MR. SPACEMAN: William Shatner boldly goes where he never has before ... to ... No. ...  1 ... on ... a ... Billboard ... albums ... chart!

As "Searching for Major Tom" bows atop Heatseekers Albums, the multi-media star treks to his first chart-topping set.

The album plays up Shatner's pantheon sci-fi status, sporting covers of such cosmic-themed songs as David Bowie's "Space Oddity," Peter Schilling's answer song "Major Tom (Coming Home)" and Steve Miller Band's "Space Cowboy." Guests include Sheryl Crow, Peter Frampton and Brad Paisley.

"Searching" is Shatner's third album, following 1968's spoken-word covers collection "The Transformed Man" and 2004's "Has Been." The latter set, co-written and produced by Ben Folds and featuring cameos from Joe Jackson, Aimee Mann and Paisley, debuted and peaked at No. 22 on Heatseekers Albums.

While Shatner makes his first voyage to the top of a Billboard albums survey, five soundtracks from the series that immortalized the real-life Captain Kirk have reached the Billboard 200. "Star Trek - the Motion Picture" rose to No. 50 in 1980, followed by "Star Trek II - the Wrath of Khan" (No. 61, 1982); "Star Trek III - the Search for Spock" (No. 82, 1984); "Star Trek IV - the Undiscovered Country" (No. 171, 1992); and, "Star Trek" (No. 49, 2009).

While the 80-years-young Shatner doesn't quote beam himself up to No. 1 like Scotty (McCreery) did last week, his new set concurrently launches at No. 131 on the Billboard 200, marking his first appearance on the ranking.

Following his latest musical enterprise, will Shatner return to his signature character portrayal?

"If J.J. (Abrams) (director of 2009's "Star Trek") were to ask me, I would certainly consider it," Shatner says. "It's a great role, and they were writing it so beautifully as the aging Kirk. The stages that human beings go through as they age; it seems to be a great interest in tackling 'Star Trek.'

"I don't know how he'd allow for the 45 years that have gone on since I was there, but, you know, that's science fiction."


LANDED: Shatner's one-time collaborator likewise debuts a new release, as Ben Folds' "The Best Imitation of Myself: a Retrospective" enters Alternative Albums at No. 11 and the Billboard 200 at No. 62.

The compilation includes Folds' 1998 Alternative Songs No. 6-peaking "Brick," as well as the new Ben Folds Five single "House," first released on the website for NBC's a capella competition "The Sing Off," on which Folds moonlights as one of the show's three judges. Both of Folds' fellow arbiters - Boyz II Men's Shawn Stockman and Sara Bareilles - are additionally showing the series' contestants how it's done.

Tuesday (Oct. 25), Boyz II Men releases "Twenty," a collection of 13 new songs and eight updates of hits from the vocal group's first two decades.

On Adult Pop Songs, Bareilles bullets at No. 39 with "Gonna Get Over You," the third single from "Kaleidoscope Heart," which opened at No. 1 on the Sept. 25, 2010, Billboard 200.

 
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