If you had to choose which diva debut was better....which one would you choose

They were both equally good...but I'd have to give it to Mariah

Mariah was the sole performer (Whitney had 3 duets)

Mariah had 4 #1s (Whitney had 3 #1s)

Mariah co-wrote all her songs and produced one song

Whitney, by far, had much stronger material on her debut album. I can't name anything beyond "Vision of Love" off Mariah's first, but I know "You Give Good Love", "Saving All My Love For You" (the ode to adultery), "How Will I Know" (the pop crossover song), "Greatest Love Of All" (far outweighs "Vision of Love" as the power ballad), "Take Good Care Of My Heart", "All At Once" (the ballad that never ends).

I don't think duets discredit a singer's debut album. Very few established artists would put themselves on a beginner's album. Whitney's voice, and strong material, only encouraged other artists to work with her that early on.

All this isn't to discredit Mariah. Her album would not have been quite of a hit as it was without "Vision of Love". Whitney, on the other hand, had "Saving All My Love", "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love Of All" (the three strongest tracks) to bolster that album to #1. Mariah had the niche of her whistling tone, but that - while impressive and rarely seen - couldn't keep her career alive alone. Luckily she always put out (for a time) great material to sustain her career. I think both women declined in song choices over the years. The last Mariah album I bought was E=MC2. Amazingly, Whitney only had seven studio albums, one of which was a Christmas record. That doesn't include two soundtracks.

I'll give Mariah the "works harder" award. Whitney almost seemed lazy sometimes.

you don't remember "Love Takes Time", "Someday" or "I Don't Wanna Cry"?

and I'm not saying duets discredits an artist...Whitney's added nothing to it...Hold Me w/ Teddy

was the best one...but that was a year old by the time the album came out....And I liked Jermaine enough...but two duets? TGCOMH was a year old as well from Jermaine's Arista debut

Now in the long run...overall Whitney was best....and I give it to Whitney for the Sophomore album "Whitney" over "Emotions" from Mariah

For me, Nippy had the stronger debut. Mimi had really strong singles from her first album but everything else was filler to me. I haven't listened to the entire album in years.

Now, as for sophomore albums, it was the exact opposite. "Emotions" leaves "Whitney" in the dust! Superb material and excellent vocal delivery on every song. "Whitney" had more filler. I think if Clive wasn't so hell bent on associating her with Pop music and not R&B, "Whitney" would have been more memorable for me. "Emotions", however, is in my Top Ten Albums of All Time.

Comser said:

you don't remember "Love Takes Time", "Someday" or "I Don't Wanna Cry"?

and I'm not saying duets discredits an artist...Whitney's added nothing to it...Hold Me w/ Teddy

was the best one...but that was a year old by the time the album came out....And I liked Jermaine enough...but two duets? TGCOMH was a year old as well from Jermaine's Arista debut

Now in the long run...overall Whitney was best....and I give it to Whitney for the Sophomore album "Whitney" over "Emotions" from Mariah

I remember those. For me, Whitney was full of two things - late 80s over-production (similar to Taylor Dayne's songs produced by Ric Wake) and catchy songs. It sort of sounds dated (in a good way, mostly) compared to the first album. But, she had a ridiculous run of great songs from it.

I still think Whitney had the stronger material, the more solid melodies & production. But you also have to remember that these two records came out years apart. It was a very different market for each of them.

Im going with Mariah, as I never really liked any slow jams until I heard Vision Of Love and I Don't Wanna Cry.

As well songs like Someday, Love Takes Time, Vanishing, All In Your Mind and There's Got To Be A Way hit home for me. Mariah also penned all these tunes herself making her a more important songwriter as Whitney was not at all.


Aaaah, I just love this song.