William Shatner • Seeking Major Tom – CD

William Shatner
Seeking Major Tom
Cleopatra October 2011 2CD

Anyone who recalls Shatner’s collectable and culty 60s album (and he wasn’t the only one, Nimoy’s is even more bizarre) will know what to expect here, albeit with the benefit of 40+ years of improved studio technology. His spoken vocals are also more thoughtfully recorded. But it’s unlikely we’d be here were it not for the added bonus of Ritchie Blackmore knocking out a smart lead break or two on Space Oddity (sadly most of which is buried beneath the strings), with Candice doing the ethereal backing vocal bits.
Space Truckin’ is a strange but vaguely inventive sideways look at the track, all latin rhythms and acoustic guitar. Somehow despite being totally bonkers it kind of works, and it’ll give many a fan a hoot. Ian Paice hardly raises a sweat to begin with and it’s left to Johnny Winter to kick things around a little with his lead breaks, before Paice reprises his album pattern drum work. The rest of the album is pretty much in the same vein, with Shatner’s strung out intonation on Silver Machine sounding totally spaced – man.
Mad. Or ‘one of the most extraordinary concept albums evere created…’ to quote the sleeve. And was adding Sheryl Crow to the end of the CD just a clever way of making you want Shatner back?!

And if you’re still curious sci-fi, it’s in at the DTBOnline Store as a 2CD digipak edition and triple vinyl!

The guestline-up (with Name of song, original artist, new guest performers):

Space Trucking, Deep Purple, Deep Purple`s Ian Paice on drums, Guitar: Johnny Winter.

She Blinded Me With Science, Thomas Dolby, Bassist: Bootsy Collins, Keyboards/Synth. Patrick Moraz (Ex-Yes, Moody Blues).

In a Little While, U2, Guitar: Manuel Gottsching (Ash Ra Tempel).

Empty Glass, The Tea Party, Guitar: Michael Schenker (UFO/Scorpions).

Lost in the Stars, Frank Sinatra, Saxophone: Ernie Watts.

Twilight Zone, Golden Earring, Guitar: Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule/Allman Brothers).

Space Cowboy, Steve Miller, Guitar/Vocals: Brad Paisley.

Rocket Man, Elton John, Guitar: Steve Hillage (ex-Gong, Techno Rock Duo System 7).

Space Oddity, David Bowie, Guitar: Ritchie Blackmore (ex-Deep Purple), Keyboards: Alan Parsons.

Spirit in the Sky, Norman Greenbaum, Guitar: Peter Frampton.
* Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen, Bass/Vocal: John Wetton (Asia).

Silver Machine, Hawkwind, Guitar: Wayne Kramer (MC5), Drum: Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart).

Major Tom, Peter Shilling, Guitar: Nick Valensi (The Strokes), Contributed to track: Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society), Mike Inez (Alice in Chains).

Learning to Fly, Pink Floyd, Guitar/Keyboards: Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream).

Mr. Spaceman, The Byrds, Guitar: Dave Davies (The Kinks).
* Iron Man, Black Sabbath, Guitar/Vocal: Zakk Wylde (ex-Ozzy Osbourne)

Planet Earth; Duran, Duran; Guitar: Steve Howe (Yes)
* Walking on the Moon, The Police, Vocal: Toots (Toots & the Maytals).

Mrs. Major Tom (guest to be announced.)