Burning The Ground Exclusive 1985
NEW 2022 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Restoration!
Originally posted February 29, 2012
“How Will I Know” was released by Arista Records in November 1985 as the third single from Houston’s self-titled debut. It debuted at number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100, on the December 7, 1985 issue. Nine weeks later, it peaked at number one on the issue dated February 15, 1986, becoming Houston’s second number one single in the US. It displaced Dionne Warwick’s “That’s What Friends Are For”, and was displaced by “Kyrie” by Mr. Mister. It stayed on the peak for two weeks. The song also debuted on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs at number 60 and later peaked at number one, a peak it maintained for one week. On the issue dated January 25, 1986, “How Will I Know” entered the Hot Dance Club Play charts at number 30 and later peaked at number three on the February 22, 1986 issue. It also peaked at number one on the Adult Contemporary charts. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the single Gold on December 6, 1995, for shipments of 500,000 copies or more. It ranked number six on the Billboard Year-End charts. In Canada, the song debuted at number 80 on the RPM Singles chart on the issue dated December 14, 1985. It later peaked at number one on the week dated March 1, 1986, becoming Houston’s first number one single in Canada. It was later certified Gold by Canadian Recording Industry Association on May 1, 1986, for shipments of 200,000 copies or more.
The song performed well in other countries. In United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 36, on the week dated January 25, 1986, and later peaked at a position of number five. It was also certified Silver by British Phonographic Industry (BPI). According to MTV UK and Ireland, the single has sold about 280,000 copies in the United Kingdom. In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 35 on the Singles chart and later peaked at number 19. In Austria, the song reached a peak position of number 28, while reaching a peak of number 12 in the Netherlands. The song also reached number two in Norway and Sweden, while charting at number 11 in Switzerland. According to Allmusic, “How Will I Know” has sold about one million copies worldwide.
SIDE A:
How Will I Know (Dance Re-Mix) 6:30
Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez
SIDE B:
How Will I Know (Instrumental Version) 4:39
Remix –John “Jellybean” Benitez
How Will I Know (LP Version) 4:26
Mixed By – Michael Barbiero
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
YEAR END CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | How Will I Know | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #6 |
| 1985 | How Will I Know | U.S. Billboard Black Singles | #29 |
| 1985 | How Will I Know | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | #46 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: rista – AD1-9449
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo, Indianapolis Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Engineer – Michael Barbiero (tracks: B2)
Engineer [Assistant] – Fernando Kral (tracks: A1, B1)
Engineer [Remix-engineer] – Michael Hutchinson (tracks: A1, B1)
Photography By [Cover] – Steve Prezant
Producer – Narada Michael Walden
Written-By – George Merrill, Narada Michael Walden, Shannon Rubicam
NOTES:
Tracks A and B1 re-mixed at Sigma Sound Studios, NY
Track B2 from the LP “Whitney Houston”
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.
Now this I remember! It seems like this song, and Aretha Franklin’s Freeway Of Love (In A Pink Cadillac) were the summer anthems of 1985. That summer I was @ Fort Lewis, WA just down the road from Seattle. I had just finished my first year in the Army and was still 18 years old. That was a good summer for all of us. Whitney Houston was just making her introductions to the masses. What a song. What a voice. What pipes she had! Whitney Houston had so much promise, and even greater talent. Who knew her life would end… Read more »
show
Such a great song!! Thanks for posting!!
You’re welcome 🙂
Thanks Paul !!!
You’re welcome 🙂
Glad you posted this single as I fondly remember the Jellybean remix. Great artwork for this 12” single too.
Thanks Paul 🙂
You’re welcome, Marco 🙂
Don´t you just have to LOVE that song. Although I prefer the other (“Euro”) dance mix by far the song itself is just brilliant and immediately puts me in a good mood. Thank you for that, Paul, and have a great weekend. And you, Jeff, and everyone around. 🙂
This is one of my favorite songs of the 1980s! Such a great song and great performance, and the 12″ dance mix is fantastic. Thanks for giving this one your special skills!
You’re welcome, David 🙂
I echo Jeff’s sentiments: so fun and vibrant! Love the video too. Thanks Paul!! Have a great weekend.
You’re welcome, Retro Hound 🙂
A great interpreter, a great song, and of course a tremendous version, thanks Paul, for sharing, Greetings from Araucania, Chile.
You’re welcome, Transito 🙂
This is the way I like to remember her best. So fun and very happy sounding. Thank you, Paul, for a great song to take us into the weekend.
Have a great weekend Paul, Song And Dance and the entire BTG community!!
Jeff
Her first two albums were my favorite period of her music. I hope you are doing ok in the weather. Have a safe weekend 🙂
A great, bopsy song for sure. As an 80s VJ, I have to say this is also one of the cutest music videos of the era. The color, the fun, the song – what a winning combination! Thanks, DJ Paul!
I agree all the way with you dugn 🙂
Fave song of hers from the 80’s. Her greatest hits album sadly left all these original remixes off in favor of new remixes!
Such a shame.
This song was written by George Merrill/Shannon Rubicam who later became known as “boy meets Girl” taking a song they submitted to Whitney’s album but was rejected “waiting for a start to fall” all the way to the top of the charts. incidentally the song was also submitted to Belinda Carlisle after Whitney rejected it, and a demo was recorded for the Heaven on Earth Album but eventually the song was dropped ( a rough demo is circulating on the ‘heaven demos’ Tape but these demos [ also including a demo for a Dianne warren song- some hearts that would… Read more »
Yes I have that rough demo of Belinda’s somewhere. Wish she’d have finished it up as it would be a great song for her!
Very cool insights I never knew! Thanks for sharing!