American Idol Season 2: All Time Classic American Love Songs

Jeremy Sweet (Composer), Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 2003)
• Original Release Date: June 11, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00008MNYR
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (213 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,622 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

• This item is part of The American Idol Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Interested in visiting your favorite contestants from the second season of American Idol? Then this is the album for you, but be forewarned that something is lost in the translation from the small screen to the compact disc. Simon Cowell's scathing comments and Paula Abdul's head tossing add to the human drama; without those visual embellishments, the recorded version falls flat. Sure this is a talented bunch, but the material is mundane, with few of the finalists straying from the traditional arrangements. But when they do, it's sometimes worse. Ruben Stoddard's rendition of the Carpenters hit "Superstar" reeks of misplaced sincerity. The best cut on the disc is Kimberly Caldwell's throaty cover of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song," which gives the song some well-needed grit. And while Julia Demato's voice is no match for Etta James's full-bodied version of "At Last," Demato gives the classic a fetching kittenish spin. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait to hear more from (some of) these guys, May 20, 2003

By	Michael T. Rognlien (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Bought this CD hoping that it wouldn't be a cheaply-produced, put-together-in-5-minutes CD, and I was glad to find it was not.

Unsurprisingly, Clay turns in the best performance on the CD, effortlessly bringing a new sound to the classic "On The Wings of Love" .. his voice is just naturally perfect. Good to see he's stopped over-annunciating his words quite a bit.

The surprises on here were the really good quality of performances delivered by Kimberly Caldwell (she sounds great on "Killing Me Softly") and the under-appreciated Charles Grigsby. When he sings "Overjoyed" he actually sounds like he means it - and it sounds great. I hope these two find success outside of the largely-fixed American Idol.

Unimpressive were Julia Damato (she makes the soulful "At Last" sound like a country song sang at a picnic) and the heinous Corey Clark (his vocal cords sound stretched beyond the limit and in danger of snapping through most of "Open Arms"), and Lashundr.....err..... Trenyce sounds OK on "Let's Stay Together" but she DOES have a good voice, and could have chosen a more fitting (though preferably non-Whitney) song to sing.

Kimberly Locke will also put out a great CD, I'm sure, as will Ruben. Overall worth the investment, but skip the cheesy group numbers..

56 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am so AMAZED!!!, May 13, 2003

By	Jordan (Marina Del Rey, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

Well this cd in unbelieveable. I am a American Idol fan but I couldn't wait for the cd. Well here is a list of songs and rated

1. What the World Needs Now-(4/5) now the thing in this song is that it is well done but it really wasn't the greatest rendition I have heard but it is definetely good because the different vocals. Kinda cheesy at the end with Julia.

2.Superstar-(4/5) Now I am not a fan of ruben but I must say that his voice is amazing for this song.

3.On the Wings of Love-(5/5) Clay sang this song like no other. He makes any song sound amazing. His vocals are phenomenal.

4.At Last-(2/5) I am not sure but I think Julia was cute but her vocals didn't seem that great on the show and this song was pretty but it doesn't sound like her....vocals are decent.

5.Three Times a Lady-(5/5) This song is awesome for Josh. I can't believe that he sang this song so well. His country tone is heard a little bit but not obvious. This shows that he really can sing. Vocals are good.

6.Let's Stay together-(4/5) Now trenyce has great vocals and I am happy that this song is on there but it is the only upbeat song. Her live version is better. What is Trenyce's last name?

7.Back at One-(4/5) Rickey really surprised me with this song. I can't believe that he pulled off this song so well. His vocals are great his upper register sounded great.

8.Killing me Softly with His Song-(5/5) Now I have to admit that this version of the song is just superb. I can't get over that she sang this song. I have fallen in love with this song and her singing it. Her vocals are ontact. This song shows her upp register very well.

9.Open Arms-(2/5) Corey has a ok voice but it kinda gets on my nerves and I love the song but I didn't like his vocals on this song.

10.How Do I Live (Without You)- (4/5) I think this shows Carmen best singing with her voice. You can her her vibrato a little bit in only certain parts but otherwise she totally got rid of her vibrato.

11.Over the Rainbow-(5/5) Kimberley pulls off this song with ease. I love when she first sang it but better when it was studio recorded.l I can listen to this song over and over again. Her vocals are the best of the girls in the competition and this song proves it.

12. Overjoyed-(4/5) Now I wish Charles went farther in the competition I liked his voice and he makes a great version of this song. Stevie Wonder is hard to pull off and I think he did it well. His vocals are good.

13.God Bless the U.S.A(Proud to be an American)-(3/5) I like them singing the song but it just doens't hit me hard like all of them together but it is a good version vocals are well blended

One thing that I am disappointed with is that Vanessa didn't make it onto the cd because I liked her voice also.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite CDs, October 19, 2003

By A Customer

I love this CD, almost all the kids sound great. It could have been better by eliminating What the World Needs Now and letting Vanessa Oliveraz have a song (and why is she NOT on here? the hell?), but its great. Each performer really plays to their strengths.

1. What the World Needs Now-The kids sound great, but I HATE THIS #&^(*^#( SONG! What a sappy piece of junk. The melody is simplistic, the lyrics banal and trite. Pavoratti couldn't sell this one, and neither can the Idols, though they sure try. No stars.

2. Superstar-Rueben. Nice. Very Nice. It's a little too long, but it really shows off Ruben's soulful voice. One thing that annoys me-why does he always say "And your guitar...And you sound so sweet and clear" its "And your guitar-it sounds so sweet and clear." Annoys me every time. I'm petty I know. 4.5 stars.

3. On the Wings of Love-Clay. Outstanding. Perfect or close to it. He hits every note and really shows off that incredible range. 5 stars.

4. At Last-Julia. Hmm, where was this girl on the show? Julia proves she does have a great voice. Anyway who could sing this and not pale in comparison to Etta James would be doing good. Julia does that and more. Impressive. 4.5 stars.

5. 3 Times a Lady-Josh. Another surprising performance-Josh does really well here. No pitch problems, and none of that fake twang he sported on the show. Just pure emotion. Confused by the reviewers who say he's singing for his wife-listen to the words, this is a breakup song-but a great interpretation. 4 stars.

6. Let's Stay Together-Trenyce. Trenyce does something I thought would be impossible, she makes me like this song. Tina Turner, one of my favorite singers, couldn't do that. But Trenyce's interpertation is really great and totally original. On the show, though I loved her voice, I often thought she was just imitating. Here, she makes the song her own, and really shows some style. 4 stars.

7. Back At One-Rickey. Not my favorite song, and not my favorite singer, but its not bad. He has a better voice than I gave him credit for, but this still isn't one of my favorites. 3 stars.

8. Killing Me Softly-Kim C. WOW! Kim C's interpretation is really original and very, very good. If you could imagine a hybrid of Melissa Etheridge's grit and Roberta Flack's soul, that might be what Kim does here. It sounds great and it really shows some unique style. Excellent. 4.5 stars.

9. Open Arms-Corey. ARGH! Hated him on the show. Hate him here. Hate him. He uses that horrible falsetto in full force here, and sounds every minute as if he's just tottering on the edge of a voice crack. Horrid. 1 star.

10. How Do I Live-Carmen. Another great job of playing to her strengths. She's not LeAnn or Trisha and she wisely doesn't try to be. Instead, she just sings the song sweetly and sincerely and its very enjoyable. Totally unique and refreshing. 3.5 stars.

11. Over the Rainbow-Kim L. I love her, and her voice is impressive, no question. I never liked the way she sang this song. She oversings. This is a lullaby-not the showstopper of a Broadway production. Again, sounds great, but just totally inappropriate material. 5 stars for her singing, 1 star for vocal interpertation.

12. Overjoyed-Charles. Not bad, but nothing memorable either. He's got a good voice, but the song is just bland. 2 stars.

13. God Bless the USA-All. Not my favorite song either, but the kids do a great job with it. Good closer. 3 stars.