Intro

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From your first performance to your last, you're simply the best! Thanks for all the great memories, Haley.

Peace & Love,
Your adoring fans

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Progress Report

It's been two months since Haley Reinhart released her wonderfully delectable debut album 'Listen Up!" and I think we can consider it an unqualified success for our favorite Idol, entering an overcrowded field as a brand new artist.  A brief look at Billboard.com revealed that 'Listen Up!' made the Top 20 on three separate charts during the week of June 9, 2012, ranked by sales as compiled by Nielsen Soundscan:

#7 on "Tastemaker Albums" (the week's top-selling albums based on a panel of influential stores comprised of independent retailer coalitions and smaller regional chains)

#14 on "Digital Albums" (the week's top downloaded albums across all genres)

#17 on "Billboard 200" (the week's top selling albums across all genres)

On Amazon, it's drawn consistently rave reviews with 4.5 stars out of 5 from 61 reviews as of now, and it didn't even include my own.  One of the most common thing you hear is that "there is not one bad song (or filler) in the entire album."  High praise indeed! 

Alas, Haley's music is conspicuously absent on the radio, at least in my area of LA.  Yeah I know, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood (and occasionally Chris Daughtry and Adam Glambert) are practically the only Idols getting any love on the airwaves.  Oh well, maybe one of Haley's other singles will take off.  Speaking of hits, if I have to pick one song from her album that I think has the most potential to make a splash on radio, I'm going to have to go with "Let's Run Away."  This reggae-calypso-surf rock piece of pop confection is just so catchy and radio friendly and always puts a smile on my face.  Too bad it's not on her standard 10-track release.  The pop-jazzy "Walking on Heaven" (which is on the 10-track album) comes a close second.  Just my two cents.

Before I sign off until 'next time,' let me leave you with another great duet from Haley and Casey Abrams on the latter's recent debut release.  It's a cover of the Percy Mayfield R&B classic "Hit the Road Jack."  Enjoy.