Has Been | 
 enlarge | Artist: William Shatner
Label: Shout! Factory
Category: Music
List Price: $18.97
Buy Used: $4.44
You Save: $14.53 (77%)
New (34) Used (23) Collectible (1) from $4.44
Rating:  221 reviews
Sales Rank: 8642
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 30349
UPC: 826663034929
EAN: 0826663034929
ASIN: B0002RUPH4
Release Date: January 8, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Common People (featuring Joe Jackson) | | • | It Hasn t Happened Yet | | • | You ll Have Time | | • | That s Me Trying (featuring Aimee Mann and Ben Folds) | | • | What Have You Done | | • | Together (featuring Lemon Jelly) | | • | Familiar Love | | • | Ideal Woman | | • | Has Been | | • | I Can t Get Behind That (featuring Henry Rollins) | | • | Real (featuring Brad Paisley) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
After his rendition of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" on the infamous Golden Throats album (though it first appeared on the Transformed Man LP), one could argue that the world needed a new William Shatner album about as much as it needed a big-screen remake of TJ Hooker. But Shatner's back all the same with an intriguing, introspective collection of mostly spoken-word tracks that are all the more compelling when it becomes clear that Has Been is, in fact, no joke. Ben Folds played on and produced the record, creating rich, melodic, and varied pop musical backgrounds to Shatner's world-weary, boozy-suave yet thoroughly impassioned delivery. Joe Jackson, Aimee Mann, Henry Rollins, Brad Paisley, and Adrian Belew also stop by to lend their divergent talents. Highlights include the Rollins/Shatner rant "I Can't Get Behind That" and the Folds/Mann/Shatner collaboration "That's Me Trying", which tells the painful story of an attempted family reconciliation. Shatner mixes a healthy amount of self-awareness with a just a dollop of self-mockery and then combines it all with plenty of raw vulnerability to create an effect that is surprisingly touching, highly entertaining, and unlike any music you've ever heard. --John Moe Amazon.com Exclusive Footage
William Shatner was recently caught on tape by paparazzi responding to reports that some people hadn't yet heard his new album. See him read Amazon.com customer reviews of Has Been as he makes his case: high bandwidth, low bandwidth.
Album Description
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.
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| Customer Reviews:
 I Need A Pomegranate Martini!! October 22, 2008
M. L. Avila (California United States)
I, too, thought "you've got to be kidding me?" when my mother bought this CD...I could not have been more wrong. I love the way the songs are put together and the more you listen to them, the more you want to re-hear them! Great at a party with some wonderful martini's served...
Eat to the Beat October 16, 2008
Mr. Richard D. Coreno (Berea, Ohio USA)
Harkening back to the days of the Beat Generation - when the spoken word reigned supreme in coffee houses and street corners - William Shatner delivers an outstanding performance that is backed by an all-star cast that includes Ben Folds, Joe Jackson, Henry Rollins, Adran Belew and Aimee Mann.
Shatner has a poets command of the powerful lyrics - mostly co-written with Folds - and the nearly 40 minutes of music is a surprising gem. This is truly an old-school album with artists who appreciate the exploration of emotional expression.
 Wrap Your Head Around This One September 25, 2008
Untitled (nowhere)
I don't think I would have ever listened to a record like this, probably becaus I hate Star Trek. But, thanks to reading some of these reviews (yeah, including Shotgun Method's review), and knowing that Ben Folds and some guest stars (Lemon Jelly!) was working on it, I decided to listen to it. Besides, even though I hate star trek, William Shatner is still cool.
What I got was a bunch of monologues backed with some great music. Basically, the reason why this album is good is simply because how it works. The background music basically sets the mood for whatever Shatner talks about. Considering that talking has emotion (say hello to rap!), it still works out. I bet people back in the old days always thought you had to sing, but this album proves that talking set to music works like a charm.
William Shatner tackles all sorts of topics. The music that backs it up works like a charm, and really does match the mood of the song, mostly. Songs about the anguish of finding someone dead from water, the people who have called him a "Has Been", death, and the hyprocrisy of the "be the person I love. be yourself" saying. And you have to love Henry Rollins and Shatner duking it out with their insults to things they "cant' get behind". There are some mood setters that you wouldn't expect, for example, track three, dealing with the fact that your going to die, is pretty light about it. Some of the music will surprise you, such as Has Been, which has a western feel to it. I couldn't of imagined the song any other way. Bravo!
I got a very entertaining and emotional listen, and after listening to this album, I now find the concept of spoken music intriguing. This album isn't five star material for me, but come on, Ben Folds and Henry Rollins? You owe it to yourself to give this a listen, especially if you like it.
7.0/10
captain kirk gets real May 4, 2008
Gary D. Horton Jr.
ok, admittedly, when i was young i loved the shatner star trek. but never would i have even considered listening to, let alone buying, a shatner musical album. to be honest with you, i have forced a couple of my friends to listen to this album. they hated the idea of the cd, but loved the cd once they'd heard it. if you are a fan of ben folds, you will love this album. if you are a fan of an artist who is not afraid to explore deep, and at times painful subjects, you will love this album. if you are a fan of honesty in music, you will love this album.
21st Century Transformed Man January 29, 2008
D. J. Walsh
Out of the CDs that have come out in the past 10 years, this one keeps being played more than most of them.
When it comes to actors trying their hand at recording music, most fail miserably. This was put together by Ben Folds and has a stellar list of musicians and collaborators from across the board, and can be considered a "concept album" because they co-wrote most of the songs.
It is mostly lighthearted but when he goes into the piece about how his wife died,a lot of this is some of the most self-depreciating and personal material you'll ever hear.
Highly recommended.
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