Spaced Out

A unique collection of songs.

In the 1960s, Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner were best known to SF aficionados for making history on the TV series Star Trek. But they were also busy making music, and both released albums that contained, among other highlights, their interpretations of contemporary pop tunes. At the time, these excursions into the strange, new musical world were critically panned, but over the ensuing years, these melodies have become fan favourites. In some ways they are even as legendary as Star Trek itself.

The Spaced Out! CD from Universal represents the first time that a significant number of works by the two performers have been featured on a single disc. Seven tracks are from Shatner's 1968 LP The Transformed Man, while 17 cuts are culled from Nimoy's five original platters. Featured on the collection are many of the pair's most infamous recordings, including Shatner's renditions of "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," and Nimoy's takes on "If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)," "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," "I Walk the Line" and "Both Sides Now."

Although currently available in many stores in the United States, the album was initially distributed in North America through Space: The Imagination Station, which is the Canadian equivalent of The Sci-Fi Channel. The packaging on some discs therefore spotlights the Space logo, while other versions simply feature two vintage black-and-white photos of the actors. Writer Marcus Hearn's informative liner notes augment the CD, offering enlightening yet somewhat tongue-in-cheek analyses of the various selections.

Spaced Out! clearly reminds Star Trek devotees that not everything associated with the original show was invariably inventive and insightful. Diplomatically subtitled (on the Canadian cover) "A Unique Collection of Songs by Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner," the recording packs the sonic wallop of a phaser on stun, exhibiting an amazing assortment of simultaneously mind-blowing and mind-numbing music.

Surprisingly, Shatner's contributions, which include dramatic readings of "King Henry the Fifth" and "Hamlet" as well as pop selections such as "It Was a Very Good Year" and "How Insensitive," actually come across better than those of his co-star. The highly emotive performances are so over-the-top that, when the good captain is quoted in the liner notes as saying "…the bane of my life is I really can't sing…," listeners wonder whether the actor is, at least on some level, in on the joke.

On the other hand, Nimoy's contributions to this – ahem – ‘enterprise’ are significantly more sombre. Whether performing in his Vulcan persona on "Highly Illogical" or "Spock Thoughts," or addressing societal problems on tunes like "A Visit to a Sad Planet," the singer's gravelly voice is unerringly dreary and consistently dreadful.

While more tracks from Shatner would have been welcome--his rendition of "Rocket Man" is a regrettable omission--Spaced Out! is definitely an entertaining CD. The melodies are unintentionally absurd, but hearing Kirk and Spock warble these weird compositions remains incredibly fun and, as the first officer himself might say, remarkably fascinating.

Though Nimoy has lately contributed his vocal talents primarily to dramatic readings of classic SF stories, Shatner has recently re-entered the rock 'n' roll realm. His spoken-word performance on the song "In Love" is a highlight of the new CD Fear of Pop, Volume One by Ben Folds (of the band Ben Folds Five). -- Jeff

web site

Immensely entertaining.

This is a swell compilation for having a laugh with your friends, parties, driving, whatever. Musically, it never surpasses 'mediocre' but when I bought this I bought it for a laugh, I had heard bits of Shatner singing and thought it was funny. So the first track I played was Shatner's 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds' and it was the hardest laugh I had in years. Years. Mr Tambourine Man is very funny too. He shouts really loud at the end of the song. He does amusing renditions of Henry Fifth and a very good year, and is more heartfelt and sensitive on how insensitive and elegy for the brave. Nimoy has much more CD time but is less entertaining. He gives passable renditions of some songs like 'ruby don't take your love to town' and 'if I was a carpenter', some dubious covers like 'sunny' (he nearly loses the plot here) and 'both sides now'. There is a silly but fun song about the hobbit Bilbo Baggins with psychedelic music; a ridiculously patriotic song 'if I had a hammer'; a nonsensical spoken item, 'Spock Thoughts', where he spouts some corny Spock wisdom. Corny is the best word to describe the whole album, buy it especially for the Shatner cuts. The liner notes are very good too ('…Nimoy's difficult third album…').

theslime from ireland

This is the most god-awful piece of crap ever produced.

All the songs were nauseatingly bad, and the cover songs were personally offensive. I do not know if I can continue living in this world. No god would allow this.

db618398@oak.cats.ohiou.edu from Athens, Ohio

Ah, Uh, Er - Fascinating…

In the words of Tom Hulce's Mozart in _Amadeus_: "I never thought music like that was possible!" "One hears such sounds, and what can one say but - ??!!"

I have "Two Sides of Leonard Nimoy" on vinyl - a Christmas present from a sister Trekkie back in 1973 - so some of his tracks were familiar to me - but I had never heard any of Shatner's tracks - I'd heard of them by reputation…

I can truly say that this disc took me where I have never been before. Since I am listening to track 8 ("It was a Very Good Year") as I write this, I am probably still "wherever" I have gone. Will it be possible for me to return from this space/time/musical anomaly? Or will I languish in the outermost reaches of the Shatmoy, unable to find the wormhole that will bring me back? Will my skeletal infrastructure be able to withstand the stress of repeated, escalating bouts of manic laughter? Will I run out of tissues and float from my chair on a sea of hilarious tears?

I really wasn't ready for the opening of Track 1 ("Henry V") - I almost jumped out of my chair. And then, I almost fell on the floor in a body-wrenching spasm of utter and insane hilarity… mmm, if flying scissor kicks could be done vocally…

This CD was the perfect mood-altering substance to pull me up from what was an absolute donkey's-butt nightmare of a day. When I return home, I'll file it in my special CD section, along with Leon Redbone and James Brown and Ween …

I think it's time to get "Transformed Man" now

I'm ready! Yeah, let's go - make it so!!

A music fan from Seattle, WA USA

Where no music should ever go before.

Picture Mr. Tambourine Man hiding underneath the floorboards somewhere with William Shatner hunting for him in the house, becoming increasingly psychotic,…and you have pictured Shatner's rendition of Mr. Tambourine Man perfectly.

Shatner's Hamlet is even funnier if you can imagine the famous soliloquy delivered in staccato, "Tommy-gun"-like fashion.

Don't even get me started on "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds." The only reason that Shatner probably didn't sing the chorus was because he was so emotionally spent on delivering the other verses.

It's a laugh a minute. Shame it's expensive (import), but it's worth it.

chrislabye from Phoenix, AZ United States

Bring the Pain, Bring the Torment, Bring the Agony.

I have read through all of the previous reviews on this CD. Actually I was startled that no one mentioned that several years after William Shatner's gut-wrenching take on Elton John's "Rocket Man" (or was that "Rock! It! Man!"), Chris Elliott recreated it PERFECTLY on the David Letterman show of the time. My god, you get a sense of what Chris Elliott is capable of. Now The Shat and Nimoy, who by turns take themselves both not seriously and FAR too seriously, would have no "music" careers at all if a couple of quick-buck record exec's hadn't decided, back in 1967, that these actors' sudden success on TV wouldn't translate to big bucks at the record shops. These executives… were WRONG. They brought upon the world an unspeakable darkness, a blight which even dares speak its name - and this name is… SHATMOY (sounds better than NI-NER). My only problem with "Spaced Out" is that by the time it gets to Nimoy's laid back country selections, you're kind of out of ribs to burst from laughing. Did The Shat not realize the effect his overacting would have? Did Nimoy - who was known to be "difficult" on the set of Star Trek in defence of his character - not see the problems his career would have as the result of filming a Scopitone-style VIDEO of "Bilbo Baggins"? And the big question… why would a god fuelled by anything beyond mere vengeance allow this HORROR to exist??? (okay, now think to yourself… there were OTHER great overactors in the 60s too! What would LARRY STORCH have done differently from The Shat? How would FRANK GORSHIN have done it better? And would LARRY OLIVIER really have turned "Mr. Tambourine Man" into such an exegesis of excess?)

Carl Howard from Jersey City, NJ USA

Misunderstood artists.

Okay. You know 'em, you love 'em. But what are they doing singing and romping through musical mayhem? Nimoy comes off a bit worse than Shatner in my opinion because he actually sings, but with such profound mediocrity that he comes off looking amateurish. Still, it's Spock for goshsakes!

Shatner, on the other hand, does not attempt to sing at all. He is offering dramatic readings of songs, and I think this was his aim. He is not trying to get away with talking through the songs; he is interpreting the songs dramatically. In 1978, at a Sci Fi convention, he performed Elton John's "Rocket Man" in similar fashion. There was music, he was speaking, and his little oral interpretation exercise came off as just that. So my judgement of Shatner is better than my judgement of Nimoy, simply because seen as dramatic readings, they work. If you try to put them into the category of "singing" or even "music," these are not appropriate categories.

So get the CD, especially if you are a Star Trek fan. How can you live without it?

David Sidwell from River Heights, UT USA

An underappreciated classic.

In much the same way that Jimi Hendrix "owned" Bob Dylan's classic of All Along the Watchtower, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy provide the definitive versions of these popular music classics. It is interesting in that Dylan also wrote Tambourine Man, however in a comparison between Shatner and Hendrix, Shatner reveals his long dormant musical expertise by taking Tambourine Man and the listener into an almost mystical , and almost musical experience while Hendrix degenerates into feeble guitar riffs in an attempt to emulate guitar great Waylon Jennings. Long after the inept warblings of the original artists have faded into the popular music subconscious, these sterling renditions shall continue to illuminate the airwaves of generations to come.

quoc tran from austin, tx USA

Shatner realises that he isn't a great singer in the conventional sense

Rather like Rex Harrison from 'Dr. Doolittle', Shatner talks rhythmically rather than try to hold a tune. Nimoy can actually sing, and comes through with a bit more dignity. The music is performed without much enthusiasm by what appears to be the same bunch of session musicians, something which adds to the surreal effect. The contrast between William Shatner's ranting, impassioned delivery of 'Mr Tambourine Man', and the dispassionate, efficient backing creates a feeling akin to watching a documentary on oil refining with AC/DC music dubbed over the top. Most of the album is Nimoy, but you'll remember Shatner for longer. It's almost as interesting to wonder how these albums were supposed to be approached at the time. Whilst they give the impression of massive, unrestrained hubris - did these people really believe that this was great art? - neither Nimoy nor Shatner are stupid, and it's quite possible that they were intended, either as spoofs, or as a bizarre commentary on contemporary concept albums. You'd have to ask them to find out, and they probably wouldn't tell you. In the end it makes you question your notion of 'good' and 'bad'. Is it right to judge things on these criteria, or should we consider things 'entertaining' and 'unentertaining'? Neither Nimoy nor Shatner were particularly 'good', in the same way that Wagner is 'good', but they are both highly entertaining in a way that Wagner isn't.

Ashley Pomeroy from London, England

It is difficult to put my thoughts about this album into words

But I love it. Free associating, some words that come to mind are disturbing, weird, sacrilegious, blasphemy, great. Many of these songs, and the artists who originally wrote and/or recorded them have achieved an almost sacred status in the halls of classic rock. From the very first track the album assaults one's sense of order in the universe with Leonard Nimoy's rendition of "Proud Mary".

It’s hard to pick a favourite (if that word can be used in this context) but I found the most audacious tracks to be Sebastian Cabot's (a.k.a. "Mr. French" from the 60's TV show "Family Affair") versions of the Dylan classics "It Ain't Me Babe" and "Like A Rolling Stone." These have to be heard to be believed. I'm not certain if someone much under their mid-30s, who did not grow up watching Mr. French, will fully appreciate how strange these tracks are.

Perhaps I should not admit this, but I actually like Shatner's cover of another Dylan classic, "Mr. Tambourine Man." It is so damn weird, and overly dramatic in that way that only Bill Shatner can really do, that I find it a compelling interpretation of the song. Imagine Captain Kirk, Phillip Glass, and Bob Dylan were in a transporter accident, and all were merged together. The resulting creature might produce this track. It is certainly more interesting than the cover done by the Byrds around the same time.

Shatner's cover of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", although more infamous, is more clearly awful. Since John Lennon was alive for 12 years following its recording, one has to think that someone played it for him at some point. I would love to have been in the room for that moment. I like to think he would have laughed hysterically and realized that this was further support for why The Beatles had to end.

Jack Webb's selection reminds me of one of Sinatra's more unusual album's "A Man Alone". The latter is not Sinatra's best album, but I've always liked it. Yet, this Jack Webb's track makes me wonder how much slack we cut Sinatra (or The Beatles, or Dylan) simply because of their reputation. On that thought, I also wondered throughout the album "What were these people thinking?" Was everyone around them too afraid to tell them the truth, or was there some mass "group-think" going on wherein all the people in the studio had all deluded each other into thinking "wow, this is great cutting edge stuff". After listening to one of Shatner's cuts, imagine the studio engineer saying sheepishly "um, gee, Mr. Shatner, that was great - Um…I don't think we need another take… Let's call it a night."

In summary, this album is a must buy. I believe it was David St. Hubbin's who once said something like "There is such a fine line between stupidity and genius." If you want to dance on and around that line, this album provides the perfect music for it.

someone

A treasure.

Do not misunderstand me here, I am not of the opinion that this album is good in the sense that it's a musical masterpiece or anything. On the contrary, it is quite possibly the worst album ever recorded. The two "artists" knew this of course, they were never under the impression that they were any good at music. When Shatner was asked about this classic piece of dribble on his latest TV biography, he almost burst into tears (or so I've been told) with laughter. And of course he did, he and Nimoy never expected to sell a single copy. Now they're laughing all the way to the bank, because of two kinds of people:

1) The fanatical star trek maniac who absolutely has to have everything related to the classic TV show. He/She is so blinded by their love for the Captain's character that they don't realize that the album is crap, and they actually take it seriously. (I've become aware that some people actually refer to this garbage as a concept album?)

2) Then there are people like me, who buy it for the sole purpose to share the joke with Nimoy and Shatner.

True, you can only listen to this stupid CD once in a while, and then only to cheer yourself up. It is quite possibly stronger than Prozac in that sense. Come on people, how can you not burst several internal organs during a raucous fit of laughter when Shatner starts his insane psycho ramblings or when Bilbo's story is rendered beautifully (cough, cough) by Nimoy. I don't think I've laughed so hard in my entire life, so then, why shouldn't I buy it. $18.00 is a small price to pay for infinite laughter. Yes, I get harassed by friends, and why shouldn't they harass me? I just "wasted" money on a piece of crap. But I enjoy it, just by imagining what it would have been like to record an album like this. With Nimoy on the verge of cracking up during "the Ballad of Bilbo Baggins" and Shatner flamboyantly overacting each line in his trademark Capt. Kirk voice. This is the kind of thing that 20 years from now, my kids will find in an old box covered in dust, to be put into the ole' Compact Disc player and enjoyed again. A true relic, and a treasure.

Eric Swanson from Hootananee, CA

Mister tambourine man… MISTER TAMBOURINE MAN!!!

I love so-bad-it's-good music, so obviously I had to have this CD. There's so much superlatively, deliciously, appallingly bad stuff on this CD it's hard to know where to begin. Most of the CD is taken up by Nimoy, but the few Shatner tracks scale heights of awfulness that few other artists have even approached (not even Bobby Goldsboro). "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and "Mr. Tambourine Man" prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that method acting and popular songs are not a marriage made in heaven. In fact, together they are possibly the worst songs ever recorded by anyone anywhere. I challenge you to listen to these two songs back-to-back and decide which is worse -- perhaps that's something man was never meant to know. The Nimoy tracks are not quite as spectacular, but there are many highlights there too: "Highly Illogical" is delightfully awful, and "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins" is completely demented (it's a favourite on the Dr. Demento show). The rest of the songs are mostly just evidence of Mr. Nimoy's incredibly mediocre singing voice; some of them, like "Both Sides Now" should be included on a future compilation entitled "Good Songs Sung by Bad Singers". This CD is a treasure that you'll enjoy for years, although not for the reasons the artists intended.

Michael C. Vanier from Pasadena, CA USA

A good piece of music to cure a nasty hangover.

The music of Leonard Nimoy isn't all that bad, I could listen to him any day. William Shatner's music is so bad it is funny to listen to. At least he is not as Bob Dylan, with William Shatner he is an amateur, with Dylan he is professional. Why do people say he (Dylan) is great and Shatner is bad? It is great medicine to get rid of a nasty hangover. I find his lyrics very overdramatic like when he narrated "Rescue 911". He is a weird individual, but I do appreciate the Shakespearian twist to modern rock songs. If you want to get some more laughs see Marlon Brando on "Guys and Dolls" it is a musical with Frank Sinatra. I can see a tough guy breaking into song and dance. Shatner is doing Priceline Commercials with his singing as a joke now, but when he recorded the album he was so serious.

[A music fan from Chicago Illinois

Shatner proves that he was the greatest poet of the '60s.

The Beatles and Bob Dylan poets? Ha! Who else can make a serious concept album mixing Shakespeare and Cyrano De Bergerac with 'Mr. Tambourine Man' 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' and 'How Insensitive!'

This CD will make you laugh guaranteed. No one is immune to the dementia residing here. Shatner's psychotic ramblings in the midst of some of the cheesiest pop schmaltz of the '60s are an endless source of fascination.

Resun Samenrai from Los Angeles

Logic and price lines.

I've got all of these songs on separate CDs, and I love, yet cringe painfully at every lousy little off-key note. Nimoy's tin ear and Shatner's halting Captain Kirk- style 'speaky' songs are the stuff of schlock legend. Their sad attempts to parlay their 'Star Trek' careers into vocal acts is great for a goof at your next big Trekkie shindig. You know, the one where one of your friends dresses up as that weird proto-creature from Episode 6 from the third season, and…

…But I digress. If you've ever wondered where Priceline.com got their inspiration to have Shatner 'sing' the hits while he's plugging their website in those radio & TV spots, you'll find out very, VERY soon when you take a listen to this collection.

zagnorch from Terra, Sol System

Will make you fall to your knees with laughter.

The first time I heard this album was on New Years Eve sometime in the late eighties and is the only time I've ever peed myself laughing in the whole of my adult life. Every track is an unparalleled abomination of popular music that it is quite simply the most outrageous album ever produced. 'How Insensitive' has to be the cheesiest recording of all-time. This CD Is truly beyond comparison.

DEAN WALKER from SWANSEA, W.GLAMORGAN United Kingdom

Bad Beyond All Infinite Dimensions of Conceivable Badness…

It's One of the Greatest Things I've Ever Heard! In the Brian Wilson documentary, I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, Tom Petty opines that the Beach Boys' auteur is one of the Greats: "You just can't make music any better than that." By the same token, here is something equally Great, because it is music as bad as it could possibly be -- as ANY music could possibly be -- which makes it more than just an album -- it's an artefact -- and I'm not talking about Nimoy's songs, which are merely mediocre, but instead directing your attention to those of his swashbuckling Star Trek co-star, which defy every rule of good taste in the brash, bold strokes that characterizes only the best television work of this august, earthbound god I've come to know as the Shat. Most of Shatner's 1968 landmark recording The Transformed Man is included here and to be truly appreciated it must be heard in the proper sequence, in its entirety of gleeful wretchedness -- it's a better concept album than Sgt. Pepper and its version of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" beats the Beatles' hands down in its fully-rendered approximation of drug-induced psychosis, but then so are all the standards enriched as they could only be when voiced by Big Bill, that unique talent -- but it's only in print intermittently, so this import comp will have to do. Thank God for programmable CD players! No opportunity is squandered, be it the obvious, unimaginative song selection, the contemptible arrangements, the bad poetry, or Shatner's holy gift for steamrolling over the subtlety in whatever material given him. This is truly the standard of badness against which all other bad works must be judged. That said, even worse was to come, and this disc suffers from the absence of the penultimate Shatner "performance," "Rocket Man," and omits his take on Guns 'n' Roses' "You Could Be Mine" from the 1991 Video Music Awards. Still, the work included here is miraculous and essential listening; one cannot call himself a serious music listener without owning something by William Shatner.

Chip Dunhill from Deep in the Bowels of Texas

Brilliant…yet disturbing!

What can I say? Two of my generations most notable icons on one album…what a jumbo treat!

My favourite tracks on this marvellous CD are Nimoy’s 'Highly Illogical' and Shatner's 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'; both incredibly visceral songs full of passion and pathos. If 'Lucy' is indeed the paean to psychedelics that many have said it to be- then Shatner has redefined "the trip".

This is high camp at it's best. The ultimate social gathering disc! Put this on and you're sure to get rid of 'that one guy' that shouldn't be at your party.

Chad Bagley from Shanghai. China

William Shatner is a genius.

Ultra cheese. After listening to this album a few times I've come to the conclusion that William Shatner is a genius. Leonard Nimoy's voice causes a rare form of cringing that is beneficial to the soul. This is a very very bad, very very good album that is pure goofy joy. Imagining Spock on the bridge of the enterprise singing these songs is better than drugs.

More of a collection of comedic bits than a serious attempt at musicianship, this inspired album pays homage to two of the biggest names in kitschy pop culture. Although Nimoy's pieces are entertaining, especially "Ruby Don't Take Your Love.."; it's Shatner who shines with his classic covers of "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds". This album makes a great gift to friends who appreciate the humour surrounding these screen legends. Always gets a laugh at parties!

A music fan from New York

Where no man's recorded before.

First of all, THINK of these weird recordings as collector's material (you currently encounter some of these rarities on their original format at EBay's auctions). Second, ENJOY the humour, sensitivity and perspicacity of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy (Captain Kirk and Officer Spock) in these unique archives. Third, PLAY as often as you need this record to "space out" your earthy problems; in other words get ready to be beamed aboard a strange musical 'Enterprise'. As awful, entertaining and enjoyable as The Original Series.

A music fan from Quebec city, Canada, Earth

This is great stuff.

Why waste your money on Michael Bolton singing arias or Kenny G attempting classic jazz? You loved his priceline.com commericals. Now enjoy William Shatner's real secret passion!

A music fan from San Francisco

Funniest damn thing I've ever heard.

I am listening now to the copy I purchased for my friend, not even yet born when Star Trek ruled, and Mr. Spock was my first crush. I wish more of us could take ourselves where "no one has gone before". This CD is a riot! If you are light of heart, and you are able to believe that Shatner and Nimoy knew more than they ever let on…then you will be an insider on this "CD-joke" and have the sheer pleasure of being part of the madness! This is the funniest damn thing I've ever heard and no matter what the verbalized "original intent" was…these two artist knew something bigger was going on. Buy it and go where no one's gone.

A music fan from San Diego, California

This is real music from outer space!

Well… when I first saw this CD cover, I though it would be some Star Trek classic music or something like that… well… I was happy to see that I was wrong! I learned that My old friend Bill is not only the best actor in the whole galaxy but also the best singer! Songs like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds or MR. Tambourine man are classics to be heard!

Leo did also a good work in this Masterpiece with "If I was a carpenter" (which I singed to my girlfriend and she ran away!:-)) Star Trek has always been about the human condition and you get all the true sense of it in "Highly Illogical"…

I loved this CD and I would recommend it to any people who are out of ideas when they get in a CD Store.

Amen…

A music fan from Québec, Canada

Greatest Picker-upper Album EVER!

Anytime I’m depressed, I pop in this CD and within 5 seconds of Hearing Willy Shatner Croon Mr. Tambourine Man, I'm immediately filled with joyous spirit and Glee. Perfect for any Bi-Polar or Manic Depressives.

A music fan from Planet G5, Sector Q7 of the Quel-exuma galaxy

An absolute masterpiece of horribleness.

This album shows two actors - seen from the side that no man has seen before. Which is actually also the same side that no man should EVER have to see.

Before you buy this record, ask yourself this. Would you buy a used car from Mick Jagger? Would you buy a painting by Evel Knievel? Would anyone, in his right mind, buy cookies from the butcher or milk from the mailman?

If your answer to all of the above is 'yes', then go ahead, buy this magnificent CD. This one shows how horribly wrong it all can turn out when people start to venture outside their expertise, when bricklayers become cake-bakers so to speak.

William Shatner can't sing! Nor can Leonard Nimoy! But that didn't stop them from going into the studio and recording an album. The outcome is a collection of serious spoofs of the artists themselves. Which is a good thing - it shows a sense of humour.

But who's laughing last? Is it the Star Trek hater, who says: 'Told you them weren't no good anyway'? Is it the connoisseur, who says 'The music may be awful but it's the emotion that counts'? Is it you, having bought this magnificent piece of naïve art? No. It's them. Nimoy and Shatner. Laughing their butts off, cause they sold another album.

So if you have any sense of humour, listen to this album and have one serious hootnanny of an evening. If you don't have a sense of humour then simply down a fifth of vodka and listen to this album. Same hootnanny.

I'd recommend it to anyone. Especially when you, like myself, suffer from unwanted guests on a regular basis. Want them to leave? Put this record on. Works like a charm.

Some of the songs sung in here (namely Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds) were absolutely fine in their original form when sung by the legendary Beatles. William Shatner has taken this masterpiece and rung it's neck, kicked it in the head, and I am deeply offended by this rendition. Apart from that it's a funny album. The problem being, it wasn't meant to be a comedy.

peter@planhold.nl from The Netherlands

SPACED OUT