TOC: William Shatner is ‘Searching for Major Tom’
By John DeNardo |
Thursday, April 14th, 2011 at
12:15 am
Listen up, Shatner fans, the King of the Golden Throats has a new cover album due out later this year called Searching for Major Tom. It’s another series of duets like was done with Has Been (which has a still-rockin’ version of Pulp’s “Common People” — there, I said it).
Here’s the song line-up:
- “Space Trucking” – originally by Deep Purple – featuring Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice and Johnny Winter on guest guitar
- “She Blinded Me With Science” – originally by Thomas Dolby – featuring Bootsy Collins on bass and Patrick Moraz (ex-Yes and Moody Blues) on keyboards/synth
- “In a Little While” – originally by U2 – featuring Manuel Gottsching (Ash Ra Tempel) on guitar
- “Empty Glass” – originally by The Tea Party – featuring Michael Schenker (UFO/Scorpions) on guitar
- “Lost in the Stars as done by Frank Sinatra – featuring Jazz legend Ernie Watts on saxophone.
- “Twilight Zone” – originally by Golden Earring – featuring Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule/Allman Brothers) on guitar
- “Space Cowboy” – originally by Steve Miller – featuring Country artist Brad Paisley on guitar and vocals
- “Rocket Man” – originally by Elton John – featuring guitarist Steve Hillage (ex Gong member and current member of techno rock duo System 7) on guitar
- “Space Oddity” – originally by David Bowie – featuring Ritchie Blackmore (ex-Deep Purple) has added guest guitar. Alan Parsons is adding guest keyboards
- “Spirit in the Sky” – originally by Norman Greenbaum – featuring Peter Frampton on guitar
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” – originally by Queen – featuring John Wetton (Asia) on bass and vocals
- “Silver Machine” – originally by Hawkwind – featuring Wayne Kramer (MC5) on guitar and Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge/Rod Stewart) on drums
- “Major Tom” – originally by Peter Shilling – featuring Nick Valensi (the Strokes) on guitar and Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society) and Mike Inez (Alice In Chains)
- “Learning to Fly” – originally by Pink Floyd – featuring Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream) on guitar and keyboards
- “Mr. Spaceman” – originally by The Byrds – featuring Dave Davies (Kinks) on guitar
- “Iron Man” – originally by Black Sabbath – featuring Zakk Wylde (ex-Ozzy guitarist) on guitar and vocals
- “Planet Earth” – originally by Duran Duran – featuring Steve Howe (Yes) on guitar
- “Walking on the Moon” – originally by The Police – featuring Toots (Toots & the Maytals) on vocals
- “Mrs. Major Tom” – female singer to add a track – To be announced
[via Lawrence Person]
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- William Shatner Wakes Up The Astronauts
- William Shatner Speak-Sings Wrestling Theme Songs
- How William Shatner Changed the World
- [UPDATED] William Shatner Singing ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ with Taiwan’s Susan Boyle
Filed under: Music
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And on which level of hell will Shatner doing “Bohemian Rhapsody” reside? I’d rather hear Wayne and Garth’s version…
I’m fairly certain this album will be my contribution to the office holiday party “white elephant” gift exchange this year……
Shatner was good as Captain Kirk and that is it.
I can’t believe the comments in response to this. I loved the ‘Has Been’ album, and the prospect of the Shat tackling Hawkwind’s immortal ‘Silver Machine’ with Wayne Kramer is genuinely exciting. The argument that he cannot sing pales into insignificance when one recalls that the original was sung by Lemmy, a man whose vocal talents have often been described as ‘charred’. To my mind the album looks like great fun!
Has Been was one of the most mesmorizing albums of all time. It’s not about the singing, its what Shatner can do with the spoken work that has me excited about the new album. I’d love it as a gift at your office party!!!
“Mrs Major Tom” by K.I.A. is a song from the p.o.v. of the wife left behind… it’s very haunting and beautiful. (It’s on the “Adieu Shinjuku Zulu” album at iTunes, Amazon, etc.) It’ll be interesting to see Mr Shatner’s interpretation…