MMJ, Andrew Bird and others team up for Shel Silverstein tribute

If you’re like us, the name Shel Silverstein stirs up memories of carefree days when your biggest worry was whether your mom knew you were out getting cherry slushies when you told her you were next door doing homework at your neighbor’s house. Yah, Shel is old school, for sure.

While many younger people know him for his quirky poetry, Silverstein was also quite the songwriter. From “A Boy Named Sue” (covered by Johnny Cash) to the “Cover of the Rolling Stone” (Dr. Hook), Silverstein has had a legendary impact on music—despite being largely behind-the-scenes.

Now, with top notch musicians such as My Morning Jacket, Dr. Dog, Andrew Bird and Kris Kristofferson onboard, an album of classic Silverstein tunes, Twistable,Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein, has hit shelves. Most of the tunes stay true to their original form, however Bird’s adaptation of the title poem is perhaps the most intriguing cut on the disc.

We suggest you check it out, but for the time being, here’s the full track listing to start stirring up those glorious memories of the days when Skip-Its and Lite-Brites were king.

1. Lullabys, Legends and Lies- My Morning Jacket

2. The Twistable, Turnable Man Returns- Andrew Bird

3. This Guitar Is For Sale- John Prine

4. The Unicorn- Dr. Dog

5. The Winner- Kris Kristofferson

6. Queen of the Silver Dollar- Sarah Jarosz with Black Prairie

7. Daddy What If- Bobby Bare Jr. with Isabella Bare

8. The Cover of the Rolling Stone- Black Francis with Joey Santiago

9. Syliva’s Mother- The Boxmasters

10. Me and Jimmie Rodgers- Ray Price

11. A Boy Named Sue- Todd Snider

12. The Ballad of Lucy Jordan- Lucinda Williams

13. The Living Legend- Bobby Bare

14. The Giving Tree- Nancy Griffith

15. 26 Second Song- My Morning Jacket