Track Listing

1. This Christmas - Shepard, Vonda
2. Man With The Bag - Shepard, Vonda
3. Please Come Home For Christmas - Shepard, Vonda
4. Silver Bells - Shepard, Vonda
5. Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow - Shepard, Vonda
6. Winter Wonderland - Gray, Macy
7. Run Run Rudolph - Krakowski, Jane
8. Santa Got Stuck In My Chimney - Carson, Lisa Nicole
9. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Krakowski, Jane
10. Santa Baby - Flockhart, Calista
11. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Shepard, Vonda
12. What Are You Doing For New Year's Eve - Various Artists
13. River - Downey, Robert Jr.
14. White Christmas - Shepard, Vonda & Robert Downey Jr.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56348 in Music
• Released on: 2000-11-20
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Ally McBeal has dominated television for three years, so why not a Christmas album for the fans, who number 20 million or more? Truth be told, this is really a Vonda Shepard record (she is Ally's TV singing voice), with a little help from the McBeal cast, including Ally (Calista Flockhart) who successfully tries on Eartha Kitt's silly, sassy and seductive "Santa Baby". With 14 tracks and Macy Gray's distinctive "Winter Wonderland" included, the album covers lots of turf as Shephard and company cover hymns and carols that are sparsely arranged and appealing for their soulful simplicity. Shephard's soprano talent continues to reveal its many riches: here is a singer who is at home in a gut-bucket blues tune such as "Please Come Home for Christmas", or joyfully Broadway swinging on "The Man with the Bag". Additional surprises include Robert Downey Jr's duet with the versatile songbird on "White Christmas" and Joni Mitchell's "River". Recommended. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

A sorted album, ideal for the classic Retro-style Crimbo!
I first got into the Blues and Motown genres through my Dad who loves them. I was initially sceptical when he encouraged me to listen to them, though soon found myself enjoying them along with all the usual styles your average teenager enjoys. Upon watching an episode of Ally McBeal -on which the CD is based- I was particularly impressed with the tone of Vonda Shepard's voice and liked the light blues and other styles she included in her repertoire. Whilst not normally the type of CD I would find myself buying, after receiving it as a Christmas present and listening to it a few times, I couldn't stop. All the songs, some of which I'd never even heard of before, were really great. They not only had Vonda Shepard singing with her usual excellence, they also included actors and actresses from the show doing numbers as well. Especially noteworthy was Lisa Nicole Carson's rendition of "Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney," which I found a real treat on the ear as her tone changes from mellow and warm at the beginning, to powerful and stirring as the song nears the end.

Overall, it combines toe-tapping Xmas tunes, with softer songs of the Christmas season to create a real festive feel. Anyone who wants to incorporate a little bit of classic American cheese into their Christmas should look no further -a truly enjoyable album.

Written by Dominic Costa

Perfect Christmas music!
This is a brilliant CD which will appeal to any fans of well-sung Christmas music, and will hold particular joy for any fans of the hit TV show Ally McBeal, as quite a few key cast members feature on it.

Much like the TV show, this album has both happy, upbeat moments, and also more thoughtful, emotional parts. It has a song for any mood and yet still fits together well.

The CD is held together by the excellent voice of Vonda Shepard, the soul singer who twists and turns her way through 6 of the classic songs on here. Her voice is beautiful and relaxing and she particularly shines on the slow numbers such as 'What Are You Doing For New Year's Eve?'.

Also featured are Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) who gives a very sweet and gently sexy rendition of 'Santa Baby'. She doesn't have the best voice in the world but she pulls this off quite nicely. The excellent Jane Krakowski (who plays Elaine) sings a fantasticly funky jazz version of 'Run Run Rudolph', and a cheerful rendition of the song 'I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus'. Lisa Nicole Carson (who plays Renee) also chips in with 'Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney' - she's a fantastic singer but this song is slightly irritating and possibly the weakest link on the album.

The real standout cast member, though, is Robert Downey Jr (who played Larry Paul), who puts his stunningly deep, rich, soulful voice to good use on the heartbreaking 'River', and on a duet with Vonda of 'White Christmas'.

There is also a cool throaty version of 'Winter Wonderland' by Macy Gray, and the gorgeous rock ballad 'Please Come Home for Christmas' by Jon Bon Jovi, who appeared as a guest star on the show. This song will strike a chord with anyone who's ever been alone over the holidays and regretted losing someone they loved.

All in all it's a CD that's definitely worth buying, with some lovely Christmassy songs that'll keep you smiling all over the holiday season, and enough variety and talent to ensure that you'll be sad to put it away come January.

An Excellent CD
Right from the very beginning with 'This Christmas', Vonda and the gang set a clear aim for this album - Christmas all the way!! The classic ones such as 'Santa Baby' and 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' (my personal fave) are given a modern twist with the wonderful jazz accompanying the lyrics. A truly magical CD, making Ally fans remember classic episodes to the normal buyer feeling all Christmassy.

Definitely reccomended!! :)