A Very Ally Christmas (soundtrack; various artists)
AllMusic; Amazon; Discogs; Vonda Shepard

This was released in 2000. It's one of several soundtracks released for the TV series Ally McBeal. Half of the songs are by Vonda Shepard, who frequently appeared on the show as a singer/pianist at a bar where the main characters often hung out after work (and she provided the show's theme song). But there's also a song by Macy Gray, and some songs by members of the cast. I don't have any specific notes about any of Shepard's songs; they're all just really good renditions of Christmas classics. It would be totally worth buying a Christmas album just by her, but I do like the other songs, too.

1. "This Christmas", by Vonda Shepard

2. "The Man with the Bag", by Vonda Shepard

3. "Please Come Home for Christmas", by Vonda Shepard

4. "Silver Bells", by Vonda Shepard

5. "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow", by Vonda Shepard

6. "Winter Wonderland", by Macy Gray: I think her voice works really well on this song, and makes it a distinctive rendition of a classic.

7. "Run, Rudolph, Run", by Jane Krakowski: This rocks more than I expected it to.

8. "Santa Claus Got Stuck in My Chimney", by Lisa Nicole Carson: This is not a song with which I am very familiar, but it was originally done by Ella Fitzgerald, and of course her rendition is better than this one, but this is still a decent rendition, and a fun song.

9. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", by Jane Krakowski: This is probably my favorite version of this song. Very playful.

10. "Santa Baby", by Calista Flockhart: This is kind of silky. I like it.

11. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", by Vonda Shepard

12. "River", by Robert Downey, Jr.: You know, I'm listening to pretty much all my Christmas CDs to review them in 2021, and already twice this year I've guessed different renditions of this song might be the first I'd heard. There was one from 2011, then I heard one from 2006, now here's this one from 2000, so I'm obligated to wonder if this is the first time I ever heard it. Although I'm not sure what year I got this CD. (BTW, I really should really try to listen to Joni Mitchell's 1971 version one of these days. I've probably heard it before, but I don't remember it.) Anyway, this wouldn't be my favorite rendition of the song (I'm not sure what would), but it might be the only version I've heard sung by a man instead of a woman, which is a somewhat interesting change. And it is a good rendition.

13. "White Christmas", by Robert Downey, Jr. & Vonda Shepard: Not sure what to say, it's just a decent rendition.

14. "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve", by Vonda Shepard: Speaking of my 2021 Christmas CD marathon, I happened to hear a different version of this earlier on the same day I listened to this CD, on Starbucks: Winter Wonderland. I'm not sure which version of the song I like better; they're both good, and distinct from each other.

So anyway, this is a really good Christmas album, not just a soundtrack album. It transcends its TV origins, and it deserves to be played often (maybe once every year, or at least every few years). It certainly doesn't deserve to be forgotten or overlooked altogether.