Yesterday Concord Records released Gonna Get It, recorded by James and a then-unknown Mercado in August 2006. The song is available for purchase exclusively on iTunes, but can be heard for free on a number of Web sites.
She was wonderful. I think she was only 19 at the time, Lowell-born saxophonist James said of Mercado.
Evans eventually did cut the track, which appears on James 2006 album Shine, and Mercados version was shelved. But that was before she became the last female standing on Idol.
I found out she was in the finals (and thought), Wouldnt it be a great opportunity to hear this song?, James said.
James, who co-wrote the song with singer Rahsaan Patterson, said he would have kept Mercados cut on Shine had Evans label held out.
Now I have two incredible versions of the song, he said.
Fox was taken by surprise by yesterdays release of Gonna Get It and had no comment.
Only on ITune (Mercados version) and on Boney's myspace: http://www.myspace.com/boneyjamesmusic
You have really been doing some research! Thanks for sharing more information. Very interesting. I will have to take a listen to it.