William Shatner and Ben Folds new CD "Has Been"

Shatner to be on Leno Oct. 22nd to perform "Common People" with Ben Folds and Joe Jackson.



William Shatner Has Been homepage. Listen to the CD and find out all about it there.



Here's what Amazon says:



"From pop-culture icon William Shatner comes Has Been, an album unlike anything you've ever heard before. Produced and arranged by Ben Folds and featuring numerous notable guest appearances, Has Been is the result of the collision of two great creative forces - a surprisingly pop-driven, lyrically potent collection of songs to enlighten and entertain.



Throughout Has Been, Shatner's own insightful lyrics are masterfully woven into perfect pop melodies written and arranged by Ben Folds. Giving Shatner and Folds a hand on the project is an incredible lineup of singers and musicians, including Jon Auer, Adrian Belew, Matt Chamberlain, Joe Jackson, Lemon Jelly, Aimee Mann, Brad Paisley, Henry Rollins and Sebastian Steinberg.



Highlights include the poignant "That's Me Trying," penned by Ben Folds with High Fidelity author Nick Hornby, a brilliant version of the Pulp Britpop classic "Common People," featuring vocals by Joe Jackson and closing track, "Real," a duet with country star Brad Paisley, written exclusively for this project."



Here's what I say:



This might be one of the best cd's of the year by anybody. It is definitely the biggest surprise of 2004. Ben Folds (5 or not) is one of my fave artists. I guess he never fit in at Live 105 during my time there, we did play him a little, but I always liked his music. "Rockin' The Suburbs" great tune. Anyway...



I thought this would be a comedy album, you know kind of a joke cd. Well there are some light moments for sure. The title track "Has Been" is good. A total deadpan Shatner spoken/whispering delivery. Funny stuff. The track with Henry Rollins "I Can't Get Behind That" with both of them running down a list of things they can't get behind...



Shatner:



"my kids say he said to me and I'm like and he's like and she's like..."



Rollins:



"it's all he's all she's all..."



Shatner:



"I can't get behind that kind of like...english"



All done over a frantic be bop beat with Adrian Belew making odd guitar noises in the background.



Contrast that with the Nick Hornby song. Very sad and emotional song about a father looking up his daughter after 20 years of no contact.



You'll hear it and cry.



But I love the Pulp song "Common People". It was an alternative radio hit and a smash in the UK back in the 90's, and it's a great song about a rich girl who thinks that to be poor is cool. But as the the song says "you'll never live like common people do" and Shatner's spoken word on it and Joe Jackson's vocals work to make it at least as good as the original, and that was real good.



This is just straight up a great CD, I am so surprised by it. Ben Folds is a genius, and it easily gets in my top 10 cd's of the year.



Common People should be a hit.



Ben Folds Interview: Shatner's Ally