Blue Skies is the debut album by American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo, released on December 7, 2004, on RCA Records. It debuted at number 52, selling 47,000 copies in its first week and currently 168,000 copies.
Track listing
Song cover versions "Emotional" was originally recorded by Michelle McManus for her album The Meaning of Love, released earlier in 2004. "The Difference in Me" and "Then I Woke Up" were covered by Clique Girlz for their album, Incredible. "Dream, Dream, Dream" was covered by Miley Cyrus for the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack. "The Difference in Me" and "Boy Like You" were covered in Spanish by Nikki Clan for their debut album, as "Corazón abierto" and "No me digas que no" respectively.
Personnel Diana DeGarmo – vocals Kalle Engström – keyboards (1, 9), programming (1, 9) Carl Falk – keyboards (1, 9), programming (1, 9), guitars (1) Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11) John Shanks – keyboards (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11), guitars (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11), bass guitar (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11) Harry Sommerdahl – keyboards (3), programming (3) David Foster – keyboards (6), arrangements (6), horn and string arrangements (6) Jochem van der Saag – additional keyboards (6), programming (6), sound design (6) Neil Drover – additional programming (6) Matt Rollings – acoustic piano (9) Bill Payne – acoustic piano (12) Tim Pierce – guitars (1, 3), electric guitars (9) Dan Warner – guitars (3) Dean Parks – acoustic guitars (9) Dennis Budimir – guitars (12) Lee Ritenour – guitars (12) Thomas Blindberg – bass guitar (1, 3) Paul Bushnell – bass guitar (9) David Hungate – bass guitar (12) Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums (1, 3) Jeff Rothschild – drums (2, 5, 10, 11) Kenny Aronoff – drums (4, 7, 8) Jim Keltner – drums (12) David Campbell – string arrangements (2) Suzie Katayama – string contractor (2) Charlie Bisharat – concertmaster (2) Jerry Hey – horn and string arrangements (6) Barry Fasman – original arrangements (12) Andreas Carlsson – backing vocals (1, 3), guitars (3) Anna Nordell – backing vocals (1, 3) Keely Pressly – backing vocals (1, 3) Kara DioGuardi – backing vocals (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11)
Orchestra on "Dreams" David Campbell – horn, string and timpani arrangements and conductor Suzie Katayama – string contractor Bettie Ross-Blumer – copyist Joe Meyer and Brad Warnaar – French horn Larry Corbett and Armen Ksajikian – cello Robert Becker and Evan Wilson – viola Bob Zimmitti – timpani
Choir on "Dreams" Andreas Carlsson and Chris Willis – arrangements Chris Braide, Andreas Carlsson, Bill Champlin, Desmond Child, Kevin Dorsey, Sheléa Frazier, Jim Gilstrap, Lori Perry, Oren Waters and Chris Willis – singers
Production Clive Davis – album producer Stephen Ferrera – A&R Brian Coleman – production manager (1, 3, 9) Shari Sutcliffe – production coordinator and contractor (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11) Kwaku Altson – photography FJH – art direction Brenda DeGarmo – management
Technical Joe Yannece – mastering at The Hit Factory (New York, NY) Andreas Carlsson – recording (1, 3) Kalle Engström – recording (1, 9), Pro Tools engineer (9) Carl Falk – recording (1, 9), Pro Tools engineer (9) Matt Gruber – recording (1, 3, 9) Jay Ruston – recording (1) Harry Sommerdahl – recording (1, 3) Jeff Rothschild – engineer (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11), mixing (2) Dan Warner – recording (3) Humberto Gatica – recording (6), mixing (6) Steve Churchyard – string recording (9) Bob Clearmountain – recording (9), mixing (9) Jules Gondor – recording (9) Rob Jacobs – recording (9) Andy Zulla – recording (12), mixing (12) Serban Ghenea – mixing (1, 3–5, 7, 8, 10, 11) John Shanks – mixing (2) John Hanes – additional Pro Tools engineer (1, 3–5, 8, 10) Tim Roberts – Pro Tools assistant (1, 3–5, 8, 10) Neil Devor – digital engineer and editing (6) Alejandro Rodriguez – digital engineer and editing (6) Jochem van der Saag – digital engineer and editing (6) Mike Eleopoulos – second engineer (1, 3), assistant engineer (9) Richard Hwang – second engineer (1, 3), recording (9) Alex Pavlides – second engineer (1, 3) Lars Fox – additional engineer (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11) Mark Valentine – additional engineer (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11) Greg Burns – assistant engineer (9) Kevin Harp – assistant engineer (9), assistant mix engineer (9) Anthony Kilhoffer – assistant engineer (9) Curt Kroeger – assistant engineer (9)