Generations of young people have grown up on Shel Silverstein’s poetry, but many may not know he was also a prolific songwriter. When not churning out classic anthologies like Where the Sidewalk Ends, he penned hits for Johnny Cash (“A Boy Named Sue”) and Dr. Hook (“The Cover of the Rolling Stone”). Twistable, Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein cements Silverstein’s songwriting legacy with fifteen new covers by artists old (Kris Kristofferson, John Prine) and new (My Morning Jacket, Andrew Bird).
Cover Me is proud to premiere a selection from the compilation. Three-time Grammy winner Lucinda Williams spins an alt-country yarn in “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan.” A hit for Marianne Faithfull, in Williams’ hands the song becomes an atmospheric country weeper. The sparse production and ominous bass drum propel the bored housewife’s tale towards a haunting ending. Stream it below, then tell us what you think in the comments!
CONTEST: We’ve got a copy of the CD to give away. Post your email address in the comments for a chance to win. Contest stays open until Monday, June 7.
Twistable, Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein hits stores June 8 from Sugar Hill Records. View the full track list below.
01. My Morning Jacket: “Lullabies, Legends and Lies”
02. Andrew Bird: “The Twistable, Turnable Man Returns”
03. John Prine: “This Guitar Is for Sale”
04. Dr. Dog: “The Unicorn”
05. Kris Kristofferson: “The Winner”
06. Sarah Jarosz with Black Prairie: “Queen of the Silver Dollar”
07. Bobby Bare, Jr. with Isabella Bare: “Daddy What If”
08. Black Francis with Joey Santiago: “The Cover of the Rolling Stone”
09. The Boxmasters: “Sylvia’s Mother”
10. Ray Price: “Me and Jimmie Rodgers”
11. Todd Snider: “A Boy Named Sue”
12. Lucinda Williams: “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan”
13. Bobby Bare: “The Living Legend”
14. Nanci Griffith: “The Giving Tree”
15. My Morning Jacket: “26 Second Song”
Darker and more atmospheric than I expected – the production is more what I’d expect from an Emmylou version – which changes the tone a bit, but it’s gorgeous, of course.
And what a nice coup! Been watching this album slowly emerge – happy for you that you got one of the pre-release tracks!
Very powerful. Not having heard the original version, I have nothing with which to compare it. But if the rest of the album is as good, then I look forward to it.
Great tune! I am jone’sin for ya Lu!! It has been such a long time.
plz. come back to nebraska! bons
count me in
great cover. love Lu
Hauntingly beautiful: The production, the wonderful vocals! Lucinda’s version is definitely on a par with Marianne Faithfull’s original version, which is not very easy to achieve!!
chroesch55@hotmail.com
nct@uchicago.edu, please!!
krapfruit@yahoo.com
Can’t wait to hear the whole album! sararoxyoursox@gmail.com
thenotunnameless@yahoo.com
Marvellous version played it over and over, `nuff said.
Our wonderful LU hits the target yet again.
And yes I agree this could easily be bigger that the Marianne Faithfull version.
I’d love to hear the whole CD.
I’d love a copy.
ken_sears37@msn.com
I would so love one. karla.kampars@gmail.com
Absolutely fantastic. I’m really looking forward to the whole collection. Shel was a lyrical great.
ryinyang12003@yahoo.com
Sounds awesome.
Oh yeah! Me wanna win too! hans_mestdach@yahoo.com
Love the Lucinda track, can’t wait to hear the whole album.
austinp1009@aol.com
Can’t wait for the album. When did this idea come up. Great artists/songs.
nice – good old Lucinda Williams – ordered this straight away
el_gary@hotmail.com
love all the work you do. thanks!!
Cool tune. Would love to hear the entire CD.
I can’t wait for this album to be officially released. Shel’s work rocked my elementary school library!
mreigner at gmail dot com
Thanks – love to hear Lucinda Williams’ take on anything
kjsdownloads@verizon.net
A Renaissance CD!
love the new site! congrats!
Fantastic.
I LOVE IT LOVE IT
Awesome tunes
Sing it Lu. Can’t wait for the new prose.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
My all time favorite Song writer and Singer!!!
Such depth……………
Thank you, Thank you LUCINDA!!!!
Love it!!!