Not a Golden Idol

Apparently, the American Idol folks got the Feathered Tuxedos to take a break for a five-week engagement at the Poughkeepsie Holiday Inn to play the backing tracks on the latest release from American Idol: soul classics from season three performers.
I can’t remember the last time I heard such lifeless, droning backing tracks on a “soul” album. Whoever these studio guys are, they need to go back to performing at a karaoke bar.
But hey, American Idol is a singing competition, not a musician competition, right? It’s all about the voices.
Some of these 12 finalists from the current season should be given a recording contract right away. Fantasia Barrino shows us why she won the competition with her scorching rendition of the Queen of Soul’s “Chain of Fools,” and – goofy looking as he is – George Huff comports himself surprisingly well on Billy Paul’s “Me and Mrs. Jones.”
La Toya London’s rendition of “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” – by-the-numbers as the arrangement is – still makes one wonder how America could possibly have voted her off the show ahead of – gasp – John Stevens.
When carrot-headed Stevens tries to swing like Dean Martin – well, Al Martino may be more appropriate, let’s not overstate Stevens’ ability – he does a fine job. But when he attacks – or limply shakes hands with – the Diana Ross / Marvin Gaye duet “You Are Everything,” it’s just plain bad.
And I’m still waiting to see the news report that The Temptations have tarred, feathered and run out on a rail Jon Peter Lewis for his bland interpretation of “My Girl.”
You get what you expect with this disc. Some of the singers are great. Some don’t even have the good looks and charisma that have given William Hung his head-scratching fifteen minutes of fame. Young kids will probably dig it. Soul music fans will want to run over it with their cars several times.