Heart and Soul: New Songs From Ally McBeal, Featuring Vonda Shepard (Epic/550)

There’s a soulful, interpretive depth to the McBeal thrush that often gets buried in quirky plotdom. Here, on the show’s second soundtrack, she’s pop-diva passionate on smartly reworked classics like ”Crying” and ”Vincent (Starry Starry Night).” She even holds her own alongside the mighty Al Green on ”To Sir, With Love.” Shepard’s own songs aren’t as good. Yet. But the night is still young. B