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Speaking of Shel Silverstien
Posted: 16 Mar 2003 4:26 pm
by Eric West
I mentioned a novelty tune of his recently and went on to find that he wrote a LOT of songs that major artists recorded.
The ones I recognized are:
Boa Constrictor J Cash
Boy Named Sue "
Cover of the Rolling Stone,. Dr Hook
Drinking and Druggin. ( Bobby Bare?)
Gotta get rid of this band Bobby Bare
Pour me another Tequila Shiela B Bare
Quaaludes again. Hank Jr
Queen of the Silver Dollar. ( Dave and Sugar?)
Some of the other ones like "Somebody ate the baby" didn't ever really make it that big. Go figure.
Here's the site.
http://www.banned-width.com/shel/misc/lyrics.html
B 1930 D 1999
They just don't make 'em like that any more.
EJL
Posted: 16 Mar 2003 9:30 pm
by Dave Long
I think "Queen Of The Silver Dollor" was on Emmylou Harris' first album, its great. He also wrote children's stories & poems..I think he also drew cartoons..very talented guy
Posted: 17 Mar 2003 1:03 am
by nick allen
As well as his humorous songs, he also wrote some very moving songs, e.g. "A Couple More Years", "Whistlers And Jugglers" (both recorded by Waylon), a lot of songs on Bobby Bare albums, and the "Old Dogs" album(s) (Waylon, Bare, Reed, Tillis) which were a mix of very funny and very sad...
Nick
Posted: 17 Mar 2003 7:10 am
by Shaan Shirazi
He also co-wrote "You're Time's Coming" which Faron Young recorded. I think Kris Kirstofferson was the other writer on that one.
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The Pickin' Paniolo
Posted: 17 Mar 2003 10:07 am
by Michael Johnstone
Don't forget "Since my masochistic baby left me,I got nothin' to belt but my pants" I heard him sing it on the Johnny Carson show many years ago. How come nobody covered that one? -MJ-
Posted: 17 Mar 2003 1:58 pm
by Tom Olson
Probably 'cause the title's too long
Posted: 17 Mar 2003 4:24 pm
by Robbie Bossert
Let's not forget "Freaker's Ball". A true classic.
Robbie Bossert
P.S.- Shel wrote some wonderful children's books as well. Most notably "The Giving Tree". The kids and I love that one.
Posted: 17 Mar 2003 5:38 pm
by Stephen Gambrell
And a terrific epic poem in "Playboy", called "the Devil and Billy Markham."
Posted: 17 Mar 2003 7:36 pm
by Craig Stock
My kids love the giving tree, every time I read it I get a tear in my eye.
I always remember Shel when they used to publish his stuff in Playboy in the late seventies.
He was a talented guy
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Regards, Craig
Posted: 18 Mar 2003 12:11 pm
by Jerry Hayes
I think the best version (and probably the first) of "Queen of the Silver Dollar" was by Buck Owen's ex-bassman, the great Doyle Holly. I heard that version before any of the others. Shel was also a regular contributor to Playboy Magazine for many years although I never would read such trash, I just looked at the pictures.
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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.
Posted: 18 Mar 2003 4:33 pm
by Roger Miller
One of the best from Shel was Bathroom tissue paper letter. Bobby Bare made that and Appaloosa Rider two of my very favorites.
Posted: 26 Mar 2003 4:34 pm
by Gary Harris
When "Boy Named Sue" was recorded by J. Cash, Don Helms was given a new Caddy by Shel Silverstien. Don was responsible for Cash recording this song but I've forgotten the business conection. The whole story was in the paper at the time.
Posted: 28 Mar 2003 7:43 am
by Eddie Lange
I believe the entire Everybody Loves a Nut album that John had was written by Shel. My personal favorite, "Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the greatest singing star of all.......Waylon"
Posted: 28 Mar 2003 8:41 am
by Gene Jones
I remember Shel Silverstein more as a cartoonist than a songwriter. His cartoons in the Army Times during the Korean War were equalled only by Art Buchwald in WWII.
However, his humor was somewhat bizarre. An example: ....
a private with a minature human head growing out of his neck was being examined by an Army Doctor and the caption was:..."At first I thought it was a wart"!
www.genejones.com