Glee: The Music - Best of Season One

Personnel: Onitsha Shaw, David Loucks, Ravaughn Brown, Jane Lynch, Emily Gomez, Drew Ryan Scott, Kamari Copeland, Cory Monteith, Zac Poor, Chris Colfer, Storm Lee, Dianna Agron, Amber Riley, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele , Jessalyn Gilsig, Jenna Ushkowitz, Tim Davies, Colin Benward, David Baloche, Jayma Mays, Mark Salling, Naya Rivera, Jimmy Andrew Richard, Kala Balch, Shelley Scarr, Kent Avenido, Jeanette Olsen, Nikki Anders, Chris Mann , Chaz Mason, Windy Wagner, Matthew Morrison, Adam Anders (vocals).
Audio Mixer: Peer Astrom .
Recording information: AMI Studios, Studio City, CA; Castle Oaks, Calabasas, CA; Chalice Studios, Hollywood, CA; Conway Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Eastwest Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Firehouse Studios, Pasadena, CA; Hensen Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Masterplan Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; Resonate Studios, Burbank, CA; WEstlake Studios, Los Angeles, CA.
Besides the Simon Cowell juggernauts of Pop Idol and The X-Factor, Fox comedy drama Glee has perhaps made more impact on the U.K. charts than any other TV show in history. Forty of the tracks performed in the hit series entered the Top 75, (15 of which made the Top 40), while their first three Glee: The Music volumes reached the upper reaches of the album chart, all within the space of six months. Listed in the order they were featured in the Emmy-nominated show, this U.K.-only compilation gathers 19 of the most popular tracks from their first season, starting with their most iconic number, their cover of Journey's rock classic "Don't Stop Believing," and ending with their version of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's interpretation of "Over the Rainbow." While faithful solo renditions of Rihanna's "Take a Bow," Wicked's signature tune "Defying Gravity," and Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" showcase the impressive vocal abilities of stars Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, and Cory Monteith, Glee's stand-out moments undoubtedly occur on the epic productions of the ensemble performances. Alongside the show-stopping spectacles of Queen's "Somebody to Love" and Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" from New Directions, the high school glee club at the focus of the show, are two of the album's highlights, courtesy of rival group Vocal Adrenaline, whose covers of Duffy's "Mercy" and Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" turn the '60s retro-soul hits into toe-tapping musical numbers that sound tailor-made for Broadway. Elsewhere, All-American Rejects' revenge-fueled emo anthem "Gives You Hell" is given an infectious, shiny pop makeover, Beyoncé's R&B ballad "Halo" is mashed-up with Katrina & the Waves' '80s hit "Walking on Sunshine" with a surprisingly positive effect, while Idina Menzel stars on the stripped-down, cabaret-style version of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face." Of course, with such an extensive selection of songs to choose from, there will be some notable omissions. Luckily, Mr. Schuester's cringe-worthy attempts at hip-hop are neglected, but the hilarious performance of Madonna's "Vogue," from (arguably) the show's most watchable character, Sue Sylvester, and their medley of Usher's "Confessions" and Bon Jovi's "It's My Life" -- one of three singles to make the Top Ten -- seem like rather bizarre exclusions. With its sugary-sweet production, musical theater-esque vocals, and bonus karaoke disc, Glee: The Music - Best of Season One is unlikely to convert anyone previously immune to its undoubted charm, but for the already initiated, it provides a welcome retrospective of one of the biggest cultural hits of the year. ~ Jon O'Brien