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I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston

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I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston
Compilation album by
Whitney Houston
ReleasedMarch 24, 2023
Recorded1981–2012
Genre
Length61:42
Label
Whitney Houston chronology
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (The Movie: Whitney New, Classic and Reimagined)
(2022) 		I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston
(2023) 		The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban)
(2024)
Singles from I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston
  1. "Testimony"
    Released: February 9, 2023
  2. "He Can Use Me"
    Released: February 23, 2023

I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston is a posthumous gospel compilation album by American recording artist Whitney Houston, released on March 24, 2023 by Arista Records, Legacy Recordings, and Gaither Music Group.[1] The album features 14 tracks, including six never-before-released songs, three of which culled from a 1981 recording session when Houston was just seventeen.

Background

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In February 2023, according to Billboard, a new documentary and posthumous album would explore the singer's lifelong connection to gospel music. The album I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston, would feature previously unreleased tracks, including the upcoming first single "Testimony", issued before the full album to be released later in the year.[2] The compilation album celebrates Houston's deep roots in gospel music and showcases her talent, faith and passion for the genre. Included are renditions of classics "Jesus Loves Me", "I Love the Lord" and "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."[3] I Go to the Rock features six new unreleased gospel tracks "He Can Use Me," "I Found a Wonderful Way" and "Testimony"; and Houston's live performances of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with singer CeCe Winans, "This Day" and "He/I Believe".[4]

Commercial performance

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I Go To The Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston debuted at number 2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart dated April 8, 2023. According to Billboard, the compilation garnered 4,000 equivalent album sales during the tracking week ending March 30, 2023, propelling it at number two spot.[5]

The album marks Houston's second top ten spot and entry into the Top Gospel Albums chart.[6] Her first gospel album, 1996's The Preacher's Wife soundtrack debuted at number one and held the top spot for 26 consecutive weeks and remained on the chart for 161 weeks.[7]

The compilation has since spent 31 cumulative weeks on the chart.[7] On October 26, 2023, the album was announced as a finalist for the Billboard Music Awards for Top Gospel Album.[8]

Track listing

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I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Go to the Rock" (with the Georgia Mass Choir)Dottie Rambo
4:05
2."Jesus Loves Me"
5:12
3."He Can Use Me"
  • Ann Lendy Lewis
  • Steve Abdul Kahn Brown
  • Brown
  • Freaky Rob
  • D. Phelps
4:55
4."Joy to the World" (with the Georgia Mass Choir)Traditional
  • Houston
  • Warren
4:41
5."Bridge Over Troubled Water" (with Cece Winans) (Live VH1 Honors – June 22, 1995)Paul SimonKen Ehrlich5:35
6."Testimony"
  • Lewis
  • Brown
  • Brown
  • Freaky Rob
  • D. Phelps
3:40
7."I Look to You"R. Kelly
4:26
8."His Eye Is on the Sparrow"
R. Kelly3:33
9."Hold On, Help Is On the Way" (with the Georgia Mass Choir)Rev. Kenneth Paden
  • Houston
  • Warren
4:14
10."This Day" (Live VH1 Honors – June 22, 1995)Edwin HawkinsEhrlich3:55
11."I Found a Wonderful Way"
  • Lewis
  • Brown
Brown2:47
12."Joy" (with the Georgia Mass Choir)Kirk Franklin
  • Houston
  • Warren
3:16
13."I Love the Lord" (with the Georgia Mass Choir)Richard Smallwood
  • Houston
  • Warren
4:57
14."He / I Believe" (Live at Yokohama Arena – January 2, 1990)
  • Jack Richards
  • Richard Mullan
 6:26
Total length:61:42

Personnel

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Credits adapted from album liner notes.

  • Compilation Producer – Barry Jennings

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston
Chart (2023) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[9] 71
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[10] 37
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[7] 2

Year-end charts

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2023 year-end chart performance for I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston
Chart (2023) Position
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[11] 17

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Fekadu, Meskin (March 22, 2023). "The Stories Behind Whitney Houston's Unreleased Gospel Songs: "She Left Healing Music for the World"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Gil (February 9, 2023). "Whitney Houston Posthumous Album to Feature 6 Unreleased Gospel Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  3. ^ Ryan, Patrick (March 27, 2023). "Whitney Houston's family hopes posthumous new Gospel album brings closure". USA Today. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  4. ^ Nolfi, Joey (February 9, 2023). "New Whitney Houston album 'I Go to the Rock' to include 6 unreleased gospel songs". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  5. ^ Jim Asker (April 5, 2023). "Whitney Houston's 'I Go to the Rock' Debuts on Top Gospel Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  6. ^ Griffin, Mark (April 5, 2023). "Whitney Houston's album 'I Go to the Rock' Climbs Billboard's Gospel Albums Chart". Vibe. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Whitney Houston Chart History (Top Gospel Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Paul Grein (October 26, 2023). "Taylor Swift Leads Finalists for 2023 Billboard Music Awards: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "Whitney Houston Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  11. ^ "Top Gospel Albums – Year End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
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