Dreadful music history of 'Trek' stars doesn't deter 'Voyager's' Tim Russ.(The Arts & Entertainment)

Byline: Leanne Potts lpotts@abqtrib.com / 823-3676

The history of albums made by "Star Trek" cast members is long, strange and kitschy. Actors who have worn the Federation uniform over the past three decades have repeatedly become possessed by the notion that they should try their hand at singing.

Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) warbled covers like "I Walk the Line" and "Proud Mary" on an album called "Highly Illogical;" Brent Spiner (Data on "Next Generation") recorded an album of standards called "Old Yellow Eyes is Back"; and Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhuru) recorded two albums of karaoke-quality original songs.

And then there's William Shatner's (Capt. James T. Kirk) infamous stab at pop stardom: a hammy spoken-word version of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" that became a camp classic, so enduringly bad …