Tried and True

Tried and True
Studio albumby Clay Aiken
Released	June 1, 2010
Recorded	2009–2010
Genre	Pop
Length	41:44
Label	Decca
Producer	Alex Christensen, David Novik, Quiana Parler
Clay Aikenchronology
Playlist: The Very Best of Clay Aiken (2009) Tried and True (2010) Steadfast (2012)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Billboard	Positive
CBS News	Positive
USA Today	Positive

Tried and Trueis the fifth studio album byClay Aiken,released on June 1, 2010. This album is Aiken's first on theDeccalabel. The deluxe edition includes two additional tracks plus a second disk with behind the scenes video and a live performance.

Background

The songs on this album are classics from the 1950s and 1960s. "Unchained Melody" and "Mack the Knife" were performed by Aiken when he was a contestant onAmerican Idol'ssecond season. In an article written after interviewing Aiken,The News & Observerreported that "... the album features a guest turn by saxophonist and label-mateDavid Sanbornon theSammy Davis Jr.classic 'What Kind of Fool Am I?' [sic]Vince Gillperforms guitar on Andy Williams' legendary 'Moon River.' "

Reception

Commercial performance

The album, selling 22,000 units in its first week, made its debut on theBillboardchartsat number nine on theBillboard200and number twenty-one on Billboard's Digital Albums.In Canada, the album debuted at number 58 on theCanadian Albums Chart,the lowest debut in Canada for any of his albums.

Critical reception

The album received positive reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine ofAllmusicgave the album 3 out of 5 stars, saying "It’s handsomely tailored music that fits Aiken’s strengths quite well. Indeed, he’s never seemed more at home on a record; nothing may challenge him but he’s never straining, seeming happier singing standards than he did churning out contemporary classics onA Thousand Different Ways,winding up with something that might be the best representation yet of his peculiar charms. "

Track listing

Looking like a worn sleeve from a 1950s or 1960sLP,theTried and Truealbum art lists the songs included on the front cover.

Standard edition

1. "Can't Take My Eyes off You"Written by:Bob Crewe,Bob Gaudio3:18
2. "What Kind of Fool Am I?(featuringDavid Sanborn) Written by:Leslie Bricusse,Anthony Newley3:31
3. "It's Only Make Believe"Written by: Jack Nance,Conway Twitty3:13
4. "Misty"Written by:Johnny Burke,Erroll Garner4:18
5. "Mack the Knife"Written by:Kurt Weill,Bertolt Brecht,Marc Blitzstein3:21
6. "It's Impossible"Written by:Armando Manzanero,Sid Wayne4:02
7. "Unchained Melody"Written by:Alex North,Hy Zaret4:51
8. "Suspicious Minds"Written by:Mark James3:49
9. "Crying"(duet withLinda Eder) Written by:Joe Melson,Roy Orbison4:05
10. "There's a Kind of Hush"Written by:Les Reed,Geoff Stephens3:00
11. "Moon River"(featuringVince Gill) Written by:Henry Mancini,Johnny Mercer4:11

Deluxe edition

12. "Who's Sorry Now?"Written by:Bert Kalmar,Harry Ruby,Ted Snyder3:47
13. "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do"Written by:Neil Sedaka,Howard Greenfield2:58

    Bonus tracks

14. "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me"(iTunesexclusive) Written by:Pino Donaggio,Vito Pallavicini,Vicki Wickham,Simon Napier-Bell4:12

Disc 2 (deluxe edition)

1. Behind The Scenes Look: The Making Of Tried And True 6:22
2. Build Me Up Buttercup(Live) Written by:Mike d'Abo,Tony Macaulay2:59

Additional personnel

• Linda Eder(appears courtesy of The Verve Music Group)
• Vince Gill(appears courtesy of MCA Nashville)
• Dave Sanborn(appears courtesy of Decca Label Group)
• Pete Beachill – Trombone (Tenor)
• Gordon Campbell – Trombone (Tenor)
• Andy Wood -Trombone (Tenor)
• Dave Stewart – Trombone (Bass)
• Andy Mackintosh – Flute, Saxophone (Alto)
• Stan Sulzmann– Flute, Saxophone (Alto)
• Dave Bishop – Clarinet, Saxophone (Tenor)
• Ben Castle– Clarinet, Saxophone (Tenor)
• Jeff Daly – Saxophone (Baritone)
• Mitch Dalton – Guitar
• Mark James – Guitar
• Steve Pearce – Bass (Electric)
• Mark Hodgson – Double Bass
• Martin Gordy – Percussion
• Simon Gardner – Trumpet,Flugelhorn
• Noel Langley – Trumpet, Flugelhorn
• Mike Lovatt – Trumpet, Flugelhorn
• Derek Watkins– Trumpet, Flugelhorn
• Pete Murray – Piano
• Ralph Salmins – Drums
• Quiana Parler – Background vocals, vocal production (Tracks 7 and 11)
• G-Strings Orchestra (Track 9)
• Thomas Bowes – Violin
• Jonathan Rees – Violin
• Vicci Wardman – Violin
• Anthony Pleeth – Cello
• Chris Walden– Arranger, Conductor, Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Soloist
• Jesse Vargas – Arranger (Tracks 3 and 9)
• Ben Cohn – Arranger (Track 7)
• Carl Marsh – Arranger (Track 11 and 12)
• Alex Christensen – Producer
• Isobel Griffiths – Orchestra Contractor
• Vlado Meller – Mastering
• Jochem van der Saag – Mi xing
• Vincent Soyez – Photography
• Dave Novik – Executive Producer,A&R
• Paul Altomari – A&R coordination
• Amy Merxbauer – A&R administration
• Evelyn Morgan – A&R administration
• Tom Arndt – Package Coordinator
• Denise Trotman – Package Design
• Fanny Gotschall – Art Direction

Recording and mi xing

• Angel Recording Studios,London, UK
• Home Studios, Hamburg, Germany
• Universal Mastering Studios, New York City, NY
• Additional vocals
  • Soundpure Studios, Durham, NC (Track 7)
  • Strange Cranium Studios, New York City, NY (Track 9)
  • Osceola Studios, Raleigh, NC (Track 11)