OT: Capt Kirk covers Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

[Gothick]

Friends, I just have to share this link to an incredibly brilliant video presentation of the already legendary-in-its-awfulness Shatner Beatles cover:

http://www.devilducky.com/media/29841/

There's masses of mid 20th century pop culture imagery swirling throughout this masterpiece, but the only tangential reference to DS I could spot (and it's extremely oblique) is the moment when we see the Flying Nun swoop down with Capt Kirk's head in the bonnet.  That reminded me of Castlebee's brilliant "Flying Barnabas" image.

Enjoy!

G.

[Raineypark]

Oh dear goddess!!  What the HELL was THAT?!

I can imagine a bunch of (stoned)  people getting together and letting Shatnerrecord that awful cat-howl of a song.....but what drooling idiot allowed it to be released to an unsuspecting public?

The VISUAL, on the other hand, was absolutely brilliant.  It was literally like watching my (Baby-Boomer)  life pass before my eyes!!!
And for the record, Frid makes a MUCH better looking Flying Nun.
Thank you, dear Gothick...

[Patti Feinberg]

That....was far f**king out. I never curse (much)...but, that was way cool.

Shatner as Lucy with pearls next to Ricky..... Woa.....flashbackS beaucoup....

Patti

[Mark Rainey]

If you missed seeing the Shat doing "Rocket Man" at the 1982 World SF Awards presentation -- which was broadcast on plain old network TV, I believe -- then you have not lived. Picture this:

Shatner in a tux, verbally paying tribute to Elton John and Bernie Taupin, a drink in one hand.

Shatner, reciting the first verse of "Rocket Man" respectfully,  rhythmically, melodically.

Shatner, upon reaching the chorus, loosening his bow tie and with subtle body language, adding a bit of alcohol-steeped soul to the presentation, plaintively wailing, "I'm a R O C K I TTTTTTT-MANNNNNN."

A video superimposition of the Shat, bow tie flopping in the breeze, martini sloshing over the tux, body swaying in ways that would make Paula Abdul drool, vocals warbling, "And I think it's gonna be a LONG, LONGGGGG time till touchdown bring me 'round again to find I'm not the MAN they think I am at home, oh, nooo, OOh, noOOOO, OHHHHH, nOOOOO,ooooOOOOO,OOOO!!!!!"

Ooooh, and you think I am joking.

I most certainly am not.

[onyx_treasure]

     Now all we need is a video based on Leonard Nimoy's rendition of "Bilbo Baggins, greatest little hobbit of them all".  Does Dr. Demento still broadcast anywhere?  This is where I first heard William Shatner "sing".  My sister's friend has an album of Mae West singing Beatle tunes.  Too bad Shatner and West didn't team up and butcher The Rolling Stones music.

[Midnite]

Now all we need is a video based on Leonard Nimoy's rendition of "Bilbo Baggins, greatest little hobbit of them all".

Ah, but there IS such a video.  

If you Google it you can easily find it online.  ("Leonard Nimoy" "Bilbo Baggins")  It's scary.

[Gothick]

Many thanks, Midnite, for the tip about Nimoy's Baggins serenade.  Another sign that truth is stranger (and sicker) than fiction.

And Mark, thanks for that breathtaking account of "the Shat's" brilliant thespianship in reciting the dramatic lyrics of Bernie Taupin.  Wow.

I missed SO MUCH by living abroad for most of the Eighties!

G.

[onyx_treasure]

     Thanks, Midnite,  I just got through viewing "Bilbo Baggins".  It looks so much like the commercials in the early seventies.  I never would have thought to look for this. Thanks again

[CyrusL]

The really fascinating thing to me is that Shatner quickly realized he had no business singing, and only did the one LP, whereas Nimoy did 5 (!!!!!) lps warbling offkey through a combination of originals, spoken word pieces, and "contemporay hits" like "I Walk the Line", "Sunny", "If I Had a Hammer", and Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy" as well as the aformentioned "Bilbo Baggins." Nimoy went on to commit musicaltheatrecide by touring in "Fiddler on the Roof."  These albums are fascinating in the way bad movies like "Plan 9" or "Blood Feast" are. I suppose at some point Nimoy thought he could carry a tune, without a forklift. He's a nice guy, but singing is not high on his talents. The interesting connection to Dark Shadows is that most of Nimoy's music lps were produced by the late Charles Randolph Greane, who had the top 20 pop hit cover of "Quentin's Theme"

musical Michael 
  who used to play all this kinda stuff on his own radio show...

[Mark Rainey]

Bear in mind the Shat recently released "Has Been," featuring Aimee Mann, Ben Folds, Henry Rollins, Joe Jackson, and others -- mostly to rave reviews. I haven't heard the thing (not too sure I want to), but it's supposedly unlike anything he's ever done before. Some of the critical comments about its depth are quite intriguing.

[D_Friedlander]

There's a great site where you can see and hear some of those lost "gems" of what James Lileks might call "regrettable records", including the notorious Mae West rock'n'roll riot, Music to Moog by, the Jeannie Riley Harper Valley album with its nearly 3-ft "pinup-style" jacket, someone called "the Mustang" with his mighty disco organ, and dozens more:

http://franklarosa.com/vinyl/

[Misa]

That video almost makes the song listenable. It is so funny. I have to show this one to my husband.

Misa

[Luciaphile]

So I guess I should go remove that cassette tape of "Transformed Man" from the car? I also have Jeanine C. Riley singing "Harper Valley PTA" in there somewhere too (although that's on a mix tape).

I believe it's also on CD. Then of course there is the immortal Golden Throats album. Another must have.