Whitney did more than turn Whitney Houston into a pioneering sensation known around the world by her first name. Originally released in June 1987, the singer’s blockbuster sophomore record became the first album by a female artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart ‚Äî a position it claimed for a total of 11 weeks en route to selling more than 10 million copies in the U.S. The Diamond platinum effort also contains four No. 1 Hot 100 hits that, when combined with the three chart toppers from her 1985 debut, gave her seven consecutive No. 1 singles ‚Äî an accomplishment that no other artist has accomplished. Commercially and creatively, Whitney stands on hallowed ground ‚Äî especially now that the record plays with a sound that puts into perspective just how extraordinary, engaging, and vital Houston’s music remains.