Shatner boldly explores a new realm: Yule music

Who would have guessed more than 50 years ago, when actor William Shatner brought Capt. James T. Kirk so vividly to life and helped turn “Star Trek” into a cultural touchstone, that the show’s famous “final frontier” might prove to be ... Christmas music.

At 87, the veteran actor has just released an album of yuletide classics: “Shatner Claus — The Christmas Album,” for which he’s joined by a galaxy of pop, rock, country and other stars of contemporary music.

Among the baker’s dozen of guest collaborators are proto-punk rocker Iggy Pop, folkpop queen Judy Collins, country singer-songwriter-guitarist Brad Paisley, Jethro Tull flutist Ian Anderson, prog-rock keyboard wiz Rick Wakeman and ZZ Top guitar hero Billy Gibbons.

“Every song — good or bad — has my interpretation with the desire to bend it a little or fulfill more fully its original desire,” Shatner said.

So rather than simply stepping into a studio and reciting lyrics over prepared backing tracks to seasonal favorites such as “Jingle Bells,” “Feliz Navidad,” “White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland,” Shatner worked closely with album producers Adam Hamilton and Jurgen Engler to apply his vision to each.

“Jingle Bells,” for instance, starts the album at a breakneck pace, with Shatner almost hyperventilating as he relays the song’s lyrics.

The result is in keeping with his previous cult-classic recordings featuring his often-hyperdramatic style of spoken-word recitation.

“This album reflects my continuing desire to fuse words and music because I can’t sustain a note,” he said.

Shatner joins a long line of Jewish performers who have tried their hands at Christmas music, including Irving Berlin, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Mel Torme and Barry Manilow.