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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090323232219/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/30573/chart-watch-extra-the-american-idol-alumni-association]

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 (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 (1, 3)
  • Paul Bushnell – bass (9)
  • David Hungate – bass (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)