William Shatner - "Common People"

[Hey_It_s_That_Guy]

@violacrane

Cool, never been thrippled before. I’ll check 'em out.

Just so ya know, “Whatever and Ever Amen” is actually Ben Folds Five’s second album, not their first. Their first album is self-titled, and probably harder to find due to being on Caroline Records, an independent label. But they’re all terrific albums–Ben’s solo album (without the Five) “Rockin’ the Suburbs” and his recent live album are worthwhile purchases too. You can always listen to samples on Amazon.com!

[DooWahDiddy]

@DooWahDiddy

You’re right about Ben Folds Five being superb, but Whatever and Ever Amen was not their first album. They have an eponymous album that, in my opinion, is just as strong (if not stronger) than Whatever… that came out first. There’s also a live album called Ben Folds Live (go figure) that includes a track where he used the audience in the manner described by the OP (and indeed, did that when I saw him perform in Central Park as well).

Indeed.

[gobear]

I have fond memories of watching the Pulp video in a bar in the university district of Shinchon in Seoul; love this song. Shatner’s version is actually pretty cool.

[Superdude]

@DooWahDiddy

You’re right about Ben Folds Five being superb, but Whatever and Ever Amen was not their first album. They have an eponymous album that, in my opinion, is just as strong (if not stronger) than Whatever… that came out first. There’s also a live album called Ben Folds Live (go figure) that includes a track where he used the audience in the manner described by the OP (and indeed, did that when I saw him perform in Central Park as well).

I saw him a few years ago, when Rockin’ the Suburbs came out, and we got to sing the background vocals then, too.

Chronologically, though, was the self-titled released before Naked Baby Photos?

[Sean_Factotum]

@Superdude

Chronologically, though, was the self-titled released before Naked Baby Photos?

Nope. Naked Baby Pictures came out between Whatever and Ever… and The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner. The latter is the one with “Army” on it.
NBP is a collection of live, B-sides, and other material that never made it to the first two releases. It was put out by Caroline when BFF switched labels (went to Sony), much in the same way IRS released Eponymous when REM jumped to Warner.

And as I have said in other threads, I love Has Been.

[Sean_Factotum]

I mean, yes, Ben Folds Five was released before NBP, but NBP it does have some stuff on it that was recorded before the first was released (“Evaline” comes to mind.)
Confusing enough for ya?