Pop/Bubblegum: Tracey Ullman - The Best Of Tracey Ullman (2002 Metro, Stiff)

Before she became a famous TV comedienne, Tracy Ullman recorded two albums in the early '80s that effortlessly recalled the classic girl group sound of the '60s. Ullman covered everything from Doris Day ("Move Over Darling") to Blondie ("[I'm Always Touched by Your] Presence, Dear"), finding the underlying connections between classic pop songs of all eras. You Broke My Heart in 17 Places, her debut album, was a hit in the U.K., and she even managed to have a Top Ten hit in America with a version of Kirsty MacColl's "They Don't Know." Although it had some fine numbers, the follow-up, You Caught Me Out, wasn't as successful, prompting Ullman to return to television. By the end of the '80s, her comedy show, The Tracy Ullman Show, was one of the most critically acclaimed television shows in America; she hasn't recorded any music since. (S.T. Erlewine, allmusic.com)

Tracy Ullman evokes the spirit of the sixties girl groups with most of the songs on this compilation and she succeeds remarkably well in many songs. Also the whole thing doesn't seem artificial in any way. She also proves a sure hand in the selection of cover songs. The music of Ullman is supposed to be fun in the first place and she succeeds in this very well most of the time. Enjoy.(Frank)

Flac
mp3@320
Alternative Flac
Alternative mp3@320