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Stars Line Up For William Shatner

added 20 September 2004 at 16.06

As previously reported, the new record from former Star Trek and TJ Hooker star William Shatner features some novel cover versions, but now Xfm can reveal that there are a whole host of surprise collaborations too.

The new album, entitled 'Has Been',  has been written and produced by Ben ‘Ben Folds Five’ Folds and features Shatner’s own…. timeless… vocal… delivery…  being put to use on a remarkable collection of songs including a cover version of Pulp’s ‘Common People’ with Shatner dueting with ‘80s singer songwriter Joe Jackson.

Now Xfm can reveal that the record also includes the song 'Trying' performed by Shatner, Folds and acclaimed alt rock singer Aimee Mann and a track called 'I Can't Get Behind That' sung with bull-necked metal thug / new renaissance man Henry Rollins.

Lemon Jelly have also submitted the song 'Together' for the onetime Captain Kirk to sing.

"It is a great record and it is really worth going out and doing some shows in major cities," Folds told Billboard, before adding that Shatner was "not a musician at all. But he is still part of the music. I've never heard a record quite like it."

William Shatner's album 'Has Been' will be released in October 4.

The full tracklisting is:

1. 'Common People' (with Joe Jackson)
2. 'It Hasn't Happened Yet'
3. 'You'll Have Time'
4. 'Trying' (with Ben Folds and Aimee Mann)
5. 'What Have You Done'
6. 'Together' (with Lemon Jelly)
7. 'Familiar Love'
8. 'Ideal Woman'
9. 'Has Been'
10. 'I Can't Get Behind That' (with Henry Rollins)
11. 'Real' (with Brad Paisley)
    

In other Folds news, the singer will be making a rare trip to the UK and Ireland to play a 10-date tour, his first live dates this side of the Atlantic since 1992.

The full dates of the solo ‘Ben Folds And A Piano Tour’ are:

• Leicester, De Montford hall (November 12)
• Manchester, Lowery (14)
• Dublin, Vicar Street (15)
• Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall (16)
• Sheffield, Octagon (18)
• Brighton, Dome (19)Warwick, Arts Centre (20)
• Southampton, Guild Hall (21)
• Cambridge, Corn Exchange (23)
• London, Barbican (25)
  

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