Shel Silverstein book and album reissues on the way :: Music News :: Articles

In honor of National Poetry Month, HarperCollins Children’s Books and Water Records are re-issuing some of Shel Silverstein’s lesser-known works. Although famous for his classic children’s books, Silverstein, who died in 1999, was also a composer and songwriter.

Included in the re-issue are five different works spanning Silverstein’s various mediums. Don’t Bump the Glump! And Other Fantasies is Silverstein’s debut poetry collection, first published in 1964. Silverstein contributed to Playboy throughout his career, and Playboy’s Silverstein Around the World gathers together 23 illustrated essays originally published in Playboy documenting Silverstein’s journeys abroad and in 1960’s America.

Three of Silverstein’s musical contributions are being re-issued, all available for the first time on CD. Silverstein’s first LP, Hairy Jazz, was originally released in 1959 and features him performing standard and classic jazz and ragtime songs accompanied by The Red Onions Jazz Band. The follow-up to Hairy Jazz, Inside Folk Songs, features all original material including “25 Minutes To Go,” which was later made famous by Johnny Cash. Finally, Silverstein’s sixth album, Boy Named Sue, is being re-issued which features the title track, which was eventually another massive Cash hit.

Silverstein’s comic illustrations are also currently being shown in Dave Eggers’ exhibition Lots Of Things Like This at apexart in New York City.

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