.

Whitney Houston Debuts "I Look To You" Songs, Album Cover

July 15, 2009 5:31 PM ET

Whitney Houston premiered tracks from her upcoming album I Look To You last night at London's Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Clive Davis, who discovered the singer and shepherded her career, was also on hand to present nine unfinished songs from the LP, Billboard reports. Houston also officially unveiled the album's cover art today (see above). As Rolling Stone previously reported, I Look To You — Houston's first non-Christmas LP since 2002's Just Whitney — will be released September 1st.

"When Clive called me I was pretty ready to buy my island home [and retire] but he said, 'No, you're going to sing again, people want to hear you,' " Whitney reportedly told the audience at the Mandarin Oriental. New song "I Didn't Know My Own Strength," which was written by Grammy winner Diane Warren and produced by "I Have Nothing" producer David Foster, leaked several weeks ago. Other collaborators on I Look To You reportedly include Alicia Keys, Stargate, R. Kelly and Akon, who features on the track "Like I Never Left," Billboard writes.

The album also reportedly includes possible first single "Call You Tonight," "Million Dollar Bill," "Nuthin' But Love," the R. Kelly-penned title track, "Worth It," "For the Lovers" and a rendition of Leon Russell's oft-covered 1970 hit "A Song For You." Davis made mention that the album was not yet complete and that many of the songs were still under construction. A press release for the album indicates similar listening events will be staged in Los Angeles and New York next week.

Related Stories:
• Whitney Houston's Long-Awaited Comeback LP Due in September
• Whitney Houston Ready For Comeback, Clive Davis Says
• Clive Davis' Biggest Hits: The Legendary Record Man With His Famous Artists

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

prev
Behind Shakira's Hot Electro Groove: The Making of "She Wolf"
Music Main Next
Rolling Stones, White Stripes, Nirvana Songs Join "Guitar Hero 5"

Picks From Around the Web


blog comments powered by Disqus
Daily Newsletter

Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
marketing partners.

X

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

Most Popular

Photos & Videos

Go To Content

Random Notes: Hottest Rock Pictures

Go To Content Play Video

Video: Dave Grohl Sits in With the Rolling Stones

Go To Content

Gallery: Summer Tour Preview 2013

Best Ever Lists
100 Greatest Singers

Other Lists

Song Stories

“The Pretender”

Foo Fighters | 2007

This song wasn't part of the planned track listing for 2007's Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, and was put together in a day. "It happened after we recorded a lot of stuff," said Dave Grohl. Yet it ended up as the album opener and the lead single. Grohl called it "a stomping Foo Fighters uptempo song with a little bit of Chuck Berry in it." The singer hinted at the lyrics' political overtones: "Everyone's been f---ed over before and I think a lot of people feel f---ed over right now and they're not getting what they were promised."

More Song Stories entries »