William Shatner announces songs featuring famous Cincinnati musicians | Arts & Culture

CINCINNATI (FOX19) - William Shatner has announced the songs which will feature Cincinnatians Bootsy Collins and Peter Frampton on his upcoming album, "Searching for Major Tom".

The album consists of cover songs with a space theme.  Shatner has recorded a number of albums since the original Star Trek series, typically performing the lyrics in the form of an overwrought tongue-in-cheek narration.

Frampton plays guitar on "Spirit in the Sky", a psychedelic 1969 song with Christian lyrics written by Jewish singer-songwriter Norman Greenbaum after seeing Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner sing a religious song on TV.  The original song features a loose beat, distorted electric guitar, and spacy electronic effects.  It continues to be used in films and commercials.

Greenbaum tells FOX19 "I think it's great that Peter Frampton added some lead guitar to Mr. Shatner's track.  I mean, he is a great player.  (Frampton, that is.)  Of course, I did not know he lived in Cincinnati.  But, how cool.  Anxiously awaiting the final mix of the tune."

Bootsy plays on Shatner's version of "She Blinded Me With Science", originally recorded by synthesist Thomas Dolby without a bass guitar. He is joined by Patrick Moraz, who in the 70's and 80's played keyboards for Yes and the Moody Blues, appearing on eight Billboard Hot 100 singles for the latter band.

Collins recorded his part at his home recording studio in Union Township, Clermont County.  That's also where he recorded his latest album, "Tha Funk Capital of the World", an effort with many well-known guests, which is being released on Tuesday.

"Searching for Major Tom" will feature a cover of David Bowie's "A Space Oddity", the strange 1969 song about an astronaut lost in space, at least psychologically.  The album also includes remakes of "Major Tom", a 1983 retelling of "Space Oddity" by German synth-pop artist's Peter Shilling, and "Mrs. Major Tom", a 2002 electronica piece telling the story from the perspective of Major Tom's Wife.  (Bowie's hit response to his own song, Ashes to Ashes, is not part of the project.)

British guitar legend Frampton moved Cincinnati after marrying a Reading native. They initially lived Downtown, then moved to a home in Indian Hill that incorporates a recording studio.

Bootsy began a recording career as a teen by playing around town and hanging out at the legendary King Records studio in Evanston. His innovative bass playing with James Brown, George Clinton, and as a solo artist led him to the Rock'N'Roll Hall of Fame.


Copyright 2011 FOX19. All rights reserved.