Album: American Idol 10th Anniversary - The Hits, Volume 1

Here it is!! On it's tenth season, American Idol released a compilation of - arguably - the biggest hits from American Idol alums.

Again, let me reiterate on the word arguably just because some of the songs in this compilation are a bit questionable. Of course, I understand that they need to put a couple of people who achieved success after Idol aside from the winners, but where are David Archuleta's smash hit Crush or any song from Jennifer Hudson's Grammy winning album? What about the indie success of Elliott Yamin's Wait For You? Ok. I kind of understand that David Archuleta didn't work for RCA - he was with Jive Records - unlike Daughtry, Aiken and Lambert, but still..

Oh, and why did they pick those songs for Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard? I mean, Taylor Hicks had a number one hit with Do I Make You Proud and Ruben Studdard might've been better represented by his song Sorry 2004, instead of a cover of Luther Vandross' song. Just saying.

1. Since U Been Gone Kelly Clarkson

2. Superstar Ruben Studdard

3. Invisible Clay Aiken

4. When I See You Fantasia

5. Before He Cheats Carrie Underwood

6. Takin' It To The Streets Taylor Hicks

7. Home Daughtry

8. No Air Jordin Sparks (ft. Chris Brown)

9. Light On David Cook

10. Live Like We're Dying Kris Allen

11. Whataya Want From Me Adam Lambert

12. Sweet Serendipity Lee DeWyze

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American Idol 9: Top 9 Redux Studio Versions

.. nobody went home so it’s a Top 9 Redux. Well, it’s a pretty interesting night with almost everyone delivering decent-to-good performances. But with regard to their studio versions this week, I felt a bit tentative with a few of them.

This is how I rank their studio performances for this week:

01. Lee Dewyze
02. Tim Urban
03. Crystal Bowersox
04. Katie Stevens
05. Michael Lynche
06. Siobhan Magnus
07. Casey James
08. Aaron Kelly
09. Andrew Garcia

Random Thoughts: Wow. Tim Urban's studio recording sounds great! His phrasing here is so much better than his live performance. I like that he somehow puts emphasis on the song’s “story” using different layers to his voice throughout. Very interesting. Lee Dewyze delivers another studio recording. It's nice that he's able to add variety to the song. I also like Crystal Bowersox's. I think the recording has so much personality into it that's very infectious. Oh, and Katie Stevens sounds very country in her recording. Her voice reminds me now of Carrie Underwood/Shania Twain. I find it surprisingly nice. I didn't care much about Aaron Kelly's and Andrew Garcia's versions. Their versions sound very karaoke to me. I don't know.

STUDIO VERSION
Crystal Bowersox: Saved
Andrew Garcia: Hound Dog
Tim Urban: Can't Help Falling In Love
Lee Dewyze: A Little Less Conversation
Aaron Kelly: Blue Suede Shoes
Siobhan Magnus: Suspicious Minds
Michael Lynche: In The Ghetto
Katie Stevens: Baby What You Want Me To Do
Casey James: Lawdy Miss Clawdy


LIVE VERSION
Crystal Bowersox: Saved
Andrew Garcia: Hound Dog
Tim Urban: Can't Help Falling In Love
Lee Dewyze: A Little Less Conversation
Aaron Kelly: Blue Suede Shoes
Siobhan Magnus: Suspicious Minds
Michael Lynche: In The Ghetto
Katie Stevens: Baby What You Want Me To Do
Casey James: Lawdy Miss Clawdy

American Idol 9: Top 9 Studio Versions

.. they're now down to 9! This week, the remaining Idols reprise the Lennon-McCartney songbook - a theme also tackled by Season 7 Top 12.

This is how I rank their studio versions for this week:

01. Siobhan Magnus
02. Katie Stevens
03. Lee Dewyze
04. Tim Urban
05. Casey James
06. Crystal Bowersox
07. Aaron Kelly
08. Andrew Garcia
09. Michael Lynche

Random Thoughts: I believe this is a solid effort for all of the Idol. Once again, Lee Dewyze proves to be a very very good recording artist. Siobhan is, as usual, very good and compelling. I am fairly impressed with Tim Urban. His interpretation of his song sounds contemporary, which is shocking. I'm not aware that he can be relevant somehow. Katie Stevens delivers another good studio recording - probably the same caliber as her live performance. Not crazy about Michael Lynche's recording though. I don't know. Something didn't quite work for me.

STUDIO VERSION
Aaron Kelly: The Long And Winding Road
Katie Stevens: Let It Be
Andrew Garcia: Can't Buy Me Love
Michael Lynche: Eleanor Rigby
Crystal Bowersox: Come Together
Tim Urban: All My Loving
Casey James: Jealous Guy
Siobhan Magnus: Across The Universe
Lee Dewyze: Hey Jude

LIVE VERSION
Aaron Kelly: The Long And Winding Road
Katie Stevens: Let It Be
Andrew Garcia: Can't Buy Me Love
Michael Lynche: Eleanor Rigby
Crystal Bowersox: Come Together
Tim Urban: All My Loving
Casey James: Jealous Guy
Siobhan Magnus: Across The Universe
Lee Dewyze: Hey Jude

American Idol 9: Top 10 Studio Versions

... and now we're down to 10. This week, they tackle the R&B genre! Here are their studio versions for this week:

This is how I rank their studio versions for this week:

01. Didi Benami
02. Lee Dewyze
03. Aaron Kelly
04. Tim Urban
05. Katie Stevens
06. Michael Lynche
07. Siobhan Magnus
08. Casey James
09. Crystal Bowersox
10. Andrew Garcia

Random Thoughts: It's frustrating to realize that Didi Benami, to me, has the best studio version this week and yet, we'll not be able to see her again! Here, it's a totally different arrangement than what she performed on the live show. Didi! Why didn't you perform this version? This one sounds more contemporary. Geez. Lee Dewyze is again great. And let me say, listening to Aaron Kelly's studio version makes me re-consider him as a contestant - especially now that Didi is gone! Siobhan Magnus' recording is better than her live performance as she hits the right notes without screaming. Tim Urban is also a surprising track. I'm a bit disappointed with Andrew Garcia and Crystal Bowersox' studio versions as they didn't use the arrangement they performed on the show. Crystal used the original backtrack of the Motown classic instead of the stripped down version she did on the show. Same goes with Andrew. To me, Andrew's studio recording is inferior to the live one.

STUDIO VERSION
Siobhan Magnus: Through The Fire
Casey James: Hold On I'm Coming
Michael Lynche: Ready For Love
Didi Benami: What Becomes Of A Broken Hearted
Tim Urban: Sweet Love
Andrew Garcia: Forever
Katie Stevens: Chain Of Fools
Lee Dewyze: Midnight Train To Georgia
Aaron Kelly: Ain't No Sunshine

LIVE VERSION
Siobhan Magnus: Through The Fire
Casey James: Hold On I'm Coming
Michael Lynche: Ready For Love
Didi Benami: What Becomes Of A Broken Hearted
Tim Urban: Sweet Love
Andrew Garcia: Forever
Katie Stevens: Chain Of Fools
Lee Dewyze: Treat Her Like A Lady
Crystal Bowersox: Midnight Train To Georgia
Aaron Kelly: Ain't No Sunshine

American Idol 9: Top 11 Studio Versions

... and then there were 11. This week, they performed the bad song choices Billboard #1 Hits! Here are their studio versions for this week:

This is how I rank their studio versions for this week:

01. Didi Benami
02. Katie Stevens
03. Aaron Kelly
04. Crystal Bowersox
05. Lee Dewyze
06. Siobhan Magnus
07. Michael Lnche
08. Casey James
09. Tim Urban
10. Paige Miles
11. Andrew Garcia

Random Thoughts: I personally can't stop listening at Didi Benami's studio version of You're No Good. I am so impressed with her recording voice. Good Job! Two weeks now Didi has one of the best recordings. Her voice has that sultry tone. You'd also be crazy not to download Katie's and Aaron's studio versions. I think that they were able to deliver good vocals this time around. Lee, as always, provides a recording with awesome vocals. It’s not just Lee’s appealing raspy tone that I dig, but he’s got great phrasing and dynamics too.

STUDIO VERSION
Lee Dewyze: The Letter
Paige Miles: Against All Odds
Tim Urban: Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Aaron Kelly: I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Crystal Bowersox: Me And Bobby McGee
Michael Lynche: When A Man Loves A Woman
Andrew Garcia: I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Katie Stevens: Big Girls Don't Cry
Casey James: Power Of Love
Didi Benami: You're No Good
Siobhan Magnus: Superstition


LIVE VERSION
Lee Dewyze: The Letter
Paige Miles: Against All Odds
Tim Urban: Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Aaron Kelly: I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Crystal Bowersox: Me And Bobby McGee
Michael Lynche: When A Man Loves A Woman
Andrew Garcia: I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Katie Stevens: Big Girls Don't Cry
Casey James: Power Of Love
Didi Benami: You're No Good
Siobhan Magnus: Superstition

American Idol 9: Top 12 Studio Versions

.. and so it begins!! Here are the studio versions of this year's Top 12 singing The Rolling Stones classics. Of course, this one sounds better than their live performances but I have to admit that I was floored with it. They are all fantastic. Really. Even Tim Urban.

This is how I rank their studio versions for this week:

01. Lee Dewyze
02. Didi Benami
03. Michael Lynche
04. Siobhan Magnus
05. Paige Miles
06. Lacey Brown
07. Katie Stevens
08. Crystal Bowersox
09. Tim Urban
10. Andrew Garcia
11. Aaron Kelly
12. Casey James

Random Thoughts: Lee's recording is impressive. I never liked the fact that he can't really stay on pitch live but he sounds amazing in this studio version. I suspect he'll be this year's Jason Castro - somewhat shaky live performances, but a wonderful recording artist with a truly lovely tone. Didi, on the other hand, loses some of the live version’s slinkyness but still very good. As for Lacey Brown, with the pitch problems cleaned up, the recorded version is a big improvement.

STUDIO VERSION
Michael Lynche: Miss You
Didi Benami: Play With Fire
Casey James: It's All Over
Lacey Brown: Ruby Tuesday
Andrew Garcia: Gimme Shelter
Katie Stevens: Wild Horses
Tim Urban: Under My Thumb
Siobhan Magnus: Paint It Black
Lee Dewyze: Beast Of Burden
Paige Miles: Honky Tonk Women
Aaron Kelly: Angie
Crystal Bowersox: You Can't Always Get What You Want

LIVE VERSION
Michael Lynche: Miss You
Didi Benami: Play With Fire
Casey James: It's All Over
Lacey Brown: Ruby Tuesday
Andrew Garcia: Gimme Shelter
Katie Stevens: Wild Horses
Tim Urban: Under My Thumb
Siobhan Magnus: Paint It Black
Lee Dewyze: Beast Of Burden
Paige Miles: Honky Tonk Women
Aaron Kelly: Angie
Crystal Bowersox: You Can't Always Get What You Want