here probably isn't a Trekker alive who hasn't heard—and heartily laughed at—the out-of-tune warbling of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. However, those golden-throated buffoons weren't the only members of the Enterprise crew who took the turbolift from the bridge to the recording studio. Although her audio exploits aren't nearly as infamous, Nichelle Nichols has released a few albums, too. If truth be told, her first full-length effort, issued in 1968 and titled Down to Earth, is actually quite accomplished, a fact that the average fan can readily ascertain now that Collectors' Choice Music has uncovered this comparatively hard-to-find gem.
The multitalented actress demonstrates her interpretive skill and vocal range on a variety of well-known standards. Her voice softly supplements silky violins on the torch songs "Tenderly" and "Sunday Kind of Love," even as she steps up her delivery on such energetic chestnuts as "That's Life" and "Home Lovin' Man." Nichols also provides emotive readings of the Broadway tunes "If He Walked Into My Life" and "You'd Better Love Me"—from the shows Mame and High Spirits, respectively—plus a touching rendition of "The More I See You."
Four "bonus tracks" augment the 10 original cuts, including two melodies, "Know What I Mean" and "Why Don't You Do Right," distributed as a single in 1967, and a pair of previously unavailable numbers, "Hey Boy (Hey Girl)" and "It's Impossible," recorded in 1966. The foldout booklet accompanying the CD contains a drawn-out, though not particularly detailed, outline of Nichols' musical and theatrical career.
From Ellington to the stars
Long before she trekked through the cosmos proclaiming "hailing frequencies open," Nichols was a respected singer and dancer, appearing in musical theater and nightclubs throughout the country and, at one point, even touring with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Most people have either overlooked or were simply unaware of that training—her embarrassing dance in Star Trek V clearly did nothing to help in that regard—and to these oblivious individuals Down to Earth will surely come as a pleasant surprise. Although the arrangements can be a mite kitschy, there's little argument that her efforts, certainly when compared to those of her fellow starship songsters, are proficient, practiced and genuinely pleasing.
The disc's first cut, "Feelin' Good," exhibits loads of excitement and enthusiasm. Boisterous horns, a groovy guitar and tinkling piano complement Nichols' energized performance, fashioning a brisk, bubbly ambiance that's frisky and utterly fun. "One Life to Live" is equally sparkling, building from an understated, spoken-word introduction to a fabulous, larger-than-life finale, with "It's Impossible" spotlighting an expert vocal vibrato conveyed with power and panache.
A few selections are marred by minor flaws, most notably the nasal "The Lady Is a Tramp" and "Know What I Mean," which is spoiled by a noticeably slow tempo and insufferable double-entendre lyrics. All the same, Down to Earth is easily the most competent platter released by an original Trek star. Nichols' voice isn't perfect, but it exhibits enough honest-to-goodness talent and flair that the recording remains engaging and enjoyable.
