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!
Great cover by Lucinda Williams. Cover Lay Down a favorite blog of mine has another mp3 off this album, Queen of the Silver Dollar performed by Sarah Jarosz and Black Prairie.
