Contractual issues prevented Clay to be on Aladdin CD Soundtrack

Billboard.com, October 22, CHART BEAT CHAT:

NOT SO PROUD AFTER ALL :

Fred,

I noticed that you mentioned in your column that the new "Aladdin" soundtrack contains Clay Aiken's version of "Proud of Your Boy." That is unfortunately not the case. While the DVD contains Clay's video of the song, the CD contains a demo by a different singer.

A quick listen to the sample on Amazon's Web site will clarify it, as will the comments/complaints by the many buyers who bought it thinking Clay's song was on it. In fact, looking at the list of other items customers have bought it's easy to see that it was "Idol" fans who bought the CD and I would guess now feel cheated.

Thanks,

Gabriel Duque

Dear Gabriel,

I heard from about a dozen other readers who also let me know that the Clay Aiken version of "Proud of Your Boy" does not appear on the revised CD of the soundtrack. I haven't received a copy from the Disney label yet, so I made a false (but logical) assumption. I don't know what contractual issues prevented the track from appearing on the special edition CD, but it seems senseless to have the song recorded for the film and then not be available on the album.

The "different singer" you referred to is Alan Menken, who composed the music for the film and was co-writer on "Proud of Your Boy.