IDOLS IN THE STUDIO:
JIMMY DOTS THE "I"

After UMG wrested the music rights for the show from Sony came the promise that the record group, with Iovine leading the charge, would be more active in not just the production, but the marketing of Idol albums.

Iovine proved he wasn’t kidding, either, bringing an all-star collection of producers to work with the 13 finalists in the studio for an unprecedented compilation album which was made available on iTunes last night after the show’s conclusion, the first full-length release by 19 Recordings and IGA. The 13 tracks were selling individually, with the whole compilation available for $7.99.

As in past years, the separate tracks will not appear on the iTunes singles chart, where judge Jennifer Lopez’ “On the Floor” is #1 and ousted contestant Chris Medina’s “More Than Words” sits at #92, so as not to favor any of the contestants. There is no precedent for the full album, but it has not appeared on the site’s chart to date.

The album’s tracks were produced by Rodney Jerkins, Don Was, “Tricky” Stewart, Polow Da Don, Rock Mafia, Jim Jonsin and Iovine colleague Ron Fair, with highlights of the sessions shown on last night’s show. Both Timbaland and Alex Da Kid are slated to participate, too.

Unlike his first, rather gruff appearance, Iovine was shown encouraging each of the young finalists, telling Lauren Alaina, who was covering a Shania Twain song, that it “was all about emotion” and that she was “going to be a big star.”

“Be physical… Sing that first line to the judges,” suggested Iovine for crowd favorite Casey Abrams’ take on Joe Cocker’s “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and it worked.

“I didn’t even know kids were out there singing like that,” Iovine marveled about high-pitched metal shouter James Durbin, while gushing about front-runner Jacob Lusk, the Compton, CA, spa concierge who has wowed everyone with his multi-octave gospel pipes: “He has an incredible gift. And there’s only one way to get that. You’re born with it.”

Sometimes his suggestions were ignored. Deep-throated country charmer Scott McCreery resisted Iovine’s invitation “to change things up a bit.” “I want to stay true to me,” he insisted, which seemed to please the judges, who admired his ability to stick to his instincts.

Sometimes the match of producer and artist created unexpected sparks as in Stefano Langone’s take on Stevie Wonder’s “Lately,” which Polow Da Don turned from a yearning ballad into a full-blown club floor smash that had J. Lo admitting, “You had me dancing.” Iovine’s advice? “It’s cool to close your eyes, but that audience wants to know you’re connecting,” he told him. “Noe one in America hows how well you can sing, but they’re going to find out tonight.” Langone’s performance made a prophet out of him.

Perhaps the evening’s most impressive pairing was that of contestant Naima Adedapo, the single mother Billie Holiday/Erykah Badu songstress, and producer/writer “Tricky” Stewart, who helped her turn the song he wrote for Rihanna, “Umbrella,” into a reggae-flavored romp.