Good news for former American Idol contestants still dreaming of chart success: There’s life beyond cruise-ship performances and touring productions of Beauty and the Beast. That’s because according to a story in Variety, Artists’ Addiction Records and Rocket Science are teaming up to release a series of four CDs that will ultimately showcase 12 different Idol also-rans non-winners singing three songs each.
The first, due in Wal-Mart and iTunes on Feb. 5, has Ryan Starr (season 1), Jon Peter Lewis (season 3), Stevie Scott (season 5), and A.J. Tabaldo (pictured, right; season 6), while the second, slated for March 4, includes Patrick Hall (season 5), Gedeon McKinney (season 5), Alaina Alexander (season 6), and Rudy "Free Ride" Cardenas (season 6).
As an Idol obsessive, I’m totally stoked about this idea, but only in theory. Problem is, the label seems to be focusing mostly on the series’ most forgettable contestants. Seriously, Alaina Alexander was notable last season only for giving scandal-plagued Antonella Barba a rip-roaring battle in the race for least-talented female semifinalist. (My internal jury remains deadlocked.) And are we sure this Patrick Hall person was an actual semifinalist? Yes, he has an official Idol page and all, but do you really believe everything Fox tells you?
So what’s my dream lineup for one of these discs? Well, to give credit to Artists’ Addiction, I’d include A.J. Tabaldo as well; he really suffered from a lack of airtime last season, and certainly showed more promise than Brandon Rogers or Sanjaya Malakar in his brief time on the show. I’d also include my personal pet Idol, season 2’s Trenyce (at left; I can hear my colleagues Henry Goldblatt and Kristen Baldwin groaning from their offices, but her "Come See About Me" cannot be denied). Also under the heading of "booted before America could realize they were awesome," I’d pick Lisa Leuschner (season 3) and Aloha Mischeaux (season 4); check out "My Man" on the latter’s MySpace page. She’s on fiyah!
After the jump, YouTube clips to support my picks. Use the comments section below to tell me why I’m wrong, or even better, to tell Artists’ Addiction which four singers you want showcased next!
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This should be interesting. My picks would be JPL, Patrick Hall, AJ Tabaldo, Sabrina Sloan, and Sundance Head. I’m sure there’s more I’d like to hear. Those are the ones that come to my head at the moment.
What about the fact that Trenyce is awful?
Sway Penala sang backup for Elliott on the last leg of last year’s tour and I had forgotten how much potential he had. I’d like to see him featured. And I’m right there with you on Trenyce.
Definitely Nadia Turner, whose “Try a Little Tenderness” is one of my all time favorite Idol performances. Also, in the very first season, there was a girl named Natalie who sang Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.” I thought she was too quickly overlooked. And then, also, last season’s Stephanie Edwards who went home way too early.
Good Calls on Trenyce and Lisa. I’m gonna have to add Nadia to the list!
Goin’ old school, season 1 — Angela Peel. She rocked, and should have at least made the top 12.
John Peter Lewis was great. And poor Nadia Turner was booted for singing one of the most beautiful songs of all time by Crystal Gayle, “When I Dream.” Because the judges and viewing public apparently have no knowledge of music history or taste, Simon and Co. said she was boring and the viewers followed suit. Every singer on that proposed CD SUCKS. Most runners-up do, actually.
Couldn’t agree more with including Lisa in that list. Hers was the first name I thought of when I saw this headline, followed closely by Nadia Turner. I would definitely buy a CD with either one of them on it!!
Ooh – and Vanessa Olivarez. She was robbed because of the lines they gave her as “banter” with Seacrest. Another stupid, stupid elimination.
I HONESTLY THINK ~TAMYRA GRAY~ SHOULD!!!
SHE IS THE NEXT BEST THING TO KELLY AND CARRIE FROM ANY OF THE FEMALE FINALIST EVER. IF SHE WAS MARKETED CORRECTLY. SHE CAN SO MAKE A COME BACK!!!
OH AND SHE IS AN AWESOME WRITER. . .SHE WROTE FANTASIAS WINNING SINGLE~
Nadia Turner and Treneyce deserve a shot. I can’t believe they were left out for some of those guys.
Tamyra Gray, Tamyra Gray, and Tamyra Gray! Best vocalist to appear on Idol ever!
John Peter Lewis is not very good. He is fun to watch with his crazy dance moves, but I would not buy a CD he reords on. Trenyce is a good singer who has had success in Germany from what I have read. She may not want to be bothered. Miss Gray is fab and did put out one album. I would not mind her being on the compilation list. Sorry, but Sanjaya is Microphone night only. How about Makilah Gordon-pardon me if I have misspelled her name. She is in the same league as William Hung, just a little worse. She can throw in a few seconds of her Fran Fine voice to make it more fun. And Cory Clark (bad boy) should be on it. He can screech his notes. Remember his ‘Open Arms’ fiasco on the top twelve CD? I believe he was chosen on just his looks. The man is just plain awful.
Melinda Doolittle. Period.
Oh my GOSH. You cannot be serious about Trenyce?!! One of the worst ever, if only because she THOUGHT she was one of the best but was just screechy. I did enjoy Nadia and Bo from Season 4.
Melinda Doolittle is far too good for this. JPL’s album is not bad if you’re OK with guitar pop. The one with the ukulele was sweet.
Sundance Head. It’s true that he wasn’t consistantly good, but when he was “on,” he was jaw droppingly good.
I’ve watched every season of AI and I can’t remember 5 out of these 8 people. All those contestants who claim they just want to make it to the top 10 should really aim higher. I would imagine these 8 were willing to contribute to these CDs for next to nothing and that’s why they didn’t go with more memorable contestants. They’re just looking to cash in on the AI name.
I’ve watched every season of AI and I can’t remember 5 out of these 8 people. All those contestants who claim they just want to make it to the top 10 should really aim higher. I would imagine these 8 were willing to contribute to these CDs for next to nothing and that’s why they didn’t go with more memorable contestants. They’re just looking to cash in on the AI name.
Bad idea; there’s a reason these people lost. Nobody voted for them. So why would people actually spend money to listen to them, when they weren’t even inspiring enough to pick up the phone and dial?
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Jason “Sundance” Head was trying too hard to be contemporary. The trying led to his demise. Still, I think that he could benefit from a country/ blues cd deal.
As for others:
Vanessa Oliverez
Tamyra Gray
Patrick Hall
John Adams (the guy who is related to both John and John Quincy)
Amy Adams
JPL is so Las Vegas!
Nadia Turner (minus frohawk)
This series of albums is a great idea. I’m especially excited to see Jon Peter Lewis on there (spelled Jon, John). He was the wild card pick in season three, so scads of actual voters dialed in for him. The night he left the show, he had NEVER before been in the bottom three, indicating that scads of people continued to vote for him. Jennifer Hudson left the week after him. Clearly, people thought they both were safe and voted to save lesser talents. Jon went out on one of his strongest performances, so don’t let someone’s placing on the show fool you. Jon’s debut album, “Stories From Hollywood,” got impressive reviews from music industry people who know a great album when they hear it. I plan to buy the first album in this series to see what all these singers can do, but Jon Peter Lewis is the real star of this.
Sabrina Sloan, Sundance Head, and that one Leslie the dog walker (can’t remember her last name) who tried scat singing.
What about my girl Leslie Hunt?!
Anthony Federov.
I heard that Sabrina and Sundance had a deal with Sony Records to make an album of duets to be released last Nov. What happened ?
When I 1st saw Trenyce’s pic, I thought it was Ebony from ANTM Cycle 5.
Slezak, I love you and your coverage of Idol is brilliant, but seriously, I have three words of advice for you when it comes to Trenyce: GET OVER IT(HER)!
M.Sleezy, the only one you convinced me of was Lisa. Right now I can’t think of anyone that I would like to see again
I will buy the first album in the series because Jon Peter Lewis is on it. His CD is great and all original work .. no cover songs. Who knows, I might like some of the other artists’ songs as well. I’m willing to check it out!