For those unaware, legendary star of the stage and screen, William Shatner, brings his dramatic interpretive talents to the blues music canon on this superb new album entitled, The Blues (out October 2nd, 2020 via Cleopatra Blues).

It features guest appearances by blues giants Sonny Landreth, Canned Heat and Tyler Bryant, along with country superstar Brad Paisley, Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore, and many more!

The album's first single, 'Let's Work Together' featuring Canned Heat, has already been released and stirring up a mighty buzz and soon you can also watch the fully animated video for 'I Put A Spell On You' featuring Pat Travers!

'Let's Work Together' - Music Video

1. 'Sweet Home Chicago' (feat. Brad Paisley)
2. 'I Can’t Quit You Baby' (feat. Kirk Fletcher)
3. 'Sunshine Of Your Love' (feat. Sonny Landreth)
4. 'The Thrill Is Gone' ( feat. Ritchie Blackmore)
5. 'Mannish Boy' (feat. Ronnie Earl)
6. 'Born Under A Bad Sign' (feat. Tyler Bryant)
7. 'I Put A Spell On You' (feat. Pat Travers)
8. 'Crossroads' (feat. James Burton)
9. 'Smokestack Lightnin’ (feat. Jeff “Skunk” Baxter)
10. 'As The Years Go Passing By' (feat. Arthur Adams)
11. 'Let’s Work Together' (feat. Harvey Mandel & Canned Heat)
12. 'Route 66' (feat. Steve Cropper)
13. 'In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company' (feat. Albert Lee)
14. 'Secrets Or Sins'

Chock full of Shatner-inspired, reworked versions of Robert Johnson's 'Sweet Home Chicago,' Jay Hawkins' sultry 'I Put a Spell on You, as well as the Willie Dixon written, first recorded by Chicago blues artist Otis Rush classic 'I Can’t Quit You Baby', another revered Robert Johnson cut, 'Crossroads', and Albert King's timeless 'Born Under a Bad Sign'.

Already released as a teaser to the album, the slow minor-key blues song written by West Coast blues musicians Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell in 1951, but taken for a hard ride by B.B King in 1970, Shatner's version of 'The Thrill Is Gone' completely upends the renowned blues standard and exposes a spoken-word underbelly, remarkably, never before probed.

'The Thrill Is Gone' - Music Video

Shatner had this to say about the song: "'The Thrill Is Gone' is the title of the song, but the thrill is there with Ritchie Blackmore and his great guitar!”

Blackmore and Night return the praise saying, “We would like to express our gratitude for being able to appear on the recording with William Shatner. It is always an honor to work with him. He is a man of many legendary performances.”

Another stand out centerpiece is 'Let’s Work Together', done in collaboration with Harvey Mandel and Canned Heat, who originally released the song in 1970.

Originally written and recorded back in 1969 by Wilbert Harrison, and brought out amidst unprecedented social strife and racial tensions in America, the song was a clarion call to "every boy, girl, woman and man" to join the burgeoning social movements that promoted peace, justice and equality.

The following year, Southern California hippie blues band Canned Heat released their own version of the song, which became a major hit and amplified Harrison's call to action and unity.

Now, that same band - together with former member, and revered blues guitarist, Harvey Mandel - has teamed up with the famed actor and musical interpretationist Shatner for a much-needed revival of the spirit of unity found in this song.

Indeed, Shatner's spoken-word take is here enbibed with a little dramatic rhythm and flow, which makes the song now embrace some gently grounded hipsway too.

Luckily for us all, The Blues will be available on both CD in a gorgeous digipak as well as a limited edition series of colored vinyl!

Official CD Purchase Link

Official Colored Vinyl Purchase Link

www.WilliamShatner.com

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