A periodic look at stuff I’ve been consuming recently.
Album: Has Been - William Shatner
William Shatner’s music career has a bad press. His 1968 album The Transformed Man is pretty widely mocked by all and sundry. I’ve never really heard much of that album aside from the odd excerpt of Lucy in the sky with diamonds, but I’m willing to believe the consensus that it’s main merit is merely as an oddity at the pop culture freakshow.
But Has Been the album he made with Ben Folds in 2004 is really good. It’s really, really, good. I’m not even saying that in a ironic kitschy way. It’s just a great and original piece of work.
Shatner proves himself a talented, intriguing, and self-mocking lyricist. He wrote the words for Fold’s music for all but three of the tracks (novelist Nick Hornby providing lyrics for “That’s me Trying”) and is brutal in his honesty. His takes on his own fame are fascinating (”It hasn’t happened yet”, “Has been”, and “Real”) and his emotion at the death of his wife (”What have you done”) is palpable.
You don’t just get Shatner either. Ben Folds, Joe Jackson, Aimee Mann, Lemon Jelly, Henry Rollins, and Brad Paisley all make guest appearances.
It’s just damn good and you should go out and buy it. And if you don’t? Well I just can’t get behind that.
I can't get behind that - William Shatner & Henry Rollins [3:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (538)
You get Henry too???!! Oh I love Henry!
Brilliant album!
Ben Folds plus Shatner, what’s not to love? And of course, it has THE definitive cover version of “Common People”, which in many ways is better than the original, I feel.
I must admit I am quite taken with ‘Has Been’, even though I recognise Common People to be the more commercial/mainstream song.
Shatner is an interesting individual even if you put the whole Star Trek thing aside. I do wish however that he would shut up about how popular he is right now and how it is financial ruin not to put him in the new trek movie.
But yes brilliant CD - have you heard his earlier one with Ben Folds ‘In Love’ - it is equally good.
Lee’s last blog post..Green Lantern sees red
I love Has Been, and how Shatner has reinvented himself recently.
Avitable’s last blog post..Grazie
William Shatner plays a good murderer in Columbo plus his performance in The Brothers Zaramazov (in the fifties I think) wasn’t bad but I am afraid I cannot get Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds out of my head plus he looks more and more like his unpainted mask (as worn by ‘Michael Myers’ in the original Halloween) every day - truly terrifying.
I came across this album maybe a year ago and loved it. never found anyone else who actually admitted to it :)
The Common People take is fabulous - I didn’t know it had Rollins on it, though. Black Coffee Blues has got me through a number of late nights. In fact, it’s time to go dig it out again. Rollins is such an icon.
(un)relaxeddad’s last blog post..Miscellany - Baby, Kale, and ?Tired and Emotional?
Brilliant! I’ve got to go out and get this if for no other reason than to solidify my wife’s belief that I am totally losing it.
zoe’s dad’s last blog post..The downward spiral…..
Yeah! I love Has Been. One of my favorite albums. Common People is one of those songs that I could listen to over and over again. I’m glad you liked it too!
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We like William Shatner, but sadly we didnt like that track!!!! Rocket man is brilliant though.
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i’m with you here, dan! it’s time they release another!
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