Former Star Trek star William Shatner’s first album was the record that launched a thousand titters, with his distinctive voice and way of phrasing words making covers of songs like ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ sound unintentionally hilarious. So it’s understandable that he was a little wary when first approached about releasing a follow-up 36 years later.
A collaboration with producer Ben Folds and featuring some impressive guest appearances, it’s clear that Shatner is in on the joke himself this time round. Chances are you’ll already have heard the opening track to Has Been, an inspired cover of Pulp’s ‘Common People’, which even before the choir joins in for the gloriously over the top ending is bound to have raised a smirk.
The list of musicians lining up to lend support is impressive, with dance duo Lemon Jelly putting down their laidback space vibe to a poem written with his wife. Aimee Mann provides backing vocals to the Nick Hornby-penned ‘That’s Me Trying’, although it’s a song that suggests the About A Boy author might want to stick with writing books. Most of the songs do come with at least one tongue in cheek moment, although this is not enough to prevent the doo-wop of ‘Familiar Love’ being anything other than a cringeworthy cheese fest.
The album lifts again towards the finish however, with the hilarious cowboy vocals and “You talkin’ to me?” opening skit of the title track, while Henry Rollins turns up to rock out and rant on ‘I Can’t Get Behind That’. The two trade bitchy comments about everything from car alarms to advertisements before, full of mock anger, Shatner shouts: “I can’t get behind so-called singers that can’t carry a tune, get paid for talking, how easy is that?” Then, after a slight pause: “Well, maybe I can get behind that.”
Shatner’s more or less monotone drawl does mean that Has Been tends to grate after a while, but it will make you smile and there’s something refreshing about a camp acting icon who’s willing to be so vulnerable while also poking fun at himself. Now if only there was any truth to those rumours that Leonard ‘Spock’ Nimoy is planning on getting all blinged up with Eminem.