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Re: Silbin, #26: We didn't get a chance to touch on a big "gray area:" performers who really can't be classified as primarily an "actor" or a "musician," but seem to be somewhere in the middle. Jamie Foxx might be a good example, or Will Smith. Is that why both of those men have been so successful?

Re: Paul #33 -- One of Bill Cosby's collaborations with Quincy Jones is documented on the CD "The Original Jam Sessions, 1969" Highly recommended!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Original_Jam_Sessions_1969

How could you have done this show without mentioning Burt Reynolds' "Ask Me Who I Am" or Telly Savalas' "Telly Sings" albums. I used to win so many "Guess Who This Singer IS" bets with these two.

How about: Bill Cosby - Silver Throat. Yikes!
His versions of "Uptight (Everything's All Right)" and "I've Got a Woman" are just plain scary.

I am an actor. And I believe no more insecure than the average person walking down the street.

I am quite offended by your guest's (Sean I believe) comment that ALL actors are insecure people.

I could just as easily say that music reviewers and critics are just frustrated unable wanna-be musicians (which many are), but instead I know that reviewers and critics are valuable contributors to the experience of music.

I hope your guest would consider this.

Also: I think the She & Him album was more than a vanity project. It is pretty good!

I am an actor. And I believe no more insecure than the average person walking down the street.

I am quite offended by your guest's (Sean I believe) comment that ALL actors are insecure people.

I could just as easily say that music reviewers and critics are just frustrated unable wanna-be musicians (which many are), but instead I know that reviewers and critics are valuable contributors to the experience of music.

I hope your guest would consider this.

Also: I think the She & Him album was more than a vanity project. It is pretty good!

I LOVE William Shatner's albums!

Professional singer, actor, rapper, astro physicist, mail carrier, it shouldn't matter if you have talent. We should approach every album with an open mind. And yes there are dreadful actor albums, but it sounds like, from the clips played, a matter of poor taste in music rather than lack of raw talent. Maybe the actors whose albums stunk, like many so called singers whose albums stink, suffered from a lack of good advice. Someone to say holy smokes that stinks. And look how many talented kids there are out there now who are not just actors or singers, but great triple threats.

Wasn't Johnny Depp in a band before his acting career?

MONKEES "HEAD" album anyone? That has to be the best of the bunch.

I can think of two prominent artists that started out as actors--what about Jenny Lewis (Jenny was a kiddie actor) & Bonnie Prince Billy?

It all depends on the case and intentions. There have been so many misguided attempts by actors to cross over...just check out Rhino's Golden Throat series for the frightening evidence!

does anyone remember chery ladds disco single "think it over" or mel brooks disco infected single " its good to be a king"...

Great Smackdown! Even better than the season opener shows of "American Idol."

Actor attempts at music should be BANNED entirely no argument. Cases in point:
"Don't Give Up on Us Baby" David Soul
"Gonna Let Her in" John Travolta ,
and ...of course, Shatner...

"HEY, MR. TAMBOURINE MAN!!!!"

Renee Olstead has an incredible voice for such a young woman. Her first album came out when she was only 14 or 15 and the first time I heard it on a jazz station in Baltimore, I swore it was an adult.

Bruce Willis and Don Johnson are pathetic, but I laughed out loud when I heard Joe Pesci's "Cousin Vinny". Not that I would want to own it or have it as my ringtone, but I think he has a sense of humor about himself. He was trying to be funny, right?

I have a fabulous album I picked up at a used record store many years ago: Mister T's Commandments

The album is aimed at kids and Mister T sings about such topics as "Don't Do Drugs".

Not quite what you guys are discussing but I had to mention it. Good fun!

Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley is one of my favorite singers, and in one of my favorite movies as a child, "Troop Beverly Hills"

Don't forget William Shatner!!!

What about Keanu Reeve's "Dogstar?"

With a lot of celebrity records I've heard I find they don't have a persona or a point of view. They're actors, just a blank slate really and so often the music sounds extremely generic.

Whats her name doing Tom Waits is blasphemy.

thats all.

What a silly proposition this is. Being an actor or musician is not like being gay or straight. It's something you choose to do and have to pursue. An actor, successful or not may or may not have musical talents.

Ricky Nelson?

I think that one reason actors may be able to cross over is because of the self awareness of body and voice that is important to being an actor, and the presence that is required.

Unfortunately many actors and actresses have a connection so they don't have to have the chops and that is the problem.

Lastly as a side note, Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley was an actress too, remember her is Troop Beverly Hills?

Robert Mitchum - "Calypso Is Like So..." One of the finest calypso pop albums ever, circa 1958 - rivals the more popular Harry Belafonte records of the era - ! Mitch even adopts a pretty convincing West Indian accent throughout most of it, and proves he can carry a tune better than most! Great tunes, great production, great record, daddy-o!

Spinal Tap, anyone?

And that Familiarity makes their stage persona appear disingenuous. however, Zooey is kind of awesome...

Vanity, vanity, vanity.

Whoever allowed Sco-Jo to cover Waits should be banished away....

To producer - The cross over is difficult because we already have a sense that we "know" them from thier fictional roles.

what i really meant is: "is what vincent gallo does actually count as acting?" also, his music. has anyone seen a RRIICCEE performance? wow.

RE: Brett, #3: Many people believe this rule is gospel. If you're one of them, why do think actors have a harder time crossing over?

Bryan -- Do you mean "Should Vincent Gallo be considered primarily a model" or "Does 'The Brown Bunny' actually count as acting?" But seriously folks ... for our purposes today, Vincent Gallo qualifies.

is vincent gallo considered an actor?

The rule is, only musicians can become actors - not the other way around. David Bowie, Steve Van Zandt, Tom Waits, etc. Sorry actors.

The band 30 Seconds to Mars comes to mind quickly.
Underrated self-titled back in 2002 ignored by those who think vanity project (It's actually a good album)
followed by A Beautiful Lie in 2004 which launched 4 high charting singles (Attack, The Kill, A Beautiful Lie, and From Yesterday).

Their singer is actor Jared Leto, who's been in My So Called Life, Alexander, Fight Club, Panic Room, and other films.

Celebrity bands: versatile or vanity? What do you think of actor albums? Do they make you groan or cheer? Leave a comment.