Before he became famous for being the lovable judge on American Idol who calls everybody "dawg," Randy Jackson had established a lucrative career as a session bassist, record label executive and music producer. His many credits include Mariah Carey, Madonna, Journey and others.

During his 25 years in the industry, Jackson never got around to making his own album. And after listening to his debut -- Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. One, in stores today -- maybe he should have never done one. He doesn't sing on it. Jackson apparently wants to be the new Quincy Jones and showcase various artists singing different styles on one album.

But he bombs. All 12 songs are lame retreads of pop trends from the last four or five years, including crunk (which is so dead, by the way) and electro-pop. The first single, "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow," features fellow Idol judge Paula Abdul on her first recording in more than a decade. It's not bad, but it sounds like something any current pop tart could have done. The cut lacks personality -- but then again, so did most of Abdul's hits from the '90s.

"Like A," featuring Crunk Squad and Ghostface Killah, is an embarrassing stab at Southern hip-hop with filtered vocals a la T-Pain. Even dynamic talents such as Sam Moore, Keb' Mo' and Angie Stone can't bring any life to Willie Dixon's blues classic "Wang Dang Doodle," which sounds like an afterthought.

The only redeemable track on the album is "I Understand," a warm gospel ballad with Kim Burrell, Rance Allen, Bebe Winans, Hezekiah Walker's Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church Choir and -- believe it or not -- Mariah Carey. But she adds mostly whispery, accentual moans. 

Presumably, there will be more volumes of Randy Jackson's Music Club. Let's hope next time Jackson can produce something with a pulse.