William Shatner may be the star of Has Been but the man behind the curtain is Ben Folds who co-wrote most of the songs with Shatner. I don’t know much about Ben Folds except that he was popular in the ‘90s and has never been my cup of tea. I probably wouldn’t like these songs if Folds had performed them yet they seem tailor made for Shatner's persona and old Bill gives them his all while walking a fine line between comedy and tragedy. “Sorry to disappoint you,” says the Quebec born entertainer who played Captain Kirk. “But I’m real.”
Has Been is a novelty record, to be sure, but it’s also smart and amiable. It bridges generations and might be enjoyed while making dinner, engaging in late night conversation, or taking a long road trip. The opening track- “Common People"- deserves to be heard even if you've never heard the original Pulp version. Has Been flies by so fast it left me expecting side 2 and, since there is no side 2, I just listened to it again from the beginning. Am I becoming a William Shatner fan- or a Ben Folds fan? Grade: B
Listen to songs from the album on Spotify...
... or check out the playlist on YouTube
(To open music in separate window, click title bar at top of video box)
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