He patrolled the Final Frontier as Captain Kirk, put the bad guys of LA behind bars as T.J. Hooker and represented some of Boston’s best and worst as Denny Crane, and in between these roles and others, William Shatner entertained another love of his – spoken word. He released his first album The Transformed Man in 1968 and 50 years later, Shatner teamed up with Alabama‘s Jeff Cook to release his first country album Why Not Me available via Heartland Records Nashville.
The album’s title track is set to impact country radio February 25th, and it’s a great choice to introduce the masses who have yet to discover it (the album was released in August of 2018). The intro’s sound of a steel guitar establishes a solemn feeling as Shatner’s voice enters with equally solemn lyrics:
So much pain and trouble in the world
So many broken and confused
My heart keeps saying “reach out to someone
Don’t just try, but do”
The track features none-other than Neal McCoy and the harmonies of Home Free. Shatner’s words repeat lyrics in the chorus to drive home the positive message of the song:
I can see the need all around me (I can see the need)
I can fee the loss of a dream (I can feel the loss)
Somebody needs to shine a light for the world to see (For the world to see)
Why not me? (Why not me?)
The idea of putting spoken word and country music together at first might seem odd, but the two have a very natural relationship. Country Music prides on being “three chords and the truth” and storytelling songs, and spoken word does the same thing: personal poetry spoken to convey the stories and meanings through pause, infliction and words. Shatner and Cook do a wonderful job pairing traditional country instrumentation of electric and steel guitar in support of Shatner’s dry speak.
Sometimes that dry speak shows a bit of humor, as in “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drink Alone” and “Too Old To be Vegan” and “I Hate To Waste Good Beer” while “Beam Me Up” – an obvious reference to Star Trek – starts off with a synthesizer mimicking a transporter.
And as any country album does, Why Not Me includes some vein-opening tracks. “Should’a Loved” features the wonderful vocals of Cash Creek driving home the heartbreak of knowing you let the one get away. “What Some People Throw Away” tells how one person’s trash becomes another’s treasure, literally. “That’s What Dreamers Do” reiterates the belief that one should never give up on your dreams and goals.
Shatner will make his Grand Ole Opry debut this Friday, February 15 with Cook by his side. The evening will also feature Ricky Skaggs, Hunter Hayes, Aaron Tippin, Larry Gatlin and more. For tickets, visit www.opry.com/calendar.
Why Not Me Track Listing
- Hush Her with a Kiss
- Got a Thing for You
- Why Not Me (feat. Neal McCoy and Home Free)
- Friends Don’t Let Friends Drink Alone
- Should’a Loved (feat. Cash Creek)
- Beam Me Up
- Too Old to be Vegan
- I Hate to Waste Good Beer
- What Some People Throw Away
- Wrong Number
- Hello Me
- That’s What Dreamers Do
Why Not Me is available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.
For more information on William Shatner, visit his website at http://williamshatner.com/ws.
For more information on Jeff Cook, visit his website at www.jeffcook-agb.com