American Idol compilation series

The American Idol compilation series are annual television soundtracks for the television show American Idol. Each of the albums usually include cover songs from all the finalists of the season, released sometime before the last episode.

For albums released by individual finalists, see American Idol Finalists Album Sales.

Albums

Season 1: Greatest Moments

Season 1: Greatest Moments
File:AIdol1.jpg
Album by Various Artists
Release Date			October 1, 2002
Genre			Pop
Length
Label			RCA
Producer(s)			James McMillan
Sales
RIAA Certification			Gold
Chart Positions
Professional Reviews
N/A
Various Artists Chronology
N/A (N/A) Season 1: Greatest Moments (2002) Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (2003)

American Idol Greatest Moments is the first American Idol soundtrack from the original season of American Idol. It contains two cover songs from Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, the winner and runner-up of the original season, one song from the remaining eight finalists, one song by all the finalists, and Kelly Clarkson's two songs from her debut single were added as bonus tracks. It is the only album that endorses the winner's single. The album was released on October 1, 2002 and was originally called American Idol Greatest Moments since it was not known whether the series would continue.

Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs

Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs
File:Aidol2.jpg
Album by Various Artists
Release Date			2003
Genre			Pop
Length
Label			RCA
Producer(s)			Burt Bacharach, James McMillan, Nigel Wright
Sales
RIAA Certification			Gold
Chart Positions
Professional Reviews
Various Artists Chronology
Season 1: Greatest Moments (2002) Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (2003) Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics (2004)

Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs was compiled of classic American love songs performed by the top eleven finalists from season 2 of American Idol and contains two ensemble tracks. It was released in 2003.

Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics

Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics
File:American Idol Season 3 album cover.jpg
Album by Various Artists
Release Date			April 27, 2004
Genre			Soul
Length
Label			RCA
Producer(s)			James McMillan, Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken
Sales
RIAA Certification			Gold
Chart Positions
Professional Reviews
Various Artists Chronology
Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (2003) Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics (2004) Season 4: The Showstoppers (2005)

Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics is a soul music compilation that was released on April 27, 2004. It contains one cover song from each of the twelve finalists of season 3 and one ensemble.

Season 4: The Showstoppers

Season 4: The Showstoppers
File:Idol4.jpg
Album by Various Artists
Release Date			May 17, 2005
Genre			Pop
Length
Label			RCA
Producer(s)			Desmond Child
Sales			500,000+
RIAA Certification			Gold
Chart Positions			???
Professional Reviews
N/A
Various Artists Chronology
Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics (2004) Season 4: The Showstoppers (2005) Season 5: Encores (2006)

Season 4: The Showstoppers contains one cover song from each of the top 12 finalists during season 4 of the television show American Idol, along with a song that features all 12 of them together. The CD was certified gold on July 26, 2005.

Season 5: Encores

Season 5: Encores
File:Idol5.jpg
Album by Various Artists
Release Date			May 23, 2006
Genre			Pop
Length
Label			RCA
Producer(s)			Derek Bramble
Sales			311,946+
RIAA Certification
Chart Positions
Professional Reviews
Various Artists Chronology
Season 4: The Showstoppers (2005) Season 5: Encores (2006) N/A (N/A)

Season 5: Encores was released on May 23 2006 and contains one cover song from each of the top 12 finalists during season 5 of the television show American Idol. It is the only American Idol album that does not feature an ensemble track by all the contestants, and is the first year in which several individual finalists made the popular music charts. The album sold over 154,000 units according to Nielsen SoundScan on its first week. It is the best selling debut of the American Idol compilation series, and at #3 on the Billboard 200, behind the Disney Channel Original Movie's High School Musical Soundtrack and the Dixie Chicks' Taking the Long Way. [1] It was #2 on Top Soundtracks, #4 on Top Digital Albums and #6 on Top Internet. This also makes American Idol the most successful soundtrack franchise of any motion picture or television program, beating out Star Wars. [2]