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"American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs" (04/29/2003) Rock & Pop Various Artists, RCA Records (USA)This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. The wildly successful TV show AMERICAN IDOL continues to be a source of material for hit albums. After the initial AMERICAN IDOL disc, and the solo debut of IDOL winner Kelly Clarkson, you'd think that might be the end of the story. What should come sauntering along to prove you wrong but the SEASON 2 disc, featuring another round of well-scrubbed, perfectly pitched young vocalists bent on winning the hearts and ears of the US, whether you're watching them on TV or just listening to them on the stereo or radio. There's a theme to this collection: classic love songs. Accordingly, Ruben Studdard delivers an impassioned version of the Carpenters' "Superstar," Kimberly Caldwell lays her sensuous pipes on the Roberta Flack hit "Killing Me Softly," and Corey Clark takes a trip into '80s power-ballad territory with a full-bore take on Journey's lighters-aloft smash "Open Arms." At first listen, it's hard to figure where the bonus cut, Lee Greenwood's country flag-waver "God Bless the U.S.A." fits into the concept, but that's presumably where the "American" part of the show's name comes in.

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"American Idol Season 4: The Showstoppers" (05/17/2005) Rock & Pop Various Artists, RCA Records (USA)Personnel include: Corky James (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar). Recording information: 2005. The week AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 4 arrived in stores during May 2005, the hit talent show whittled its contestants down to the final three. These frontrunners--Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, and Vonzell Solomon--kick off the collection, easily displaying the charm, emotion, and vocal talents that propelled them into the last rounds of the competition. In the spirit of AMERICAN IDOL, the tracks speak to each of the trio's strengths and span a spectrum of styles. Underwood captures the balance of pathos and grit in Martina McBride's "Independence Day," Bice nails the intersection of inspiration and hopelessness on Gavin DeGraw's "I Don't Want to Be," and Solomon hits all the soulful notes of the Emotions' "Best of My Love." The rest of the disc proves that the fourth year, while fraught with more turmoil than usual, was stocked with as many potential superstars as any other go-around. Constantine Maroulis, whose own band (Pray for the Love of Betty) released its debut a week prior to this disc, injects swing into the standard "My Funny Valentine," while Jessica Sierra almost matches Bonnie Tyler's unbridled passion on the 1980s hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart."

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"American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Hits" (04/27/2004) Rock & Pop Various Artists, RCA Records (USA)Unlike most of its competitive reality-TV brethren, AMERICAN IDOL refreshingly eschews much of the winner-takes-all attitude. Although rivalries certainly appear and controversies flare up, contestants frequently display a spirit of camaraderie. This good-natured attitude finds its way onto this AMERICAN IDOL compilation. Released before the dust even settled on the third season, GREATEST SOUL CLASSICS features finalists side-by-side with contestants already voted down. Individually and together, they put their spin on tried-and-true R&B standards. Fantasia Barrino--along with Latoya London and Jennifer Hudson, part of a trio of candidates referred to by many as the Three Divas--opens the set with a powerful rendition of "Chain of Fools," followed by George Huff's evocative recreation of "Me and Mrs. Jones." No one vying for the third-season crown hits a false note, and other standouts include Diana DeGarmo's remarkably worldly take on "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and a subdued, sweet "Neither One of Us (Want to Be the First to Say Goodbye)," performed by Jennifer Hudson, who was controversially rejected from the show. The collection ends, fittingly enough, with the whole cast getting together on a rousing chorus of the always-inspiring "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

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"American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics" (09/07/2004) Rock & Pop Various Artists, RCA Records (USA)One of the more appealing aspects of the AMERICAN IDOL phenomenon is after the wheat is separated from the chaff, the famed barbs of Simon Cowell fly with less frequency, and the show is actually quite flowing with positivity. In the final weeks of each season, the few contestants who remain work together, and even when the winner is elected, it's not over, since the runner-up singers from each season have also received recording contracts. Given this good-natured spirit, AMERICAN IDOL: THE GREAT HOLIDAY CLASSICS gathers both the first two years' winners, Ruben Studdard and Kelly Clarkson, along with Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Justin Guarini, and many others, to put their spins on holiday standards. Clay (whose debut album hits stores the same day as GREAT HOLIDAY CLASSICS) leads off with a powerful, orchestral take on "The First Noel" benefited by his trademark quiver. Ruben, who ultimately beat Clay by a slight margin, trades soulful vocals with his perfect IDOL foil, first season sentimental fave Tamyra Gray, on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" before closing the disc with a stirring solo take of Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas." And while first season champ Kelly doesn't appear on the main album, she drops by for two star turns on a bonus disc.

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"American Idol *" (04/22/2005) Rock & Pop Richie Harrington, Richie Harrington

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"American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics" (04/06/2004) Rock & Pop Various Artists, BMG Special ProductsOne of the more appealing aspects of the AMERICAN IDOL phenomenon is after the wheat is separated from the chaff, the famed barbs of Simon Cowell fly with less frequency, and the show is actually quite flowing with positivity. In the final weeks of each season, the few contestants who remain work together, and even when the winner is elected, it's not over, since the runner-up singers from each season have also received recording contracts. Given this good-natured spirit, AMERICAN IDOL: THE GREAT HOLIDAY CLASSICS gathers both the first two years' winners, Ruben Studdard and Kelly Clarkson, along with Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Justin Guarini, and many others, to put their spins on holiday standards. Clay (whose debut album hits stores the same day as GREAT HOLIDAY CLASSICS) leads off with a powerful, orchestral take on "The First Noel" benefited by his trademark quiver. Ruben, who ultimately beat Clay by a slight margin, trades soulful vocals with his perfect IDOL foil, first season sentimental fave Tamyra Gray, on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" before closing the disc with a stirring solo take of Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas." And while first season champ Kelly doesn't appear on the main album, she drops by for two star turns on a bonus disc.

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"American Idol: Greatest Moments" (10/01/2002) Rock & Pop Various Artists, RCA Records (USA)Despite being a glorified version of Ed McMahon's Star Search, American Idol officially became a pop-culture landmark as millions tuned in each week to see which young hopeful would finally grab the brass ring of success and a subsequent recording contract. AMERICAN IDOL: GREATEST MOMENTS recreates these magical moments by serving up the 10 semi-finalist performances. In order to overcome the stigma of anonymity and to hopefully make a connection with both the judges and the viewing audience, each singer was required to sing cover songs. Highlights include Tamyra Gray's version of the soulful "A House Is Not A Home" and Christina Christian's smoky take on Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine." Runner-up Justin Guarini chimes in with a snappy "For Once In My Life" and a simmering rendition of Brenda Russell's "Get Here." Grand prize winner Kelly Clarkson cinches her status by impressively belting out a pair of songs from the Queen Of Soul's impressive canon: "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman." As a bonus, AMERICAN IDOL: GREATEST MOMENTS also includes Clarkson's chart-topping original single "A Moment Like This" and "Before Your Love," both to appear on her forthcoming debut.

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"American Idol: Greatest Moments" (10/01/2002) Rock & Pop Various Artists, RCA Records (USA)Despite being a glorified version of Ed McMahon's Star Search, American Idol officially became a pop-culture landmark as millions tuned in each week to see which young hopeful would finally grab the brass ring of success and a subsequent recording contract. AMERICAN IDOL: GREATEST MOMENTS recreates these magical moments by serving up the 10 semi-finalist performances. In order to overcome the stigma of anonymity and to hopefully make a connection with both the judges and the viewing audience, each singer was required to sing cover songs. Highlights include Tamyra Gray's version of the soulful "A House Is Not A Home" and Christina Christian's smoky take on Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine." Runner-up Justin Guarini chimes in with a snappy "For Once In My Life" and a simmering rendition of Brenda Russell's "Get Here." Grand prize winner Kelly Clarkson cinches her status by impressively belting out a pair of songs from the Queen Of Soul's impressive canon: "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman." As a bonus, AMERICAN IDOL: GREATEST MOMENTS also includes Clarkson's chart-topping original single "A Moment Like This" and "Before Your Love," both to appear on her forthcoming debut.

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