Did n't We Almost Have It All - wikipedia Did n't We Almost Have It All This article is about the Whitney Houston song. For the Grey 's Anatomy episode, see Did n't We Almost Have It All ? This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2009 ) `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' Single by Whitney Houston from the album Whitney B - side `` Shock Me '' ( Special Collector 's Bonus Cut ) Released August 13, 1987 Format CD single cassette single 7 '' single 12 '' Recorded 1986 Genre R&B soul Length 5 : 07 ( album version ) 4 : 38 ( single version ) Label Arista Songwriter ( s ) Michael Masser Will Jennings Producer ( s ) Michael Masser Whitney Houston singles chronology `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( 1987 ) `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' ( 1987 ) `` So Emotional '' ( 1987 ) `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( 1987 ) `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' ( 1987 ) `` So Emotional '' ( 1987 ) Whitney track listing `` Love Will Save The Day '' ( 3 ) `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' ( 4 ) `` So Emotional '' ( 5 ) Music video `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' on YouTube `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' is the second single from Whitney Houston 's second album Whitney. The song was written by Michael Masser and Will Jennings and was released in August 1987. It received a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year. Originally, another song was to be released as the second single, `` For the Love of You '', but Arista Records decided to release `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' instead because all Houston 's singles had to be original material at this point of her career. The single was number one for two weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100. A live performance from her September 2, 1987 concert in Saratoga Springs, New York was used as the official video and played on MTV, VH1, and BET. The recorded performance was also televised along with her performance of `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody '' at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards on September 11. It was widely speculated that the song is about Houston 's relationship with then NFL star Randall Cunningham. Contents 1 Critical reception 2 Chart performance 2.1 Weekly charts 2.2 Year - end charts 3 Certifications 4 Personnel 5 Track listings and formats 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Critical reception Rob Wynn of Allmusic highlighted the song. L.A. Times editor Robert Hilburn wrote : `` Houston 's stardom will be boosted most by `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '', a sweeping Masser - Will Jennings ballad with the kind of big, emotional finish that will make Liza and hundreds of other singers wish they had been given first crack at the song. I 'll save my champagne for pop singers who do n't add that overblown song to their repertoire. '' Rolling Stone 's Vince Alleti wrote : `` Masser reprises the show - tune schmaltz of `` The Greatest Love of All '' in his even cornier `` Did n't We Almost Have It All. '' According to Whitney fanpage : `` But there is a cut on the album whose title inadvertently sums up Houston at this stage of her development -- `` Did n't We Almost Have It All. '' St. Petersburg Times editors Eric Snider and Annelise Wamsley described `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' as, `` an overblown tune co-written by Michael Masser (... ) that finds Houston stripped of subtlety - with her wire - to - wire belting, you can just see the fetching songstress looking skyward, arms outstretched. '' Following Houston 's death in 2012, Entertainment Weekly published a list of her 25 best songs and ranked `` Did n't We Almost Have it All '' at 16. Chart performance It debuted at number forty one on the Hot 100 the week of August 22, 1987 and six weeks later reached number one. `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, from September 26 to October 3, 1987, where the song became her fifth consecutive number one. The song also topped both component charts, the Hot 100 Singles Sales and Hot 100 Airplay, Houston 's fourth song ( and fourth consecutive release ) to do so. The single stayed in the Top 40 for 13 weeks, and topped the Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks. It also reached number two on the Hot Black Singles chart for one week ( October 10, 1987 ), behind `` ( You 're Puttin ' ) A Rush on Me '' by Stephanie Mills. Internationally, the song hit the top ten in several markets, and reached the top 20 in the United Kingdom ( # 14 ) ; Switzerland ( # 18 ) ; and Germany ( # 20 ). `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' was ranked 22nd on the Billboard Hot 100 year - end charts ( 1987 ), and remained in the Billboard Hot 100 for 17 weeks. It was her fifth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100, her fourth on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart, her fourth on the Hot 100 Airplay, and her fifth on the Adult Contemporary chart. Weekly charts Chart ( 1987 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 27 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 16 Canada ( RPM 100 Singles ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) 20 Iceland ( RÚV ) 27 Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 17 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 49 Spain ( AFYVE ) 12 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 18 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 14 US Billboard Hot 100 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) US Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ( Billboard ) Chart ( 2012 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 96 South Korea International Singles ( Gaon ) 124 Year - end charts Chart ( 1987 ) Rank Canadian Singles Chart 44 US Billboard Hot 100 22 US Adult Contemporary Singles 7 US Black Singles 38 Certifications Country Provider Certification Date Shipments / sales United States Personnel John Robinson -- drums Paul Jackson, Jr. -- guitar Nathan East -- bass Robbie Buchanan -- Yamaha DX7, acoustic piano, rhythm arrangement Lee Holdridge -- string arrangement Produced by Michael Masser Engineers -- Michael DeLugg, Dean Burt, Jim Boyer, Mike Mancini, Russ Terrano, Fred Law Assistant engineers -- Fernando Kral, Tony Maserati Mix engineer -- Russ Torrano Production coordinator -- Alicia Winfield Track listings and formats US Vinyl 7 '' single `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' -- 4 : 56 `` Shock Me '' ( featuring Jermaine Jackson ) -- 5 : 05 UK 7 '' single `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' ( Edit Remix ) -- 4 : 20 `` For the Love of You '' -- 4 : 32 UK CD Maxi - single `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' -- 5 : 05 `` I Wanna Dance With Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( a cappella Mix ) -- 6 : 28 `` Shock Me '' ( Collector 's Bonus Cut ) -- 5 : 03 Australia, New Zealand Vinyl 7 '' single `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' ( Edit Remix ) -- 3 : 59 `` Shock Me '' -- 5 : 05 Spain Vinyl 12 '' Maxi - single `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' -- 5 : 05 `` I Wanna Dance With Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( a cappella Mix ) -- 5 : 18 `` Shock Me '' ( Collector 's Bonus Cut ) -- 5 : 03 `` Shock Me '' is a duet with Jermaine Jackson, and is listed as a bonus track. Written by Andrew Goldmark and Bruce Roberts. Produced by Michael Omartian. See also Whitney Houston Discography List of Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles of 1987 List of number - one adult contemporary singles of 1987 ( U.S. ) List of Hot 100 number - one singles of the 1980s ( U.S. ) Billboard Year - End Hot 100 singles of 1987 List of Hot 100 Airplay number - one singles of 1987 ( U.S. ) List of Cash Box Top 100 number - one singles of 1987 References Jump up ^ `` Whitney Houston - For The Love Of You ( Vinyl ) at Discogs ''. Discogs.com. 2009 - 05 - 17. Retrieved 2012 - 01 - 05. Jump up ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/whitney-mw0000190356 Jump up ^ Hilburn, Robert ( June 1, 1987 ). `` Album Review : Houston : Commercial Sparkle, Artistic Fizz ''. Los Angeles Times. Jump up ^ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/whitney-19870813 Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2009 - 09 - 23. Retrieved 2010 - 06 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Whitney pulls out another bag of hits Series : RECORDS ''. St. Petersburg Times. June 14, 1987. Jump up ^ Anderson, Kyle ; Goldblatt, Henry ; Greenblatt, Leah ; Rahman, Ray ( 17 February 2012 ). `` Whitney Houston : Her 25 Best Songs ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 1 August 2012. Jump up ^ `` Did n't We Almost Have It All - Whitney Houston ''. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved September 4, 2011. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2002 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 - 2001. Record Research. p. 119. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992 ( Illustrated ed. ). Sydney : Australian Chart Book. p. 143. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and 26 June 1988. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Whitney Houston -- Did n't We Almost Have It All '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012 - 01 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Whitney Houston -- Did n't We Almost Have It All ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Jump up ^ `` Whitney Houston Chart History ''. RÚV. Retrieved May 24, 2017. Jump up ^ http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=5 Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Whitney Houston -- Did n't We Almost Have It All '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Whitney Houston -- Did n't We Almost Have It All ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ Salaverri, Fernando ( September 2005 ). Sólo éxitos : año a año, 1959 -- 2002 ( 1st ed. ). Spain : Fundación Autor - SGAE. p. 678. ISBN 84 - 8048 - 639 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Whitney Houston -- Did n't We Almost Have It All ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Whitney Houston : Artist Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 23, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Whitney Houston Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Whitney Houston Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Whitney Houston Chart History ( Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` ARIA Charts : The ARIA Report week commencing 20 February 2012 - Issue # 1147 '' ( PDF ). Australian Recording Industry Association Ltd. Retrieved 2015 - 09 - 19. Jump up ^ `` South Korea Gaon International Chart ( Week : February 12, 2012 to February 18, 2012 ) ''. Gaon Chart. January 5, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012 - 01 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Year - end Charts -- Top Pop Singles of 1987 ''. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 31, 1987. Retrieved September 17, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Year - end Charts -- Top Adult Contemporary Singles of 1987 ''. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 31, 1987. Retrieved September 17, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Year - end Charts -- Top Black Singles of 1987 ( Top R&B Singles ) ''. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 31, 1987. Retrieved September 17, 2012. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Whitney Houston -- Did n't We Almost ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 24, 2008. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH External links Did n't We Almost Have It All at Discogs Whitney Houston Albums discography Singles discography Videography Live performances Awards and nominations List of songs Studio albums Whitney Houston Whitney I 'm Your Baby Tonight My Love Is Your Love Just Whitney... One Wish : The Holiday Album I Look to You Soundtrack albums The Bodyguard The Preacher 's Wife Live albums Whitney Houston Live : Her Greatest Performances Compilation albums Whitney : The Greatest Hits Love, Whitney The Ultimate Collection I Will Always Love You : The Best of Whitney Houston Other releases Whitney : Dancin ' Special I Wish You Love : More from The Bodyguard Concert tours The Greatest Love World Tour Moment of Truth World Tour Feels So Right Tour I 'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour The Bodyguard World Tour The Pacific Rim Tour The European Tour My Love Is Your Love World Tour Soul Divas Tour Nothing but Love World Tour Concerts and appearances Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston The Concert for a New South Africa Whitney : Brunei The Royal Wedding Celebration Classic Whitney : Live from Washington, D.C. VH1 Divas Live ' 99 Achievements Chart records and achievements Grammy awards history American Music Awards history Related articles `` Dance with Somebody '' The Bodyguard ( musical ) Being Bobby Brown The Houstons : On Our Own Whitney : Can I Be Me Bobby Brown ( ex-husband ) Bobbi Kristina Brown ( daughter ) Cissy Houston ( mother ) Whitney ( 2015 film ) Whitney ( 2018 film ) Book Category Portal Whitney Houston singles Whitney Houston `` Hold Me '' `` Thinking About You '' `` You Give Good Love '' `` All at Once '' `` Saving All My Love for You '' `` How Will I Know '' `` Greatest Love of All '' Whitney `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' `` So Emotional '' `` Where Do Broken Hearts Go '' `` Love Will Save the Day '' `` I Know Him So Well '' I 'm Your Baby Tonight `` I 'm Your Baby Tonight '' `` All the Man That I Need '' `` Miracle '' `` My Name Is Not Susan '' `` I Belong to You '' `` We Did n't Know '' The Bodyguard `` I Will Always Love You '' `` I 'm Every Woman '' `` I Have Nothing '' `` Run to You '' `` Queen of the Night '' Waiting to Exhale `` Exhale ( Shoop Shoop ) '' `` Count On Me '' `` Why Does It Hurt So Bad '' The Preacher 's Wife `` I Believe in You and Me '' `` Step by Step '' `` My Heart Is Calling '' My Love Is Your Love `` When You Believe '' `` Heartbreak Hotel '' `` It 's Not Right but It 's Okay '' `` My Love Is Your Love '' `` I Learned from the Best '' Whitney : The Greatest Hits `` Could I Have This Kiss Forever '' `` If I Told You That '' `` Fine '' `` Same Script, Different Cast '' Just Whitney... `` Whatchulookinat '' `` One of Those Days '' `` Try It on My Own '' `` Love That Man '' One Wish : The Holiday Album `` One Wish ( for Christmas ) '' I Look to You `` I Look to You '' `` Million Dollar Bill '' Sparkle `` Celebrate '' `` His Eye Is on the Sparrow '' I Will Always Love You : The Best of Whitney Houston `` I Look to You '' Other / featured / promotional singles `` One Moment in Time '' `` It Is n't, It Was n't, It Ai n't Never Gonna Be '' `` The Star Spangled Banner '' `` Something in Common '' `` I Did n't Know My Own Strength '' `` Memories '' Book Category Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Didn%27t_We_Almost_Have_It_All&oldid=840963445 '' Categories : Whitney Houston songs 1987 singles 1987 songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles Songs written by Michael Masser Songs with lyrics by Will Jennings Soul ballads Contemporary R&B ballads Arista Records singles Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from December 2009 All articles needing additional references Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UKsinglesbyname Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboardrandbhiphop Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Italiano Português Русский Türkçe Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 13 May 2018, at 05 : 19. 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Question: who wrote didn't we almost have it all
Answer: Michael Masser