Shel Silverstein, as a writer, poet, and songwriter has influenced generations upon generations of kids (and kids at heart) with his brilliant, witty, and touching turns of
phrase. It is Silverstein's oft-overlooked catalog of classic songs that is the focus of this new all-star
tribute. As a songwriter, Silverstein penned indelible songs for artists such as Johnny Cash, Dr. Hook, Loretta Lynn, Bobby Bare, and countless others. On this collection, lovingly produced by Bobby Bare Sr. and Bobby Bare Jr., two distinct generations of artists inspired by Silverstein have lined up to pay tribute. From Kris Kristofferson, Ray Price, and John Prine to Andrew Bird,
My Morning Jacket, and Dr. Dog, Twistable, Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein is an eclectic, endearing valentine to this giant of American song.

Producing, arranging and performing this album is for McKay the natural outcome of years of enraptured listening to Ms. Day's music. "She was - and still is - ahead of her time". Nellie handpicked these songs from over 600 recordings. McKay has a very special connection to this cultural icon - the # 1 female box office star of all time and one of the most prolific recording artists in history - Nellie received the Doris Day Music Award in 2005 and is one of the few people in the last 30 years to be granted an interview with Ms. Day. Nellie's Verve debut is a sophisticated but accessible recording with spare and tasteful arrangements that clearly put the focus on the songs and McKay's exquisite vocal stylings. McKay's fresh take on this music is smartly delivered with a curtsy to Doris, a nod to convention, and a unique twist all her own. An actress (Theater World Award-winner in Three Penny Opera on Broadway), writer and activist (sharing Ms. Day's passion for the animal welfare movement) Nellie is a welcome addition to the rich legacy of great women artists on Verve.

Mob Hits: Music From And A Tribute To The Great Mob Movies is the ultimate collection of songs from all of the greatest mob movies: The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino, Donnie Brasco, etc. The Mob Hits collection has more songs from the great mob movies that even the original motion picture soundtracks! If your answer to Who shot JFK? is I dunno nothing, I was cleaning my glasses, then this compilation CD is for you!

Butcher Holler is named for the little Kentucky town where Loretta Lynn was raised. In this tribute to the country star we pay homage to her humble roots and straightforward, hard-hitting performance style. All of the songs in this collection were written by Lynn herself and are a testament not only to her strength as a songwriter but to her personal strength as well. In the 1960s and 70s, Loretta Lynn dared to write songs about topics that were widely considered off-limits, especially for women. The fact that her words still hit a nerve today is proof of their timelessness. And so, a toast: to the woman with more banned songs than anyone can count; to that voice that reaches the very grain of the theater walls around her; to our national treasure. Gratitude is not enough, so I sing these songs for any who will listen.- Eilen Jewell

Jessie Nelson's poignant tale of a mentally challenged man named Sam (Sean Penn) who recruits a lawyer to help him regain custody of his young daughter leans heavily on the lead character's obsession with Beatles songs, and his innocent trust in their wisdom and emotional truth. It's an artistic gambit that shrewdly lends itself to this mostly rewarding collection of Beatles covers by a wide range of contemporary artists, many of whom no doubt leapt at the chance to record a treasured song by their own musical heroes. The renditions are by and large faithful, and inform the elemental genius of the originals by the strength and variety of the artist's voices alone. The husband-wife team of Aimee Mann and Michael Penn (Sean's brother) can't help but find resonance in "Two of Us," just as Nick Cave's latter-day, heart-on-his-sleeve crooner infatuation makes "Let It Be" all his own. It's the reinterpretations that are riskier. While Paul Westerberg's stripped-down, nasal reading of "Nowhere Man" perceptively underscores Lennon's inherent Dylan fetish and Howie Day turns "Help!" from anxious plea to desperate dirge, Grandaddy smugly alt-rocks the energy right out of "Revolution." The Beatles hardly need anyone to burnish their reputation, but this album goes a long way toward underscoring their most undersung legacy as rock's most transcendent melting pot. -Jerry McCulley

The Bird and The Bee have been known to recreate 80s pop hits into unique and contemporary gems for the new millennium. With Interpreting the Masters Volume I, Greg Kurstin and Inara George go one step further and pay homage to one of the greatest duo's of that time Darryl Hall and John Oates. Classic material is reinvented through Kurstin's sleek production and George's sweet lyrical delivery