Twistable, Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein

In addition to penning seminal children’s books like The Giving Tree and A Light In the Attic, the late, great Shel Silverstein also wrote songs. His tunes were covered by the likes of Johnny Cash and Bobby Bare, but Silverstein’s own scratchy voice was never widely palatable and some of his compositions weren’t appropriate for younger fans. Twistable, Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein assembles a great roster of musicians paying tribute to the tunes of the bald and bearded bard who passed away in 1999. My Morning Jacket gives “Lullabys, Legends & Lies” a ‘70s Dylan vibe while Andrew Bird turns the title-track into a jaunty little ditty that would sit comfortably nestled in the soundtrack to a Wes Anderson film. “This Guitar Is for Sale” sounds tailored for John Prine, who gives the tune a dusty Texas feel, and Kris Kristofferson’s take on “The Winner” sounds like an outtake from 1971’s The Silver Tongued Devil and I for good reason — Silverstein co-wrote “The Taker” with Kristofferson back then. And nobody quite captures Silverstein’s fantastical whimsy like Dr. Dog, who breathes new life into “The Unicorn.”