American Idol The Great Holiday Classics

AMERICAN IDOL: THE GREAT HOLIDAY CLASSICS gathers both the first two years' winners, Ruben Studdard and Kelly Clarkson, along with Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Justin Guarini, and many others, to put their spins on holiday standards. Clay (whose debut album hits stores the same day as GREAT HOLIDAY CLASSICS) leads off with a powerful, orchestral take on

 Tracks include: 1. The First Noel - Clay Aiken 2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Ruben Studdard and Tamyra Gray 3. O Come, All Ye Faithful - Ensemble 4. Silent Night - Tamyra Gray 5. Silver Bells - Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke 6. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Ensemble 7. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) - Kimberley Locke 8. I'll be Home for Christmas - Justin Guarini 9. Winter Wonderland - Christina Christian 10. This Christmas - Ruben Studdard 11. Oh Holy Night - Kelly Clarkson 12. My Grown Up Christmas List - Kelly Clarkson
 

You've watched them on TV and followed them in the media. Now six of the American Idol winners perform 10 of the season's holiday best. American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics is a bona fide AI songfest for Christmas, featuring Clay Aiken, Rueben Studdard, Tamyra Gray, Kimberly Locke, Justin Guarni and Christina Christian. With two tunes featuring the entire ensemble singing "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," two duets, and a couple of cuts by Kelly Clarkson, including "My Grown Up Christmas List," this is a crowd pleaser arranged and lushly orchestrated for fans of the show and fine mainstream singing. The real stars seem to shine though on Christian's playful and seductive "Winter Wonderland" and Studdard's soulful pipes on "This Christmas." Overall it's a rewarding set that's almost too perfect. It seems to beg for a little levity a la William Hung. --Martin Keller

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