A lot has happened in the pop music world in the last nine days, so herewith follows a random scattering of music-related observations. ——————————- Whitney Houston’s death really is a tragedy. If anyone was ever blessed by the musical gods and pre-ordained for greatness, it was Whitney. And yet, looking back on her recording career, I’m struck by how meager it was. Just six studio albums in 27 years, and only three in the last 22 years. Compare that with the Beatles, who at the peak of their popularity used to release three albums a year! I also can’t help but think that, in spite of her tremendous commercial success, Whitney Houston was not well-served by the music industry. Her first hit single, “Saving All My Love for You,” was indisputably her best and one of the few to show her extraordinary range and control. Most of her other 80s hits blended into the synth-pop dominating radio at the time. To see what I mean, compare “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “Let’s Hear it For the Boy.” Houston’s vocal chops (not to mention charisma and sex appeal) leave one-hit wonder Deniece Williams in the dust, but suppose the singers
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