Ally Mcbeal - For Once In My Life

See Larger Image	List Price: £8.99 Our Price: £6.98 Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Manufacturer: Epic Average Customer Rating:


Binding: Audio CD EAN: 5099750057728 Format: Soundtrack Label: Epic Manufacturer: Epic Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Epic Release Date: 2001-04-23 Studio: Epic
Related Items Heart & Soul - New Songs From Ally McBeal Songs From Ally McBeal Featuring Vonda Shepard Ally McBeal : A Very Ally Christmas By 7:30 The Futurist
Editorial Reviews: This third instalment of the Ally McBeal soundtracks series, featuring performer Vonda Shepard, delivers another solid collection of emotive blues and country-inflected power ballads. The surprises here are the three tracks sung by the TV show's guest thespian Robert Downey Jr. If this soundtrack was intended to be a star vehicle, it's an old banger. Downey's contrived rasp, hardened vocals and awkward phrasing fail to impress (proving that the elongating line of talented actors with musical aspirations should confine their singing fantasies to the shower). On his dumbed-down duet with Sting on the Police classic "Every Breath You Take", Downey sounds like he's straining to emulate Sting, and Sting approaches the song as a walk-through. Fortunately, Barry White's mirrorball hit "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" and Tina Turner's anthemic "When the Heartache Is Over" provide some much needed up-tempo relief from the album's sluggish middle section. The collection heads home with Shepard and label newbie Anastacia covering Gary Wright's "Love is Alive" in dancefloor-lite funk (although it suffers the unfortunate coincidence of being released in proximity to Joan Osborne's superior rendition from One Night at McCool's). And with Shephard's well-orchestrated interpretation of Todd Rundgren's "Can We Still Be Friends?", Ally McBeal fans, despite the Downey debâcle, should be able to answer affirmatively with little hesitation. --Beth Massa
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: This is more like it Comment: Finally, the sort of album Ally fans have been waiting for. It's amazing that a show which has made such inventive and amusing use of popular music during its five-year run has released albums which feature predominantly ONE voice: Vonda Shepherd. Good as she is, 'For Once In My Life' is what we've really been waiting for: a collection of all the great music in 'Ally' brought together on one album and nudging Vonda ever so slightly out of the limelight. Finally we have the REAL Ally anthem, Barry White's 'The First, The Last, My Everything', as well as a number of other memorable songs that have cropped up on the show - 'It's Not Unusual' (Richard's theme song), 'Boom Boom' (Nelle's dance instructor's music), 'When The Heartache Is Over' (Ally's diva-for-a-night stint as Tina Turner's backup singer) and many more all collected on one CD. Of course it's not perfect. I'm glad to see the Amazon review trashed Robert Downey's quite irritating voice, as you DO have to put up with a lot of his output on this CD. Reading the number of gushing female reviewers who have preceeded me is also quite irritating; like on the show, people seem to focus on Downey Jnr's negligble talents and ignore the other, better things on offer. Also (although, with the show now over, it looks as though this dream will never become reality), why aren't there more members of the fantastic singing cast on here? Where on Earth is the fabulous Jane Krakowski? Okay, so you let her sing on the Christmas album - but even Calista Flockhart got to squeak her stuff on that! It's a terrible shame that no album has yet come out to reflect the bouty of singing talent which has appeared on Ally McBeal (I'm still waiting on a recording of Alicia Witt's superb 'Hanky Panky') other than Vonda Shepherd and (shudder) Robert Downey Jnr, and this album does nothing to rectify it. Four stars for what's there, one star taken away for what's not (and also for too much Vonda and WAY too much Downey Jnr). Still, buy this and preserve the memories - the show's over, you'll need a keepsake. Customer Rating: Summary: How can anyone not LOVE this??? Comment: Oh. My. God! This has to be my favourite album of all time. season 4 is my ultimate favourite season of all time in Ally, so obviously I just LOVE this album. Robert Downey Jr has one of the best voices I have heard in a long time, and he and Vonda make the best pair to team up on a song together, especially one as good and beautiful as 'Chances Are'. RDJr and Sting also make 'Ev'ry Breath You Take' one of the best songs on the album........and every other song is great too! All in all, if you're an Ally fan, especially of season 4, BUY IT! Coz you won't ever want to take it out of your CD player! Customer Rating: Summary: Ally mcBeal - For Once in My Life (Soundtrack) Comment: I found that the songs were performed beautifully by all the artits. Even though i can't remember where the Robert Downey Jr song 'Snakes' was in the show, i think it is an amazing song. i found his voice different to many others nad therefore refreshing, and a lovely voice. i like all the songs, my favourite being 'Chances Are' and 'Every Breath You Take'. Customer Rating: Summary: This is a brillient cd Comment: This is one of the best cd's i have ever had the pleasure of hearing. Vondra Shepard's voice is amazing and carries strong throught out the cd.I felt Robert Downey JR. was an exelent addition to the cd, his sorrow comes out strongly through his voice and creats a magical rusty sound. I thought was was a couple to many additons that did not include cast members, such as Al Green and Tina Turner, instead of actual cast members that sing. Though i commend the fact that Barry White has finaly appeard in this cd, singing my first my last my everything. The song that really made stop and think was Robert Downey's duet with Vonda, Chances Are, there voices just clicked and created a melodious sound. I also enjoyed Robert Downey JR and Sting's duet, though i thought that Stings song was sung better alone. All in all this is a fantastic alburm and not for only Ally McBeal fans. Customer Rating: Summary: A must for all Ally Fans!!!! Comment: This is the first Ally album I brought & it's the best. I'm glad we got some celebritys singing in the album. Especially Robert Downey Jr. who wrote Snakes, sang & play the piano/keyboard. My favourites tracks from the album is Chances Are, Every Breath You Take,Your The First, The Last, My Everything & Love Is Alive. But Every Breath You Take was the one that stuck in my mind. When I heard it on the show, I couldn't get it out of my head & I kept playing it back the episode on tape until I brought this album & still now keep playing the track on the album. I brought this album a week ago when season 4 finished on E4 & I recognised most of the songs & I hope some more actors/actresses will be on the next album. I would like Calista Flockhart to sing a couple of tracks on the new album. If you seen the 4th series, buy it!! More Reviews