American Idol compilation series

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The studio albums in the American Idol compilation series are annual television soundtracks for the television show American Idol. One compilation album is released every year after the season ends. Each of the albums usually includes cover songs from all the finalists of the season, and is released sometime before the last episode by RCA Records.

The maxi CD singles in the American Idol series are released during the same time, and may feature the top two or three finalists of the season, which contains one cover song and one original song. The singles are released by Sony BMG.

Both the compilation album and the singles are recorded sometime during the last month of the season.

Contents 1 Albums 1.1 Season 1: Greatest Moments 1.2 Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs 1.3 Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics 1.4 Season 4: The Showstoppers 1.5 Season 5: Encores 2 Singles 2.1 Season 1 2.2 Season 2 2.3 Season 3 2.4 Season 4 2.5 Season 5 3 Individual solo albums

[edit] Albums

[edit] Season 1: Greatest Moments

Season 1: Greatest Moments
Album by Various Artists
Release Date			October 1, 2002
Genre			Pop
Length
Label			RCA
Producer(s)			James McMillan
Sales			336,605
RIAA Certification			Gold
Chart Positions
Professional Reviews
N/A
Various Artists Chronology
N/A (N/A) Season 1: Greatest Moments (2002) Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (2003)

American Idol Greatest Moments is the first American Idol soundtrack from the original season of American Idol. It contains two cover songs from Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, the winner and runner-up of the original season, one song from the remaining eight finalists, one song by all the finalists, and Kelly Clarkson's two songs from her debut single were added as bonus tracks. It is the only album that endorses the winner's single. The album was released on October 1, 2002 and was originally called American Idol Greatest Moments since it was not known whether the series would continue.

1. (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman - Kelly Clarkson

2. Respect - Kelly Clarkson

3. For Once In My Life - Justin Guarini

4. Get Here - Justin Guarini

5. Piece Of My Heart - Nikki McKibbin

6. A House Is Not A Home - Tamyra Gray

7. Lately - RJ Helton

8. Ain't No Sunshine - Christina Christian

9. If You Really Love Me - Ryan Starr

10. My Cherie Amour - AJ Gil

11. I'll Be - EJay Day

12. Easy - Jim Verraros

13. California Dreamin' - Finalists

Bonus Tracks

14. A Moment Like This - Kelly Clarkson

15. Before Your Love - Kelly Clarkson

[edit] Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs

Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs
Album by Various Artists
Release Date			2003
Genre			Pop
Length
Label			RCA
Producer(s)			Burt Bacharach, James McMillan, Nigel Wright
Sales			341,459
RIAA Certification			Gold
Chart Positions
Professional Reviews
Various Artists Chronology
Season 1: Greatest Moments (2002) Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (2003) Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics (2004)

Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs was compiled of classic American love songs performed by the top eleven finalists from season 2 of American Idol and contains two ensemble tracks. It was released in 2003.

1. "What the World Needs Now is Love" (Burt Bacharach) – American Idol Season 2 Finalists
2. "Superstar" (The Carpenters) – Ruben Studdard
3. "On the Wings of Love" (Jeffrey Osborne) – Clay Aiken
4. "At Last" (Etta James) – Julia DeMato
5. "Three Times A Lady" (The Commodores) – Joshua Gracin
6. "Let's Stay Together" (Al Green) – Trenyce
7. "Back At One" (Brian McKnight) – Rickey Smith
8. "Killing Me Softly" (Roberta Flack) – Kimberly Caldwell
9. "Open Arms" (Journey) – Corey Clark
10. "How Do I Live" (LeAnn Rimes) – Carmen Rasmusen
11. "Over the Rainbow" (Judy Garland) – Kimberley Locke
12. "Overjoyed" (Stevie Wonder) – Charles Grigsby
13. "God Bless the USA" (Lee Greenwood) – American Idol Season 2 Finalists

[edit] Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics

Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics
Album by Various Artists
Release Date			April 27, 2004
Genre			Soul
Length
Label			RCA
Producer(s)			James McMillan, Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken
Sales			262,000
RIAA Certification			Gold
Chart Positions
Professional Reviews
Various Artists Chronology
Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (2003) Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics (2004) Season 4: The Showstoppers (2005)

Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics is a soul music compilation that was released on April 27, 2004. It contains one cover song from each of the twelve finalists of season 3 and one ensemble.

1. "Chain of Fools" (Aretha Franklin) – 3:17 Fantasia Barrino
2. "Me and Mrs. Jones" (Billy Paul) – 4:35 George Huff
3. "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (Gladys Knight and the Pips) – 3:23 Diana DeGarmo
4. "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes) – 3:27 LaToya London
5. "Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye)" (Gladys Knight & the Pips) – 4:14 Jennifer Hudson
6. "You Make Me Feel Brand New" (The Stylistics) – 4:35 Amy Adams
7. "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" (Otis Redding) – 2:58 Matthew Rogers
8. "Midnight Train to Georgia" (Gladys Knight & the Pips) – 3:23 Jasmine Trias
9. "My Girl" (The Temptations) – 3:04 Jon Peter Lewis
10. "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (Aretha Franklin) – 3:34 Camile Velasco
11. "Betcha by Golly Wow!" (The Stylistics) – 3:11 Leah LaBelle
12. "You Are Everything" (The Stylistics) – 2:39 John Stevens
13. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) – 2:42 American Idol Season 3 Finalists

[edit] Season 4: The Showstoppers

Season 4: The Showstoppers
Album by Various Artists
Release Date			May 17, 2005
Genre			Pop
Length
Label			RCA
Producer(s)			Desmond Child
Sales			500,000+
RIAA Certification			Gold
Chart Positions			???
Professional Reviews
N/A
Various Artists Chronology
Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics (2004) Season 4: The Showstoppers (2005) Season 5: Encores (2006)

Season 4: The Showstoppers contains one cover song from each of the top 12 finalists during season 4 of the television show American Idol, along with a song that features all 12 of them together. The CD was certified gold on July 26, 2005.

1. "Independence Day" (Martina McBride) – 3:22 Carrie Underwood
2. "I Don't Wanna Be" (Gavin DeGraw) – 3:40 Bo Bice
3. "Best of My Love" (The Emotions) – 3:31 Vonzell Solomon
4. " A House Is Not A Home" (Luther Vandross) – 3:18 Anwar Robinson
5. "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (Dusty Springfield) – 2:54 Nadia Turner
6. "Part-Time Lover" (Stevie Wonder) – 3:44 Nikko Smith
7. "My Funny Valentine" (from Babes in Arms) – 3:16 Constantine Maroulis
8. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (Bonnie Tyler) – 4:33 Jessica Sierra
9. "Every Time You Go Away" (Paul Young) – 3:53 Anthony Fedorov
10. "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" (Phil Collins) – 3:21 Scott Savol
11. "Knock On Wood" (Eddie Floyd) – 2:52 Lindsey Cardinale
12. "God Bless the Child" (Billie Holiday) – 3:32 Mikalah Gordon
13. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (Diana Ross) – 3:44 American Idol Season 4 Finalists

[edit] Season 5: Encores

Season 5: Encores
Album by Various Artists
Release Date			May 23, 2006
Genre			Pop
Length			47:19
Label			RCA
Producer(s)			Derek Bramble
Sales			311,946+
RIAA Certification			Gold
Chart Positions
Professional Reviews
Various Artists Chronology
Season 4: The Showstoppers (2005) Season 5: Encores (2006) N/A (N/A)

Season 5: Encores was released on May 23, 2006 and contains one cover song from each of the top 12 finalists during season 5 of the television show American Idol. It is the only American Idol album that does not feature an ensemble track by all the contestants, and is the first year in which several individual finalists made the popular music charts. The album sold over 154,000 units in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200, behind the Disney Channel Original Movie's High School Musical Soundtrack and the Dixie Chicks' Taking the Long Way, thus becoming the best-selling debut any American Idol compilation disk. [1] It was also #2 on Top Soundtracks, #4 on Top Digital Albums and #6 on Top Internet.

With this album, American Idol became the most successful soundtrack franchise of any motion picture or television program, beating out Star Wars. [2]

1. "What About Love" (Heart) – 3:45 Melissa McGhee
2. "Superstition" (Stevie Wonder) – 3:54 Bucky Covington
3. "I'm Every Woman" (Chaka Khan) – 3:44 Mandisa
4. "Wanted Dead or Alive" (Bon Jovi) – 4:33 Chris Daughtry
5. "Father Figure" (George Michael) – 5:46 Ace Young
6. "Takin' It to the Streets" (Doobie Brothers) – 3:39 Taylor Hicks
7. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" (Stevie Wonder) – 2:55 Lisa Tucker
8. "Walkin' After Midnight" (Patsy Cline) – 2:59 Kellie Pickler
9. "Moody's Mood for Love" (James Moody) – 3:13 Elliott Yamin
10. "Think" (Aretha Franklin) – 2:45 Katharine McPhee
11. "Midnight Train to Georgia" (Gladys Knight & the Pips) – 3:33 Paris Bennett
12. "When I Fall in Love" (Doris Day) – 3:07 Kevin Covais

[edit] Singles

For charting data, see the single's article.

[edit] Season 1

In the debut season, the top four finalists (Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Nikki McKibbin, Tamyra Gray) each recorded a version of the song in the event that they won; but only the winner (Clarkson) released it as a single. The single was included in Clarkson's debut album Thankful.

A Moment Like This Kelly Clarkson September, 2002

[edit] Season 2

In season two, the winner (Ruben Studdard) and runner-up (Clay Aiken) each released simultaneously a single containing two songs of one original and one cover. The originals are "This is the Night" (Aiken) and "Flying Without Wings" (Studdard); and the covers are "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Aiken) and "Superstar" (Studdard).

Flying Without Wings/Superstar Ruben Studdard June 10, 2003

Bridge over Troubled Water/This Is the Night Clay Aiken June 10, 2003

[edit] Season 3

In season three, the winner (Fantasia Barrino) and runner-up (Diana DeGarmo) each released a single containing three songs of which one was a rendition of "I Believe." Barrino's debut album, Free Yourself, included "I Believe" and "Summertime." DeGarmo's debut album, Blue Skies, included "Dreams" and "Don't Cry Out Loud."

I Believe/Summertime/Chain of Fools Fantasia Barrino June 22, 2004

Dreams/Don't Cry Out Loud/I Believe Diana DeGarmo June 29, 2004

[edit] Season 4

In season four, the winner (Carrie Underwood) and runner-up (Bo Bice) each released a single for "Inside Your Heaven" and which included one cover song from the show, "Independence Day" (Underwood, also on Showstoppers) and "Vehicle" (Bice). Underwood's debut album Some Hearts also included "Inside Your Heaven."

Inside Your Heaven/Independence Day Carrie Underwood June 14, 2005

Inside Your Heaven/Vehicle Bo Bice June 21, 2005

[edit] Season 5

In season five, the winner (Taylor Hicks) and runner-up (Katharine McPhee) each released a single with an original song and a cover rendition. The original songs are "Do I Make You Proud" (Hicks) and "My Destiny" (McPhee). The covers are "Takin' It to the Streets" (Hicks) and "Over the Rainbow" (McPhee, renamed to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow").

Album review

Do I Make You Proud/Takin' It to the Streets Taylor Hicks June 13, 2006

Somewhere Over the Rainbow/My Destiny Katharine McPhee June 21, 2006

[edit] Individual solo albums

After Idol, several finalists and winners released their own solo albums and singles. For a list of major-label studio albums by Idol recording artists, see American Idol Contestants' Albums.

v • d • e American Idol
Seasons	1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6
Hosts and judges	Ryan Seacrest · Randy Jackson · Paula Abdul · Simon Cowell · Brian Dunkleman
Winners	Kelly Clarkson · Ruben Studdard · Fantasia Barrino · Carrie Underwood · Taylor Hicks
Runners-up	Justin Guarini · Clay Aiken · Diana DeGarmo · Bo Bice · Katharine McPhee
Other notable alumni	Chris Daughtry · Jennifer Hudson · Josh Gracin · Kellie Pickler · Tamyra Gray · Kimberley Locke · William Hung · Elliott Yamin
Spin-offs	From Justin to Kelly · American Juniors · An American Idol Christmas · American Idol Extra · American Idol Rewind
Other	Idol Gives Back · American Idol Compilation Series · Controversy · American Idol Magazine · American Idol Underground · Font · Video game · List of spin-offs · List of episodes · Votefortheworst.com