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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: Geffen Records
Salesrank: 7057
Released: December 7, 2004 |
| Our Price: $5.70 |
| Used Price: $4.69 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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The Transformed Man Track Listing:
1. King Henry the Fifth/Elegy for the Brave
2. Theme from Cyrano/Mr. Tambourine Man
3. Hamlet/It Was a Very Good Year
4. Romeo and Juliet/How Insensitive (Insensatez)
5. Spleen/Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
6. Transformed Man
The Transformed Man Reviews:
Like it, if you think this sort of thing is funny 
2008-08-30 - not something that you will listen to more than once, but kind of fun as a gag.
When questionable intentions go wrong-You have to hear this!!!
2008-04-22 - A friend of mine got the LP when it first came out [a l-o-n-g time ago] and it provided hours of amusement as well as totaaly over-the-top kareoke (before we even knew what it was). Shatner, along with a lot of actors like Eddie ALbert [Green Acers],Sebastien Cabot [Family Affair] and even Leonard Nimoy were enthralled with lyrics of Bob Dylan and went off on their own totally self-indugent interpretations of Dylan's lyrics and other songs.
It's only for those with a hearty sense of humor. The musicianship is mediocre, Shatner's interpretations supply enough 'ham' for any picnic.
Why do I like it? Shatner boldly went where few had gone before in trying to do a popular release of dramatic readings [think 'beatnik poetry reading on steroids'] and, well. . .seldom does a mission fail as miserably, as remarkably, and as entertainingly.
Not only do I still listen every now and then, I 'perform' small parts to my grandchildren and they think I'm nuts while they get a giggle or two.
After a listening, you'll be your own "Transformed Man' (or woman). It provides meaning to "so bad, it's good!"
A Vocal Stylist at Work 
2008-03-12 - When William Shatner interprets a classic song, it's eternally his! Littered amid the spoken-word recitals in "The Transformed Man" are mind-blowing versions of "Mr. Tambourine Man," "It Was a Very Good Year" and "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds." If you're looking for unintentional laughter, you've come to the right place.
Experimental album often divides but achieves a popular cult status 
2007-10-14 - While acting as Captain Kirk in Star Trek William Shatner got the idea that he wanted to make an album with him reading lyrics or classical narratives over various types of musical scores as an acting performance from the perspective of an LSD user. Shatner realized that idea in the form of an album, The Transformed Man, which remains controversial to this day and has somehow become a bit of a cult phenomenon mainly because of a question hanging over it as to why Shatner would want to do something like this at all.
Many consider The Transformed Man to be the worst thing ever committed to vinyl. Others think that Shatner attempted something worth trying and achieved something unique and original. The truth is that it is a bit of both worlds and is actually not as crazy as many would have you believe although it does have its dodgy moments. Some Star Trek fans may feel like buying up all copies and burning them in a mass incinerator. Other Trekkies will find it an interesting and amusing side to one of their favorite actors.
1. "King Henry the Fifth/Elegy for the Brave" (Frank Devenport, Don Ralke) - 6:16
Sort of Streets of San Francisco music with Shatner reading dramatically from Shakespeare's Henry V. Turns into something that sounds like some 60s romantic music.
2. "Theme from Cyrano/Mr. Tambourine Man" (Bob Dylan) - 6:49
Shatner does an upbeat but snobby British accent to music that sounds like something out of a Mary Poppins movie. Then it turns to Shatner speaking the lyrics heavily to Mr. Tambourine Man. He screams a lot and gets angry.
3. "Hamlet/It Was a Very Good Year" (Ervin Drake, Don Ralke) - 7:45
Shatner reads Hamlet over silence or the sounds of slow violin music and flute accompanied by some occasional brass and military drums. 60s music breaks back in and Shatner talks about happy times.
4. "Romeo and Juliet/How Insensitive (Insensatez)" (Vincius DeMoraes, Norman Gimbel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Don Ralke) - 6:46
Shatner reads Romeo and Juliet over oboes and violins. Shatner then attempts possibly singing what he is reading to James Bond type love music.
5. "Spleen/Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (Frank Devenport, Lennon, McCartney) - 5:54
Shatner reads ghostly over church bells and haunting organ music to clashing symbols. Suddenly becomes light hearted and very excited.
6. "The Transformed Man" (Frank Devenport, Don Ralke) - 3:38
Shatner reads. Music is more 60s rushy. Dramatically ends with Shatner saying he has touched the face of God.
Strangely emotional it seems Shatner has actually achieved something that is incredibly original, possibly underestimated, but is certainly an experience. For this reason you will come away having lived through something that maybe should never have been, but was, and is. If you are just fed with everything being boring, plain and commonplace then The Tranformed Man will certainly throw a spanner in the works.
In many ways this is a very good example of how creative human life can be when let loose to do anything it can. It just makes it all the more odd that it was William Shatner who did it. Yet again people who have jobs like playing Captain Kirk on a show called Star Trek are often involved in complex creativity. Here is the evidence to prove it.
WRONGHEADED...This is so greatly BAD
2007-10-13 - When the word "wrongheaded" was coined, it was in order to describe this record. At first boring, but then, funny and funnier and funnier... !! What? What...? What...??? Ohmigod this is so greatly BAD !!! I nearly spray painted my draught of wine again and again listening to this... this... this... ...this... and then this gets boring again... and then suddenly hilarious again !! You will be SHATNERED by this record! I LOVE William Shatner's 2004 album "HAS BEEN" which is a wonderful, contrite listen. It is without doubt overshadowed and informed by this unique recording. There would not be "HAS BEEN" if there was no "TRANSFORMED MAN," but I must confess, now a late-era Shatner fan, that this record is beyond embarrassing and enters the realm of UNREAL. THANK YOU BILL !!!
