Blue Skies (CD - 2004)

Personnel: Diana DeGarmo (vocals); John Shanks (guitar, keyboards, bass guitar); Evan Wilson, Bob Becker (violin); Joe Meyer , Brad Warnaar (French horn); Bill Payne, Billy Payne (piano); Kalle Engstrom, Jochem van der Saag (keyboards, programming); David Hungate, Paul Bushnell (bass guitar); Robert Zimmitti (timpani); Neil Devor (programming); Keely Pressly, Anna Nordell (background vocals); Tim Pierce (guitar, electric guitar); Andreas Carlsson (guitar, background vocals); Dan Warner, Dennis Budimir, Lee Ritenour (guitar); Dean Parks (acoustic guitar); Matt Rollings (piano); Harry "Slick" Sommerdahl (keyboards, programming); Jamie Muhoberac, David Foster (keyboards); Abe Laboriel, Jr., Jim Keltner, Kenny Aronoff, Jeff Rothschild (drums); Kara DioGuardi (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: John Shanks; Jeff Rothschild; Humberto Gatica; Andy Zulla; Serban Ghenea; Bob Clearmountain.

Recording information: Allen Zentz; Chartmaker Studios; Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Mix This!, Pacific Palisades, CA; Ocean Studios Burbank, Burbank, CA; Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA; Ringside Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; Royaltone Studios, Nr. Hollywood, CA; The Location, Stockholm, Sweden; the Record Plant, Hollywood, CA; Woodland Ranch Studios, Woodland Hills, CA.

Photographer: Kwaku Alston.

Arrangers: David Foster; Barry Fasman.

As proven by the mega-success of Clay Aiken's albums, the runner-up position on AMERICAN IDOL can afford opportunities just as--or even more--significant than those guaranteed by the first-place prize. With Season Three runner-up Diana DeGarmo's debut disc, RCA and label honcho Clive Davis take an Aiken-like approach, surrounding the big-voiced teen with a crack ensemble of veteran studio musicians and a set of songs that fall somewhere between teen-pop and adult-contemporary music. "All I Never Wanted" and "Dream, Dream, Dream" employ shimmering guitar parts reminiscent of U2's the Edge, but are backed by smooth, mid-tempo beats. "Go On and Cry" is a pop-perfect ballad (recalling Berlin's 1986 TOP GUN smash "Take My Breath Away") that allows DeGarmo to showcase the full range and power of her vocals. Throughout, the young Georgia native sings with clarity and authority, emphasizing a pure tone, while forgoing the unnecessary filigree present in many of her contemporaries' work. minimize