Clay Aiken Goes Back to the 50s With Tried and True

When Clay Aiken was a contestant on American Idol, he sang a lot of songs from decades ago, and they suited his voice very well. Since then, most of his albums have featured more contemporary music, but with Tried and True, he returns to the types of standards for which he first became known. He goes back a little further than I would prefer - usually the Fifties rather than the Sixties - but then, that's because it's his favorite decade of music, and when an album is done with such obvious affection, I'm not about to complain about song choices.

Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - I always liked this Frankie Valli song, and Clay's version is melodious and energetic, with plenty of brass to back him up. It makes a solid start to the album.

What Kind of Fool Am I - I wasn't familiar with this Leslie Bricusse / Anthony Newley song before, but it's a smooth, jazzy tune with plenty of saxophone courtesy of David Sanborn. Clay sings it earnestly, and I have to chuckle at the line, "Why can't I cast away this mask of Clay and live my life?"

It's Only Make Believe - Another song unfamiliar to me, this Conway Twitty ditty also has plenty of brass in the background, along with finger-snapping and prominent piano. Clay sings it well, though he comes across as very peppy, while the lyrics are quite the downer.

Misty - Clay slows it way down in this Erroll Garner song, which is heavy on the violins and crawls along at a steady pace. Another saxophone solo halfway through the song emphasizes its melancholy nature. I'd never heard this one before either; it definitely gives off a loungy Fifties vibe.

Mack the Knife - Clay sang this Bobby Darin song on American Idol, and the showmanship suits him well, though the subject matter is pretty grisly. It's a little uncomfortable to listen to the lyrics and realize that he's singing about a serial killer. Still, this upbeat number is a perfect match for Clay's style.

It's Impossible - A vulnerable song complete with saxophone and chimes, though guitar is the most prominent instrument. Originally covered by Perry Como, it's one of the prettiest tracks on the album and another I'd never heard before.

Unchained Melody - Clay performed this Righteous Brothers classic on the penultimate episode of American Idol, and it was one that many fans had eagerly awaited. He recorded it on his self-published album pre-dating his appearance on the show, and listening to this rendition, it's clear how he's matured as a performer. This song, backed by gorgeous legato piano with occasional strings, is pretty understated up until the end, at which point he pulls out all the stops. I notice that in this version, he pronounces the word "to" correctly; in his earlier rendition, it's "toe," which I always found rather distracting. Anyway, probably my favorite track on the album.

Suspicious Minds - Another familiar cover for Clay fans. Clay does a great job with this peppy Elvis song. I've heard Clay perform this song on several occasions, and he seems to particularly relish it. Another great track.

Crying - This is an interesting rendition of the Roy Orbison hit. I tend not to think of this as one that lends itself easily to being a duet, since the tone is so desolate, but sharing the track with Linda Eder puts an interesting spin on it, emphasizing the pain of both parties. Some unusual harmonies, and Clay doesn't really go for the glory notes on this one, which he certainly could. It's a more subdued version, but it's still quite nice.

There's a Kind of Hush - Clay's tone is cheerful on this Herman's Hermits classic, which is a nice change after the despondence of the last track. You can tell he's having fun on this one.

Moon River - This piano-backed song by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini includes a nice instrumental section with guitar work from Vince Gill. A very slow, mellow way for Clay to end the album.

Tried and True is a nice collection with a nostalgic feel to it. All of the songs have a pretty similar sound to them, but it works well. I suspect that this is one that may appeal more to the older segment of Clay's fan base; even an oldies aficionado like me didn't recognize a third of the songs, and I have to admit the overall tone is a bit snoozy. But that's not really a bad thing. This is an album to play if you're in a laid-back mood and a good album to fall asleep to. Maybe not the best thing to play while driving due to its soporific effects, but if you like Clay Aiken or have a thing for lounge music, it's time you tried Tried and True.