"Greatest Love of All" is an inspirational song written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed, originally recorded by George Benson for the 1977 Muhammad Ali film The Greatest. The original record was a moderate hit for Benson, reaching #2 on the Billboard R&B chart and making the top 40 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and adult contemporary charts.[1]
When Creed wrote the lyrics, she was in the midst of her struggle with breast cancer. The words describe her feelings about coping with a terminal illness and being a young mother. She eventually succumbed to the disease in April 1986 (at the age of 37).
The song was the fourth and final single released from Whitney Houston's self-titled multi-platinum (U.S.) first studio album, Whitney Houston. Released in April 1986, Houston's version spent three weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May of that year.[2] Clive Davis, founder of Houston's label Arista Records, was against Houston recording the song, but he eventually gave in after persuasion from Masser. The song was included as a B-side to the single "You Give Good Love", another Top 5 hit by Houston in the U.S.
Houston's original album version features a piano intro, while the single version begins with a keyboard intro. After the single became a success, it replaced the album version on subsequent copies of the album.
When Creed wrote the lyrics, she was in the midst of her struggle with breast cancer. The words describe her feelings about coping with a terminal illness and being a young mother. She eventually succumbed to the disease in April 1986 (at the age of 37).
The song was the fourth and final single released from Whitney Houston's self-titled multi-platinum (U.S.) first studio album, Whitney Houston. Released in April 1986, Houston's version spent three weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May of that year.[2] Clive Davis, founder of Houston's label Arista Records, was against Houston recording the song, but he eventually gave in after persuasion from Masser. The song was included as a B-side to the single "You Give Good Love", another Top 5 hit by Houston in the U.S.
Houston's original album version features a piano intro, while the single version begins with a keyboard intro. After the single became a success, it replaced the album version on subsequent copies of the album.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_Love_of_All
