Tried and True is the fifth studio album by Clay Aiken, released on June 1, 2010. This album is Aiken's first on the Decca label. The deluxe edition includes two additional tracks plus a second disk with behind the scenes video and a live performance.[5]
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 on American Idol's second season. In an article written after interviewing Aiken, The News & Observer reported that "... the album features a guest turn by saxophonist and label-mate David Sanborn on the Sammy Davis Jr. classic 'What Kind of Fool Am I?' [sic] Vince Gill performs guitar on Andy Williams' legendary 'Moon River.'"[6]
Reception
Commercial performance
The album, selling 22,000 units in its first week, made its debut on the Billboard charts at number nine on the Billboard 200 and number twenty-one on Billboard's Digital Albums.[7] In Canada, the album debuted at number 58 on the Canadian Albums Chart, the lowest debut in Canada for any of his albums.
Critical reception
The album received positive reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave 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 on A Thousand Different Ways, winding up with something that might be the best representation yet of his peculiar charms."[1]
Track listing
Looking like a worn sleeve from a 1950s or 1960s LP, the Tried and True album art lists the songs included on the front cover.[5]
