston is a get-down, funky human being who can party with the best of them. The album is relentlessly superficial — and proud of it."<ref name="Browne"/> Browne compared the title track to [[Michael Jackson]]'s 1987 hit, "[[The Way You Make Me Feel]]", but states the song "has a discernible melody".<ref name="Browne"/>

In his review for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', Chris William raves the title track, writing that it was "a swooning ballad of complete romantic acquiescence, with the beat magnified to dance-floor level--a memorable song charming enough to click arranged in any number of genres, but especially seductive done up with that energy."<ref name="William"/> He further compares the uptempo tracks on the album to the then current work of R&B group [[En Vogue]], while calling the tracks Vandross and Wonder produced for her as "engaging, if far from classic".<ref name="William"/>

By contrast, James Hunter of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote that the album was her "... best and most integrated album" and an album that "amounts to a [[case study]] in how much [Houston] can get out of her luscious and straightforward vocal gifts within a dancepop framework".<ref name="Hunter"/> Hunter also claims that with Walden, Houston "refines two of her signature styles: state-of-the-art dance pop and baroque ballads."<ref name="Hunter"/> In reviewing the second single, "All the Man That I Need", Hunter writes the ballad was "an outsize ballad about poverty and damaged self-regard, so expertly that the song, with its effective whiff of Spanish guitar, stages undeniable pop drama."<ref name="Hunter"/> Of Reid and Babyface, Hunter writes that the pair "take a more youthful tack", stating their "sharp recastings of [[1970s in music|Seventies]] black pop and funk bop set against thumping [[1980s in music|Eighties]] dance rhythms are lean, mean and virtually invisible compared with Walden's arrangements", further stating that tracks like "My Name Is Not Susan" and "Anymore" have " led her into new, less formal territory, where she sheds her gowns, swings and sounds confident, rhythmically challenged and very much at home."<ref name="Hunter"/>

According to [[AllMusic]]'s Ashley S. Battel, Houston "attempts to make a larger foray into [[dance music]]" with this album,<ref name="Battel"/> while [[J. D. Considine]] wrote that Houston's singing on the album features "sultry moans, [[bent note|note-bending]] asides, [and] window-rattling [[Shout (Black gospel music)|gospel shouts]]".<ref name="Considine"/> ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's Jim Macnie said that the album "displayed a slick R&B edge" and features "funk-and-dance-driven pop".<ref name=rolling>{{cite web|last=Macnie|first=Jim|title=Whitney Houston Biography|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/whitney-houston/biography|work=The Rolling Stones}}</ref>

==Commercial performance==
In the United States, ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' debuted at number 22 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, for the issue dated November 24, 1990. In its second week, it leapt to number five; the following week saw its peak position, at number three behind [[Vanilla Ice]]'s ''[[To the Extreme]]'' and [[MC Hammer]]'s ''[[Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em]]''. The album spent 22 weeks inside the top ten and was on the chart for a total of 51 weeks.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1990-12-08/billboard-200 | title = ''Billboard'' 200 chart listing for the week of December 8, 1990 | publisher = billboard.com | date = December 8, 1990 | access-date = October 8, 2010}}</ref> It also debuted at number 10 on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|''Billboard'' Top R&B Albums]] chart, the issue date of December 1, 1990, and reached the number one position of that chart three weeks later.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1990-12-01/r-b-hip-hop-albums | title = ''Billboard'' Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart listing for the week of December 1, 1990| magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]| date = December 1, 1990 | access-date = June 4, 2010}}</ref><ref name="rnbalbums19901222">{{cite magazine | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1990-12-22/r-b-hip-hop-albums | title = ''Billboard'' Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart listing for the week of December 22, 1990 | magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date = December 22, 1990 | access-date = June 4, 2010}}</ref> The record was at the top of the R&B/Hip-Hop chart for eight non-consecutive weeks, and was present on that chart for a total of 53 weeks.<ref name="rnbalbums19901222"/><ref>{{cite book | author = Gail Mitchell | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=MQ0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64 | title = Arista Aims New Houston Album at 'Core Urban' Fans | publisher = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date = December 14, 2002 | access-date = October 11, 2010}}</ref> Due to its great performance on the chart, it became the #1 R&B album on the ''Billboard'' year-end charts for 1991.<ref name="1991billboard"/><ref name="1991bmachicagotribune"/> The album was certified 4× platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] on April 5, 1995, and since [[Nielsen SoundScan]] began tracking sales data in May 1991, it had sold (as of 2009) 1,728,000 copies in the United States; this numerical amount does not include copies sold in the initial months of the album's release or its sales through mail-order sources such as [[Columbia House]] or [[BMG Music Club]].<ref name="1990sriaaawards03"/><ref>{{cite web | author = Gary Trust | url = http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267709/ask-billboard-madonna-vs-whitney-whos-sold-more | title =  Ask Billboard: Madonna vs. Whitney: Who's Sold More? | publisher = billboard.com | date = August 14, 2009 | access-date = October 11, 2010}}</ref> This is not its sales total, as the biggest portion of the sales occurred in November 1990, before there was Nielsen SoundScan.

The album was a hit internationally (though its sales didn't reach a level as high as the previous two albums), boosting Houston to global super-stardom. In Britain, it entered the [[UK Albums Chart]] at number 6 on November 17, 1990, and peaked at number 4, nine weeks later.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19901111/7502/ | title = UK Albums Chart listing for the week ending November 17, 1990 | publisher = [[Official Charts Company]] | date = November 17, 1990 | access-date = October 11, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19910113/7502/ | title = UK Albums Chart listing for the week ending January 19, 1991 | publisher = [[Official Charts Company]] | date = January 19, 1991 | access-date = October 11, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> The [[British Phonographic Industry]] certified the album Platinum, for shipments of 300,000 units, on November 1, 1990. In Germany, the album peaked at number three on the [[Media Control Charts|Media Control Albums Chart]], receiving Platinum certification (for shipments of 500,000 copies), by the [[Bundesverband Musikindustrie]], in 1991. It also reached the top five in other countries, such as Austria,<ref name="iybtaustria">{{cite web | author = | url = http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=I%27m+Your+Baby+Tonight&cat=a | title = ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' on Austrian Albums Chart|publisher=austriancharts.at | date = December 2, 1990 | access-date = June 4, 2010}}</ref> Norway,<ref name="iybtnorway">{{cite web|author=|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=I%27m+Your+Baby+Tonight&cat=a | title = ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' on the Norwegian Albums Chart | publisher = norwegiancharts.com | date = 1990 | access-date = June 4, 2010}}</ref> Sweden,<ref name="iybtsweden">{{cite web | author = | url = http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=I%27m+Your+Baby+Tonight&cat=a | title = ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' on the Swedish Albums Chart | publisher = swedishcharts.com | date = November 7, 1990 | access-date = June 4, 2010}}</ref> and Switzerland.<ref name="iybtswitzerland">{{cite web | author = | url = http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=I%27m+Your+Baby+Tonight&cat=a | title = ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' on the Swiss Albums Chart | publisher = hitparade.ch | date = November 25, 1990 | access-date = June 4, 2010}}</ref> To date, the album has sold approximately 10 million copies worldwide.<ref name="wwsales">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/musics-30-fiercest-feuds-beefs-taylor-kanye-slash-axl-w498640/mariah-carey-vs-whitney-houston-w498794|title=Music's 30 Fiercest Feuds and Beefs|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Jordan|last=Runtagh|date=September 15, 2017|access-date=October 10, 2017|archive-date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019161624/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/musics-30-fiercest-feuds-beefs-taylor-kanye-slash-axl-w498640/mariah-carey-vs-whitney-houston-w498794|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Singles==
[[File:Whitney Houston Welcome Heroes 6.JPEG|thumb|right|Houston performing during the ''[[Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston|Welcome Home Heroes]]'' concert.]]
''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' produced six singles between October 1990 and April 1992. The first single, "I'm Your Baby Tonight", peaked at number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] on December 1, 1990, staying for a week.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1990-12-01/hot-100 | title = Hot 100 Singles chart listing for week ending December 1, 1990 | publisher = billboard.com | date = December 1, 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref> On the same day, the song also topped the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B Singles]] chart for two weeks, marking the first time in four years that Houston topped the chart.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1990-12-08/r-b-hip-hop-songs | title = Hot R&B Singles chart listing for the week ending December 8, 1990 | publisher = billboard.com | date = December 8, 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref> It was a top twenty hit on the [[adult contemporary (chart)|AC chart]], peaking at number 17 and staying on the chart for 28 weeks.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1990-12-15/adult-contemporary | title = Hot Adult Contemporary chart listing for the week ending December 15, 1990 | publisher = billboard.com | date = December 15, 1990 | access-date = October 8, 2010}}</ref> The single was certified gold for shipments of 500,000 copies by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) on November 27, 1990.<ref name="1990sriaaawards01"/> Nearly 33 years later, in January 2023, the same song was certified platinum for one million equivalent sales and streams. Houston was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance#1990s|Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female]] with this track at the [[33rd Grammy Awards]] of 1991.<ref name="grammybestfemalepop">{{cite web | url = http://www.rockonthenet.com/grammy/popfemale.htm | title = Grammy Awards History: Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female | publisher = rockonthenet.com | date = February 20, 1991 | access-date = October 10, 2010}}</ref> This success was repeated with the follow-up single, "All the Man That I Need", which reached the pole position of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on February 23, 1991, accumulating two weeks atop the chart.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1991-02-23/hot-100 | title = Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week ending February 23, 1991 | publisher = billboard.com | date = February 23, 1991 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref> The song would reach number one on both the R&B and adult contemporary charts on March 2, marking her first triple-crown ''Billboard'' number one hit since 1986.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1991-03-02/hot-100 | title =  Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week ending March 2, 1991 | publisher = billboard.com | date = March 2, 1991 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1991-03-02/r-b-hip-hop-songs | title = Hot R&B Singles chart listing for the week ending March 2, 1991 | publisher =  billboard.com | date = March 2, 1991 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1991-03-02/adult-contemporary | title = Hot Adult Contemporary chart listing for the week ending March 2, 1991 | publisher = billboard.com | date = March 2, 1991 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref> With this success, Houston made history as the first solo female act to produce multiple number ones off three or more albums. Much like the title track, the single also earned a gold RIAA certification for sales of 500,000 copies in March 1991.<ref name="1990sriaaawards02"/> In March 2019, the ballad was certified platinum for one million equivalent sales and streams. Houston received a nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female at the [[34th Grammy Awards]] in 1992, which was her fifth nomination in that category.<ref name="grammybestfemalepop"/>

The third single, "Miracle", became the album's third top ten single on all three ''Billboard'' charts, reaching number nine on the Hot 100 on June 8.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1991-06-08/hot-100 | title = Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week ending June 8, 1991 | publisher = billboard.com | date = June 8, 1991 | access-date = October 10, 2010}}</ref> It would reach numbers two and four respectively on the R&B and AC charts later that month.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1991-06-22/r-b-hip-hop-songs | title = Hot R&B Singles chart listing for the week ending June 22, 1991 | publisher =  billboard.com | date = June 22, 1991 | access-date = October 10, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1991-06-08/adult-contemporary | title = Hot Adult Contemporary chart listing for the week ending June 8, 1991 | publisher = billboard.com | date = June 8, 1991 | access-date = October 10, 2010}}</ref> The fourth single, "My Name is Not Susan" peaked inside the top 20 of the Hot 100 in September; on the R&B chart, it became a top ten hit, peaking at number eight that same month.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/1991-09-21/ |title=Hot R&B Singles |date=September 21, 1991 |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=May 4, 2025}}</ref> The song is notable for including a remix featuring British female rapper [[Monie Love]], marking one of the first times a female rapper guest starred on a remix of a pop song, predating [[Janet Jackson]]'s future collaboration with female rapper [[MC Lyte]] on a remix of her 1994 hit "[[You Want This]]". The following two singles - "[[I Belong to You (Whitney Houston song)|I Belong to You]]" and "[[We Didn't Know]]" - were only released and promoted to R&B retail and radio, with the former reaching number ten on the R&B singles chart in February 1992 and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1992-02-08/r-b-hip-hop-songs | title = Hot R&B Singles chart listing for the week ending February 8, 1992 | publisher = billboard.com | date = February 8, 1992 | access-date = October 10, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rockonthenet.com/grammy/randbfemale.htm | title = Grammy Awards History: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | publisher = rockonthenet.com | date = February 24, 1993 | access-date = October 10, 2010}}</ref> The latter peaked inside the top 20 on July 4, 1992.<ref>{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=QRIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA18 | title = Hot R&B Singles chart listing for the week ending July 4, 1992 | publisher = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date = July 4, 1992 | access-date = October 10, 2010}}</ref> Houston's success with the first four singles resulted in her being ranked the third top pop singles and top R&B singles artist of 1991, according to ''Billboard''.<ref name="1991billboard"/><ref name="91bbend"/> In addition to being the top R&B albums and singles artists of 1991 on ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'', Houston was also ranked the top female crossover artist of the year on the same magazine.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1991/CB-1991-12-28.pdf |magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)Cash Box]] |date=December 28, 1991 |title=Cash Box Year End '91 |accessdate=May 8, 2025}}</ref>

Globally, the title track became a smash following European promotion. In Italy, it reached number one on the ''Musica e dischi'' singles chart in November 1990 and remained atop for five weeks. In the United Kingdom, the single entered the [[UK Singles Chart]] at number sixteen on October 20, 1990, and peaked at number five two weeks later, becoming her eighth top ten hit.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19901020/7501/ | title = UK Singles Chart listing for the week of October 20, 1990 | publisher = [[Official Charts Company]] | date = October 20, 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19901028/7501/ | title = UK Singles Chart listing for the week of November 3, 1990 | publisher = [[Official Charts Company]] | date = November 3, 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> It also reached the top five in many countries such as Austria,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=I%27m+Your+Baby+Tonight&cat=s | title = "I'm Your Baby Tonight" on the Austrian Singles Chart | publisher = austriancharts.at | date = December 2, 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref> Belgium,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/chart-list/865 |title=Belgian VRT Top 30 Chart listing for the week of December 8, 1990 |publisher=top30-2.radio2.be |date=December 8, 1990 |access-date=October 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409063716/http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/search/Bryan_Adams |archive-date=April 9, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> France,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=I%27m+Your+Baby+Tonight&cat=s | title = "I'm Your Baby Tonight" on the French Singles Chart | publisher = lescharts.com | date = December 29, 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref> Germany,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.officialcharts.de/charts.asp?cat=s&country=de&year=1990&date=19901210&x=33&y=6 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114223/http://www.officialcharts.de/charts.asp?cat=s&country=de&year=1990&date=19901210&x=33&y=6 | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 26, 2014 | title = Media Control Top 100 Singles Chart listing for the week of December 17, 1990 | publisher = Media Control GfK International | date = December 17, 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref> the Netherlands,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=I%27m+Your+Baby+Tonight&cat=s | title = "I'm Your Baby Tonight" on the Dutch Singles Chart | publisher = dutchcharts.nl | date = November 24, 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref> Norway,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=I%27m+Your+Baby+Tonight&cat=s | title = "I'm Your Baby Tonight" on the Norwegian Singles Chart | publisher = norwegiancharts.com | date = October 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref> Sweden,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=I%27m+Your+Baby+Tonight&cat=s | title = "I'm Your Baby Tonight" on the Swedish Singles Chart | publisher = swedishcharts.com | date = November 7, 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref> and Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=I%27m+Your+Baby+Tonight&cat=s | title = "I'm Your Baby Tonight" on the Swiss Singles Chart | publisher = hitparade.ch | date = December 9, 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref> It also went top ten in Australia and Ireland.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=I%27m+Your+Baby+Tonight&cat=s | title = "I'm Your Baby Tonight" on the Australian Singles Chart | publisher = australian-charts.com | date = December 2, 1990 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref><ref name="irishsingleschart">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=Irish Singles Chart (searchable database) |publisher=irishcharts.ie |access-date=October 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630122742/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |archive-date=June 30, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Like the title track, "All the Man That I Need" achieved global success, but on a smaller scale. It reached number one on the Canadian ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top 100 Singles chart for one week and number ten on Belgian VRT Top 30 chart.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1455&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0 | title = Canadian ''RPM'' Top Singles chart listing for the week of March 2, 1991 | magazine = [[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] | date = March 2, 1991 | access-date = October 9, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121019171807/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1455&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0 | archive-date = October 19, 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/chart-list/876 |title=Belgian VRT Top 30 chart listing for the week of February 2, 1991 |publisher=top30-2.radio2.be |date=February 2, 1991 |access-date=October 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409063716/http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/search/Bryan_Adams |archive-date=April 9, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The ballad reached the top twenty in Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.<ref name="irishsingleschart"/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Whitney+Houston&titel=All+The+Man+That+I+Need&cat=s | title = "All the Man That I Need" on the Dutch Singles Chart | publisher = dutchcharts.nl | date = January 26, 1991 | access-date = October 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19910113/7501/ | title = UK Singles Chart for the week of January 19, 1991 | publisher = [[Official Charts Company]] | date = January 19, 1991 | access-date = October 9, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Included on the tracklisting of the album's Japanese edition is a cover of [[Steve Winwood]]'s "[[Higher Love]]", which was resurrected by Norwegian DJ [[Kygo]] in 2019, and "Takin' a Chance"; the latter became a success in the country.

== Promotion and appearances ==
During the months of November and December 1990, Houston appeared and performed on several European shows to promote the album. Returning home to the United States in December following the album's release, Houston appeared on ''[[The Arsenio Hall Show]]'' on December 4 to perform "[[All the Man That I Need]]" and "[[We Didn't Know]]" with [[Stevie Wonder]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/the-arsenio-hall-show/december-4-1990-1368279/|title=The Arsenio Hall Show - Season 3, Episode 60: December 4, 1990|publisher=TV.com}}</ref> A week later, Houston appeared on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'' for the first time since December 1985, with [[Jay Leno]] as a guest host. On the show, she performed "All the Man That I Need" along with "[[Do You Hear What I Hear?]]". On January 4, 1991, Houston returned to ''The Arsenio Hall Show'' where she performed "[[I'm Your Baby Tonight (song)|I'm Your Baby Tonight]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/the-arsenio-hall-show/january-4-1991-1368350/|title=The Arsenio Hall Show - Season 3, Episode 71: January 4, 1991|publisher=TV.com}}</ref> On February 23, Houston made her debut on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' as the musical guest and performed "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "All the Man That I Need"; on the same day she performed on the show, the song had hit number one on the pop charts. Following her [[The Star Spangled Banner (Whitney Houston recording)|iconic and memorable rendition]] of the [[Star-Spangled Banner]] at [[Super Bowl XXV]], Houston headlined her first [[HBO]]-TV concert, ''[[Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston]]'', performing for members of the US armed forces returning from the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800151221/info|title=Whitney Houston - Welcome Home Heroes With Whitney Houston (1991)|publisher=movies.yahoo.com|access-date=September 26, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604012358/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800151221/info|archive-date=June 4, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=77oDAAAAMBAJ&q=whitney+houston+tour&pg=PA37|title=Whitney Houston Welcomes Home U.S. Troops In Live HBO TV Special On Easter|publisher=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|date=April 1, 1991|access-date=January 9, 2010}}</ref> On May 12, while on her tour, a performance of Houston's at Oakland, California was simulcasted on the [[MTV]] concert tour, ''The Simple Truth: A Concert for Kurdish Refugees'', a five-hour telethon that broadcast in 36 countries, raising $15 million to aid the Kurds. Houston performed "[[My Name Is Not Susan]]", "[[Miracle (Whitney Houston song)|Miracle]]" and "[[The Greatest Love of All#Whitney Houston version|Greatest Love of All]]" during the broadcast.<ref name=simpletruth>{{cite web|author=Neil McCartney|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055314/plotsummary|title=Plot Summary for The Simple Truth: A Concert for Kurdish Refugees (1991)|publisher=[[imdb.com]]|access-date=September 26, 2009}}</ref> On June 23, 1991, a Houston show at the [[Greensboro Coliseum]] of her performing "I'm Your Baby Tonight" was shown on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] TV special, ''Coca Cola Pop Music Backstage Pass to Summer'' highlighting several rock concerts of that year, including Houston's.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976028/|title=Coca Cola Pop Music Backstage Pass to Summer (1991) (TV)|publisher=imdb.com|access-date=November 1, 2009}}</ref>

On December 4, 1991, nearly two months after the end of her world tour to promote the album and while shooting her first film, ''[[The Bodyguard (1992 film)|The Bodyguard]]'', Houston performed at the second annual [[Billboard Music Awards]] after being announced by her cousin, American singer [[Dionne Warwick]]. There, she performed a medley of "[[Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)]]", "[[My Man (song)|My Man]]" and "All the Man That I Need"; afterwards, she received her four Billboard awards for the album. On January 27, 1992, Houston performed a medley of "I'm Your Baby Tonight", "My Name Is Not Susan" and "Who Do You Love" at the [[American Music Awards of 1992|19th American Music Awards]], after being introduced by [[MC Hammer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1992/amas.htm |title=Rock On The Net: 19th American Music Awards presented in 1992}}</ref> On February 16, Houston appeared at the taping of the ''[[Muhammad Ali]]'s 50th Birthday Celebration'' to honor the boxer's 50th birthday where she dedicated "Greatest Love of All" to him; the song had originally been the theme of the 1977 Ali biopic, ''[[The Greatest (1977 film)|The Greatest]]''. She later join [[Diana Ross]] and other celebrities onstage to sing a duet of "[[You've Got a Friend]]" at the end of the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wireimage.com/ItemListings.aspx?igi=55490&nbc1=1&NavTyp=CAL |title=Taping of "Muhammad Ali's 50th Birthday Celebration" |publisher=wireimage.com |access-date=September 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722040057/http://wireimage.com/ItemListings.aspx?igi=55490&nbc1=1&NavTyp=CAL |archive-date=July 22, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-MADAAAAMBAJ&q=1992+muhammad+ali+50th+birthday+celebration+whitney+houston+jet+march+1&pg=PA66|title=TELEVISION: Hammer Highlights 'Showcase'|publisher=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|date=March 2, 1992|access-date=September 27, 2009}}</ref> On May 6, 1992, Houston had her first TV special, ''Whitney Houston: This Is My Life'', which featured eight of her performances at the [[Coliseum da Coruña]] in [[A Coruña]], [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], [[Spain]], taken on September 29, 1991, along with rehearsal performances of the gospel tune "This Day" and "Greatest Love of All".

==Tour==
{{Main|I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour}}
[[File:Wembley Arena - Fountain.JPG|right|thumb|Houston broke her previous concert record of nine shows at the Wembley Arena with ten during the ''I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour'' in 1991.]]
On March 14 and 15, 1991, Houston launched what would be a 97-date world tour at the [[Yokohama Arena]] in [[Yokohama, Japan]]. It would be her only two performances in Asia. On March 31, she took the stage at the [[Norfolk Naval Base]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]] to perform for over 3,500 American troops returning from the [[Persian Gulf War]] for her ''[[Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston]]'' HBO concert. At the time, the show was the most watched concert in its history, viewed by over 50 million viewers after the channel agreed to air the concert for free, rather than have it be a [[pay-per-view]] concert. The tour was then formally launched at the [[Thompson–Boling Arena]] in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] on April 18.

The show was different from Houston's previous tours where she had performed without many theatrics compared to her contemporaries. For this tour, however, she performed with male backup dancers and was surrounded by [[pyrotechnics]]. In addition, Houston began wearing [[catsuits]] designed for her by South African fashion designer [[Marc Bouwer]].

The North American leg of the tour was plagued by ticket price rises during the [[Early 1990s recession|1991 recession]], which led to many pop and rock concerts sometimes performing in front of half-filled arenas and stadiums. Houston would perform 66 dates throughout North America. During the Canadian stops of the tour, Houston had to cancel several dates due to a vocal injury.

After resuming the rest of the tour in the States, she headed off to Europe where she performed six shows at the [[NEC Arena]] in [[Birmingham]], England between August 27 and September 1. Then, starting from September 3 through September 15, Houston performed a record-setting ten shows at [[London]]'s [[Wembley Arena]] outdoing her [[Moment of Truth World Tour|previous tour's record of nine]]. Houston also performed a series of shows at the [[Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre]] in [[Glasgow]], the [[Rotterdam Ahoy]] in [[Rotterdam]], Netherlands where she performed six straight dates, as well as the [[Coliseum da Coruña]] in [[A Coruña]], [[Spain]], the [[Festhalle Frankfurt]] in [[Frankfurt]], Germany and two shows at the [[Accor Arena|Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy]] in [[Paris]], where she ended the tour on October 2. Unlike the North American leg, Houston's 29 tour dates in Europe were all sold out.

==Accolades==
{{See also|List of awards and nominations received by Whitney Houston}}
Houston received several awards and nominations for her work on the album. For three consecutive [[Grammy Award]] ceremonies, three songs — "I'm Your Baby Tonight", "All the Man That I Need" and "I Belong to You" — all received Grammy nominations. The former two won Houston nominations in the [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance|Best Female Pop Vocal Performance]] at the [[33rd Annual Grammy Awards|1991]] and [[34th Annual Grammy Awards|1992]] ceremonies respectively, while the latter ballad earned her a nomination in the [[Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance|Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]] category in [[35th Annual Grammy Awards|35th annual ceremony in 1993]].<ref name=grammypopvocal>{{cite web | url = http://www.rockonthenet.com/grammy/popfemale.htm | title = Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female | publisher = [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]] | access-date = February 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rockonthenet.com/grammy/randbfemale.htm | title = Grammy Awards: Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female | publisher = [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]] | date = February 24, 1993 | access-date = February 9, 2010}}</ref> At the [[American Music Awards of 1992|1992 American Music Awards]], Houston received four nominations including [[American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album|Favorite Soul/R&B Album]], while also receiving Favorite Female Artist nods in the pop, R&B and adult contemporary fields.<ref name="1992ama">{{cite web | url = http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1992/amas.htm | title = 1992 The 19th American Music Awards Winners & Nominees | publisher = rockonthenet.com | date = January 27, 1992 | access-date = June 29, 2010}}</ref>

At the 1992 [[NAACP Image Awards]], Houston received two nominations, including [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist|Outstanding Female Artist]].<ref name="1992naacp01">{{cite news | author = David J. Fox | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-16-ca-575-story.html | title = NAACP Flap Taints Annual Image Awards, Awards: A local chapter of the group, involved in a conflict with the national organization, vows to seek an injunction against the event. (p2) | newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]] | date = October 16, 1991 | access-date = June 29, 2010}}</ref> Houston received a [[Brit Award]] nomination for International Female Artist at the 1991 ceremony.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1991 | title = The BRITs 1991 | publisher = [[British Phonographic Industry]] | date = February 10, 1991 | access-date = February 9, 2010 | archive-date = January 13, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120113123508/http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1991 | url-status = dead }}</ref> At the [[1992 Soul Train Music Awards]], Houston won two nominations including [[Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album - Female|Best R&B/Soul Album - Female]] for the album while "All the Man That I Need" received a nomination for [[Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single - Female|Best R&B/Soul Single - Female]].<ref name="1992soultrainawards">{{cite news | author = Dennis Hunt | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-12-ca-5266-story.html | title = Year of the Newcomer at Soul Train, Pop music: Color Me Badd, Jodeci and Lisa Fischer sweep key awards during the sixth annual R&B/soul awards competition | newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]] | date = March 12, 1992 | access-date = June 29, 2010}}</ref> For her performance on the ''[[Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston|Welcome Home Heroes]]'' concert, Houston won the CableACE Award for Best Performance in a Music Special or Series, while the show itself received the nomination for Best Music Special.<ref name="1992cableace">{{cite news | url = https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920113/1469987/ace-awards-honor-the-best-in-cable-tv-programming | title = Ace Awards Honor The Best In Cable-TV Programming | newspaper = [[The Seattle Times]] | date = January 13, 1992 | access-date = June 29, 2010 | archive-date = September 28, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120928113531/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19920113&slug=1469987 | url-status = live }}</ref> In December 1991, Houston won four [[Billboard Music Awards]], including [[Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Album|Top R&B Album]] and [[Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Artist|Top R&B Artist]]; while accepting her wins from cousin [[Dionne Warwick]], Houston held one of the trophies and yelled, "yeah, how you like me now?!", probably in response to critics who derided her for "not being black enough".<ref name="1991billboard">{{cite news | url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/466219481.html?dids=466219481:466219481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+11%2C+1991&author=AP&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Adams+wins+Billboard+single+award&pqatl=google | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121102191119/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/466219481.html?dids=466219481:466219481&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+11,+1991&author=AP&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Adams+wins+Billboard+single+award&pqatl=google | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 2, 2012 | title = Adams wins Billboard single award | newspaper = [[Toronto Star]] | date =  December 11, 1991 | access-date = June 29, 2010}}</ref><ref name="1991bmachicagotribune">{{cite news | author = Jan DeKnock | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/12/27/year-ends-well-for-countrys-hottest-stars/ | title = Year Ends Well For Country's Hottest Stars (p3) | newspaper = [[Chicago Tribune]] | date = December 27, 1991 | access-date = June 29, 2010}}</ref> The following month, in January 1992, Houston was the recipient of the Music Award at the [[Ebony (magazine)|American Black Achievement Awards]] for her accomplishments during 1991, including the release of the ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' album and its subsequent tour as well as Houston's performance of "[[The Star Spangled Banner (Whitney Houston song)|The Star-Spangled Banner]]" performed at [[Super Bowl XXV]].<ref name="1991abaa">{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ANQDAAAAMBAJ&q=13th%20american%20black%20achievement%20awards&pg=PA66 | title = Complete List of ABAA Recipients and Honorees - 1991 | publisher = [[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]] | date = January 1992 | access-date = June 29, 2010}}</ref>

On November 27, 1990, just a month after its release, the "I'm Your Baby Tonight" single was certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).<ref name="1990sriaaawards01">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Whitney%20Houston&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152321/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Whitney%20Houston&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=Whitney Houston RIAA certification awards - 1990s (Part 1) |publisher=The [[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date=July 5, 2010 }}</ref> Less than two months later, on January 15, 1991, the album received gold, platinum and double-platinum certifications for sales and shipments of two million copies.<ref name="1990sriaaawards01"/> On March 21, "All the Man That I Need" was certified gold by the same association.<ref name="1990sriaaawards02">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Whitney%20Houston&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |title=Whitney Houston RIAA certification awards - 1990s (Part 2) |publisher=The [[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date=July 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725043408/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Whitney%20Houston&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |archive-date=July 25, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> On May 2, the album was certified triple-platinum.<ref name="1990sriaaawards02"/> Less than four years later, on April 5, 1995, it was re-certified four times platinum.<ref name="1990sriaaawards03">{{cite web| url =https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=3&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Whitney%20Houston&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25| title =Whitney Houston RIAA certification awards - 1990s (Part 3)| publisher =The [[Recording Industry Association of America]]| access-date =July 5, 2010| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154553/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=3&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Whitney%20Houston&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25| archive-date =September 24, 2015| df =mdy-all}}</ref>

For the 1991 year-end list on ''Billboard'', ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' was ranked the tenth best-selling album of the year, higher than Houston's last album, ''Whitney'', which ranked as the twelfth best-selling album of 1988.<ref name=91bbend>{{cite magazine | title = ''Billboard'' magazine: The Year in Music 1991, Special Double Issue | magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date = December 28, 1991 }}</ref> On other pop album fields, Houston was the sixth top selling pop artist, the eleventh top albums artist and third top female albums artist.<ref name=91bbend/> On pop single fields, she was ranked the third top selling pop artist of the year and the second top selling female singles artist behind [[Mariah Carey]].<ref name=91bbend/> "All the Man That I Need" was ranked the 18th and 3rd best-selling R&B and adult contemporary single of the year respectively.<ref name=91bbend/> On the adult contemporary field, Houston was ranked in sixth place.<ref name=91bbend/>

==Legacy==
According to [[Kelly Rowland]], the singer got in the group [[Destiny's Child]] after auditioning for the group by singing the title track; Rowland revealed this information as a guest advisor on ''[[The Voice (American TV series)|The Voice]]'' in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kelly-rowland-reveals-whitney-houston-041027532.html |title=Kelly Rowland reveals Whitney Houston song that got her in Destiny's Child |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=October 18, 2017 |access-date=May 4, 2025}}</ref> In addition, the rapid-fire singing approach Houston took with the songs on the album influenced the vocal direction of the group, in particular its lead singer, [[Beyoncé]].

In addition, the title track became the first number one hit on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] to be composed by L.A. Reid and Babyface and, following its peak in December 1990, led to [[Clive Davis]] distributing the duo's [[LaFace Records]] label, which found success with artists such as [[Toni Braxton]], [[TLC (group)|TLC]], [[Outkast]], [[Pink (singer)|Pink]] and [[Usher (musician)|Usher]].

The album also personally influenced Houston to assert more control of her work. From then on, Houston would serve as executive producer on all of her subsequent albums after ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'', including the soundtracks to ''[[The Bodyguard (soundtrack)|The Bodyguard]]'' (1992) and ''[[The Preacher's Wife (soundtrack)|The Preacher's Wife]]'' (1996), as well as the multi-artist [[Waiting to Exhale (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] to ''[[Waiting to Exhale]]'' (1995) and other studio albums such as ''[[My Love Is Your Love]]'' (1998) and ''[[I Look to You]]'' (2009).

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline        = ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' – {{nobold|Standard edition}}
| extra_column    = Producer(s)
| title1          = [[I'm Your Baby Tonight (song)|I'm Your Baby Tonight]]
| writer1         = {{hlist|[[L.A. Reid]]|[[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]]}}
| extra1          = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface}}
| length1         = 4:59
| title2          = [[My Name Is Not Susan]]
| writer2         = Eric Foster White
| extra2          = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface}}
| length2         = 4:39
| title3          = [[All the Man That I Need]]
| writer3         = {{hlist|[[Dean Pitchford]]|[[Michael Gore]]}}
| extra3          = [[Narada Michael Walden]]
| length3         = 4:11
| title4          = Lover for Life
| writer4         = [[Sam Dees]]
| extra4          = Walden
| length4         = 4:49
| title5          = Anymore
| writer5         = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface}}
| extra5          = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface}}
| length5         = 4:23
| title6          = [[Miracle (Whitney Houston song)|Miracle]]
| writer6         = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface}}
| extra6          = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface}}
| length6         = 5:42
| title7          = [[I Belong to You (Whitney Houston song)|I Belong to You]]
| writer7         = {{hlist|Derek Bramble|Franne Golde}}
| extra7          = Walden
| length7         = 5:30
| title8          = Who Do You Love
| writer8         = {{hlist|[[Luther Vandross]]|[[Hubert Eaves III]]}}
| extra8          = Vandross
| length8         = 3:57
| title9          = [[We Didn't Know]]
| note9           = duet with [[Stevie Wonder]]
| writer9         = Stevie Wonder
| extra9          = Wonder
| length9         = 5:30
| title10          = After We Make Love
| writer10         = {{hlist|[[Michael Masser]]|[[Gerry Goffin]]}}
| extra10          = Masser
| length10         = 5:07
| title11          = I'm Knockin{{'-}}
| writer11         = {{hlist|[[Rhett Lawrence]]|[[Ricky Minor]]|[[BeBe Winans|Benjamin Winans]]}}
| extra11          = {{hlist|Minor|Whitney Houston}}
| length11         = 4:58
}}
{{Track listing
| headline        = Japanese edition – bonus tracks<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.discogs.com/release/1126480-Whitney-Houston-Im-Your-Baby-Tonight | title = ''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' | website = [[Discogs]] | date = November 11, 1990 | access-date= December 14, 2022}}</ref>
| extra_column    = Producer(s)
| total_length    = 
| title12          = [[Takin' a Chance]]
| writer12        = {{hlist|Houston|Winans|[[Keith Thomas (producer)|Keith Thomas]]}}
| extra12          = {{hlist|Winans|Thomas}}
| length12         = 4:11
| title13          = [[Higher Love]]
| writer13         = {{hlist|[[Steve Winwood]]|[[Will Jennings]]}}
| extra13          = Walden
| length13         = 5:09
}}

'''Notes'''
* In countries outside the US, Canada, and Latin America, the "Yvonne Turner Mix" of "I'm Your Baby Tonight" replaced the L.A. Reid/Babyface original version as track 1.

==Personnel==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*[[Whitney Houston]] – vocals, background vocals, vocal arrangements
*[[Walter Afanasieff]] – keyboards, [[Moog synthesizer|Moog bass]], synthesizers
*Tawatha Agee – background vocals
*[[Gerald Albright]] – saxophone
*Skip Anderson – drums, keyboards
*[[Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds|Babyface]] – keyboards, [[Memorymoog]] bass, vocals, background vocals
*Kitty Beethoven – background vocals
*Louis Biancaniello – synthesizer, keyboards
*Gary Bias – [[alto saxophone]]
*Vernon "Ice" Black – guitar
*Kimberly Brewer – background vocals
* [[Raymond Lee Brown|Ray Brown]] – trumpet
*Chris Camozzi – guitar
*Francisco Centeno – bass
*[[Paulinho Da Costa]] – percussion
*[[Hubert Eaves III]] – synthesizer, drums, keyboards
*[[Steve Ferrone]] – drums
*Lynn Fiddmont – background vocals
*[[Kenny G]] – saxophone
*[[Jerry Hey]] – strings
*Dorian Holley – background vocals
*[[Cissy Houston]] – background vocals
*[[Paul Jackson Jr.]] – guitar
*[[Skyler Jett]] – background vocals
*Keith John – background vocals
*Melisa Kary – background vocals
*Kayo – [[Fender bass]], [[Moog synthesizer|Moog bass]]
*[[Randy Kerber]] – strings, keyboards
*Ren Klyce – [[Fairlight synthesizer]]
{{col-2}}
*[[Robbie Kondor]] – strings, keyboards, rhythm
*Neil Larsen – [[Hammond organ]]
*Ricky Lawson – synthesizer, percussion, drums
*Wayne Linsey – piano
*Frank Martin – piano, keyboards, [[vibraphone]]
*Paulette McWilliams – background vocals
*Jason Miles – synthesizer
*[[Ricky Minor]] – synthesizer, bass, horn, background vocals, rhythm, [[synth bass|synthesized bass]]
*Billy Myers – horn
*Rafael Padilla – percussion
*Donald Parks – [[Fairlight synthesizer]]
*[[L.A. Reid]] – percussion, drums
*Claytoven Richardson – background vocals
*[[Tom Scott (saxophonist)|Tom Scott]] – saxophone
*Michael "Patches" Stewart – trumpet
*Annie Stocking – background vocals
*Steve Tavaglione – horn, [[tenor saxophone]]
*Jeanie Tracy – background vocals
*[[Luther Vandross]] – vocals
*[[Narada Michael Walden]] – synthesized bass, percussion
*David Ward II – synthesizer
*Bill Washer – guitar
*[[Kirk Whalum]] – saxophone, tenor saxophone
*Brenda White-King – background vocals
*[[BeBe Winans]] – background vocals
*[[CeCe Winans]] – background vocals
*[[Stevie Wonder]] – vocals, multiple instruments, performer
*Reggie C. Young – [[trombone]]
{{col-end}}

===Production===
{{div col}}
*L.A. Reid - producer, arranger
*Babyface  - producer, arranger
*Jon Gass - recording
*Barney Perkins - recording
*Donnell Sullivan - engineer
*Ryan Dorn - engineer
*Jim Zumpano - engineer
*Cynthia Ahiloh - production coordination
*Marsha Burns - production coordination
*Susanne Edgren - production coordination
*Janice Lee - production coordination
*Cynthia Shiloh - production coordination
*Kevin Walden - production coordination
*Gar Wood - production coordination
*Stephanie Andrews - project coordinator
*Robert A. Arbittier - sound design
*Louis Biancaniello - drum programming, additional programming
*Walter Afanasieff - drum programming
*Ren Klyce - programming
*Ricky Lawson - programming
*Jason Miles - programming
*David Ward II - programming
*Hubert Eaves III - drum programming
*Skip Anderson - keyboard programming
*Donald Parks - keyboard programming
*John Anderson - arranger
*Hubert Eaves III - keyboard programming, arranger
*Whitney Houston - arranger, vocal arrangement, producer
*Randy Kerber - arranger
*Robbie Kondor - arranger
*Ricky Minor - arranger, horn arrangements
*Billy Myers - arranger, horn arrangements
*Steve Tavaglione - arranger, horn arrangements
*Luther Vandross - arranger
*Narada Michael Walden - arranger
*BeBe Winans - arranger
*CeCe Winans - arranger
*Stevie Wonder - arranger
*Jerry Hey - string arrangements
*Susan Mendola - art direction
*[[Andrea Blanch]] - photography
*Tim White - photography
*Bernard Maisner - lettering
*Kevyn Aucoin - make-u
*Patrick Poussard - make-up
*Barbara Dente - stylist
*Ellen La Var - hair stylist
*[[George Marino]] - mastering
{{div col end}}

== Charts ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1990–1991 weekly chart performance for ''I'm Your Baby Tonight''
! scope="col"| Chart (1990–1991)
! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position
|-
{{Album chart|Australia|10|artist=Whitney Houston|album=I'm Your Baby Tonight|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Austria|2|artist=Whitney Houston|album=I'm Your Baby Tonight|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"|Belgian Albums ([[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|IFPI]])<ref name="iybteu22">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-12-22.pdf|date=December 22, 1990|title=''Music & Media'': Top 10 in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=7|number=51|page=52|access-date=July 4, 2024}}</ref>
| 5
|-
{{Album chart|Canada|12|chartid=1416|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"|Danish Albums ([[IFPI Danmark]])<ref name="iybteu22"/>
| 1
|-
{{Album chart|Netherlands|4|artist=Whitney Houston|album=I'm Your Baby Tonight|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"|[[European Top 100 Albums]] (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-12-01.pdf|date=December 1, 1990|title=''Music & Media'': European Top 100 Albums|magazine=Music & Media|volume=7|number=48|page=VIII|access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref>
| 2
|-
! scope="row"|Finnish Albums ([[Musiikkituottajat]])<ref name="iybteu1">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-12-01.pdf|date=December 1, 1990|title=''Music & Media'': Top 3 Albums in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=7|number=48|page=VII|access-date=July 4, 2024}}</ref>
| 2
|-
{{Album chart|Germany4|3|id=1144|artist=Whitney Houston|album=I'm Your Baby Tonight|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"|Greek Albums ([[IFPI Greece]])<ref name="iybteu1"/>
| 1
|-
{{Album chart|Hungary|7|year=1991|week=7|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"|Italian Albums (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-12-08.pdf|date=December 8, 1990|title=''Billboard'': Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|volume=102|number=49|page=78|access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref>
| 5
|-
! scope="row"| Japanese Albums (''Music Labo'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-12-01.pdf|date=December 1, 1990|title=''Billboard'': Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|volume=102|number=48|page=67|access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref>
| 4
|-
{{Album chart|New Zealand|19|artist=Whitney Houston|album=I'm Your Baby Tonight|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Norway|5|artist=Whitney Houston|album=I'm Your Baby Tonight|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"|Portuguese Albums ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref name="iybteu1"/>
| 9
|-
! scope="row"|Spanish Albums ([[Productores de Música de España|PROMUSICAE]])<ref name="iybteu1"/>
| 8
|-
{{Album chart|Sweden|3|artist=Whitney Houston|album=I'm Your Baby Tonight|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Switzerland|2|artist=Whitney Houston|album=I'm Your Baby Tonight|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|UK|4|artist=Whitney Houston|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|3|artist=Whitney Houston|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Whitney Houston|access-date=June 17, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2012 weekly chart performance for ''I'm Your Baby Tonight''
! scope="col"| Chart (2012)
! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2012-03-17/|title=''Billboard'' 200|magazine=Billboard|date=March 17, 2012|access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref>
| 32
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1990 year-end chart performance for ''I'm Your Baby Tonight''
! scope="col"| Chart (1990)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1990/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 50 Albums of 1990|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 41
|-
! scope="row"|Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/RPM/90s/1990/RPM-1990-12-22.pdf|date=December 22, 1990|title=''RPM'': Top 100 Albums of 1990|magazine=RPM|volume=53|number=6|page=12|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 67
|-
! scope="row"|Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1990&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1990|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 23
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1991 year-end chart performance for ''I'm Your Baby Tonight''
! scope="col"| Chart (1991)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"|Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/1991_album.asp|title=Jahreshitparade 1991|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 17
|-
! scope="row"|Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/RPM/90s/1991/RPM-1991-12-21.pdf|date=December 21, 1991|title=''RPM'' Albums (CDs & Cassettes) of 1991|magazine=RPM|volume=55|number=3|page=14|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 61
|-
! scope="row"|Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1991&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1991|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 35
|-
! scope="row"|European Top 100 Albums (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-12-21.pdf|date=December 21, 1991|title=''Music & Media'': European Top 100 Albums|magazine=Music & Media|volume=8|number=51–52|page=24|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 13
|-
! scope="row"|German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1991|title=Top 100 Album–Jahrescharts|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 42
|-
! scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/1991a.html|title=1991年 アルバム年間TOP100|publisher=Oricon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721003633/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/1991a.html|archive-date=July 21, 2014|access-date=July 9, 2024}}</ref>
| 78
|-
! scope="row"|Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1991/alben|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 22
|-
! scope="row"|UK Albums (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-01-11.pdf|date=January 11, 1992|title=''Music Week'': 1991 Top 100 Albums|magazine=Music Week|volume=|number=|page=21|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 56
|-
! scope="row"|US Top Pop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-12-21.pdf|date=December 21, 1991|title=''Billboard'' 1991: The Year in Music|magazine=Billboard|volume=103|number=51|page=YE-12|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 10
|-
! scope="row"|US Top Black Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-12-21.pdf|date=December 21, 1991|title=''Billboard'' 1991: The Year in Music|magazine=Billboard|volume=103|number=51|page=YE-17|access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| 1
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=July 16, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1991|access-date=April 7, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|relyear=1990|access-date=April 7, 2021|nocert=yes|salesamount=250,000|salesref=<ref name=brazilwhitsales>{{cite news |last=Souza|first=Tárik de|date=December 25, 1992|title=Balada de estio|url=http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/030015_11/79060|newspaper=[[Jornal do Brasil]] |language=pt-BR |access-date=April 3, 2020|page=2|quote=The theme song is also a leader: the big ballad "I Will Always Love You" occupies the first place for three weeks in the United States and in Brazil, she has sold 250,000 copies with each of her three previous albums.}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1991|access-date=April 7, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Gold|relyear=1990|salesamount=35,702|access-date=April 7, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|source=infodisc|relyear=1990|certyear=1991|access-date=April 7, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1991|access-date=April 7, 2021}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Ghana|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|nocert=true|salesamount=7,000|relyear=1990|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sAsEAAAAMBAJ&q=ghana|title=Ghana Protecting Copyrights|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|page=68|volume=107|issue=5|issn=0006-2510|date=February 4, 1995|access-date=May 11, 2022}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|number=2|certmonth=2|relyear=1990|certyear=1997|access-date=April 7, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1991|access-date=April 7, 2021}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Spain|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1990|certyear=1991|certref=<ref name="spain">{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=978-84-8048-639-2|page=930}}</ref>|access-date=May 13, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=April 7, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1990|certyear=1994|access-date=April 7, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=April 7, 2021|id=3253-2739-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1990|certyear=1995|salesamount=4,150,000|salesref=<ref name="mliylsoundscan">{{cite magazine|author=Gary Trust|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267709/ask-billboard-madonna-vs-whitney-whos-sold-more|title=Ask Billboard: Madonna vs. Whitney: Who's Sold More?|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=August 14, 2009|access-date=April 7, 2021}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|type=album|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|nocert=true|salesamount=10,000,000|relyear=1990|salesref=<ref name="wwsales"/>|access-date=April 7, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*''[http://www.allmusic.com/album/im-your-baby-tonight-mw0000309480 I'm Your Baby Tonight]'' at [[AllMusic]]
*''[http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-Im-Your-Baby-Tonight/master/141980 I'm Your Baby Tonight]'' at [[Discogs]]
*''[https://www.whitneyhouston.com/music/im-your-baby-tonight/ I'm Your Baby Tonight]'' at [[Whitney Houston]]'s Official Website

{{Whitney Houston}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Whitney Houston albums]]
[[Category:1990 albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Narada Michael Walden]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Michael Masser]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Luther Vandross]]
[[Category:Albums produced by L.A. Reid]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Babyface (musician)]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Stevie Wonder]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Clive Davis]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Whitney Houston]]
[[Category:Arista Records albums]]
[[Category:Funk albums by American artists]]
[[Category:Pop albums by American artists]]
[[Category:New jack swing albums]]