The first poem I memorized for school as a second-grader was Shel Silverstein’s “Captain Hook.” Over the years, I repeatedly referred to his poems from the two more famous books The Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends. Timeless. Funny. There’s another side of Shel Silverstein that few recognize — his country songs performed by the likes of Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash.
Listening to The Best of Shel Silverstein provided a pleasant trip down memory lane for Paul (hubby) and me. It has a nice spread of his poems and songs, covered by a variety of artists from Johnny Cash performing Boy Named Sue at San Quentin to Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show’s funky interpretation of Cover of the Rolling Stone, a song Paul shamefully admits he had forgotten but sang right along the instant he heard it.
A word of caution to the uninitiated, this CD contains more than his wonderful children’s poems and songs. It includes several of his adult works including Freakin’ At The Freakers’ Ball, which contain themes and language not appropriate for younger listeners. Fans of Shel Silverstein’s aforementioned books won’t get what they expect to get with this CD though many poems from them appear on the track list.
My only complaint is from a technical standpoint in that the recording levels vary greatly from spoken word to the songs. To be able to understand Silverstein as he recites his poems with his whispery voice and elongated “s’es,” I had to considerably turn up the volume … only to be blasted out of my chair when then next selection was a song and I had to turn the volume way back down.
Parents might want to listen to the CD first and then pick out the safe ones for children. However, it’s possible that kids won’t “get” the adult references, but a few bad words pop up. Other than the technical difficulties and the unexpected “grown up” songs, this is CD is a joy and wonderful addition to my album… er… CD collection.
Every now and then I find myself thinking, “Lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy… Jane. She wants a drink of water, so she waits and wait and waits… for it to rain.”
That and, “Ickle Me, Pickle Me and Tickle Me, too, went for a ride in a flying shoe…”
Title: The Best of Shel Silverstein
Label: Sony
ISBN: B0009YNSKQ
Date: August 2005
Format: CD