Deleted Top 40 digital download singles

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   I'm copying and pasting the following posts from another forum thread discussing deleted digital download Top 40 singles also that are also not available on CD.  Since this topic is of interest to a number of us, it probably should have it's own dedicated thread:

 JL328 wrote:

...There were a handful of American Idol songs and other live recordings that met the same fate.  Here is a (perhaps incomplete) list with as much info as my memory can muster:

1) Across the Universe-- Various Artists (47th Grammys)

2) Cry Baby/Piece of My Heart-- Stone/Etheridge (47th Grammys)

3) The World I Know-- David Cook (Live Performance-- AI Top 2)

4) I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For-- David Cook (Live 

Performance-- AI Top 2)

5) Dream Big-- David Cook (Live Performance-- AI Top 2)

6) Permanent (American Idol Charity Song)-- David Cook

The hit version is the live version titled "American Idol Charity Song."  It 

was only available for a limited time.  It runs about 3:23 and (I believe) is a 

live recording (I do not have it).  This song was later released on his album 

in a different 2:57 studio version.  That album version was not the version 

that charted Billboard.

7) Imagine-- David Archuleta (Live Performance-- AI Top 2)

8) I'll Stand By You (Idol Gives Back Performance)-- Carrie Underwood 

This is a studio version.  Runs approx. 3:32.  It was played on AI over a 

charity clip, released to iTunes for charity, then quickly pulled.

9) Praying For Time (Idol Gives Back Performance)-- Carrie Underwood

This is a live performance.

10) What About Now (Idol Gives Back Performance)-- Daughtry

This one is under the radar because people assume the album version as 

the hit.  It's not.  The hit was the acoustic version that was played on 

American Idol (Idol Gives Back).  It is not a live version, but is a special 

acoustic version (and therefore different than the album version).  like "I'll 

Stand By You," I think it was played on IGB over a montage a clips.    The 

acoustic version was released to iTunes, people bought it, and the song 

charted Billboard the next week based on the IGB performance.  I believe 

the album version charted in a completely different year.

11) You Give Love a Bad Name (American Idol Performance)-- Blake Lewis

I believe a studio version.

12) We Belong Together (From "Tristan & Isolde")-- Gavin DeGraw 

Another under the radar one.  There is a 5:26 album version still available 

on iTunes.  This is not the hit.  The hit runs 4:33.  I honestly don't know 

why this song is no longer available; it wasn't part of a live performance 

and I don't think it was released for charity.  I'm speculating a bit, but I 

think this song got a lot of run due to its appearance in trailers for 

"Tristan & Isolde" (or maybe One Tree Hill or Dawson's Creek or one of 

those shows?) so the record company quickly released a version (which 

became the hit version) then quickly pulled it when the album was 

released?  That's speculation, but the hit version is long gone in favor of 

the longer and IMO not as good album version.  I'd actually love to hear 

the real story on this song.

13) Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)-- Jay Z, et al.

This was from the Hope For Haiti Now special.  There was a live version 

and a studio version and I'm not sure which was the hit.  Neither is 

available any longer.

14) Hallelujah-- Justin Timberlake & Matt Morris feat. Charlie Sexton

If you've never heard this, you're missing out.  Also from Hope For Haiti 

Now, there was only one version.  There is no crowd noise, but I'm not 

entirely sure it's a studio recording.  Runs 4:16 and was a top 40 hit for 

one week.  One of my favorite recordings.

15) Mad World (American Idol Performance)-- Adam Lambert

Studio Recording

16) Heartless (American Idol Performance)-- Kris Allen 

Studio Recording

17?) Ain't No Sunshine (American Idol Performance)-- Kris Allen

Studio Recording.  Throwing this one on here because I'm not sure.  The 

hit was a studio recording and a 2:13 studio recording was later released 

on a five song EP called "American Idol Season 8: The 5 Song EP."  Not 

sure if that's the same version because I never bought the song when it 

was released after AI.

I used to have a list of these, but damn if I can't find it.  So, this is largely 

pieced together from memory, so there may be others that I'm forgetting 

(something from the CMAs perhaps?).

 JL328 wrote:

18) All Summer Long-- Hit Masters

I also just realized that this pop culture anomaly is no longer available, 

although the companion version by the "Rock Heroes" appears to still be 

going strong on iTunes.

19) Home Sweet Home-- Carrie Underwood

Studio recording, played as the going home music during one of the 

seasons of AI.  Also appears to no longer be available.

Also, just a further note to point out that the version of "Heartless" on Kris 

Allen's album is not the hit.  The hit AI studio recording runs 4:02.