Customer Reviews

Stranger Than Fiction

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I really, really love this record. I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to listen to Leonard Maltin singing "Act Naturally". Or Molly Ivins trilling away on "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels". Amy Tan kicks butt when she snarls out "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'". But more than anything else, I love Robert Reich singing "Chain Gang". How often do you get to hear a pop song with the line "My woman, whom I love so well"? I gave a copy to my bookworm parents - you know, the people it's impossible to find presents for - they loved it. Anyone who likes reading and authors will enjoy this record. My only regret is that the producers started too late. If only I could have a record of Ernest Hemingway doing "The Battle of the Green Berets". Or maybe Herman Melville singing "Splish Splash"

Stranger Than Fiction is writer humor, no doubt. And I love it. From Dave Barry's Buffett-esque "Proofreading Woman" to Amy Tan's take on the Nancy Sinatra classic, "These Boots are Made for Walking," this pair of CDs is pure fun. Yes, some of the authors-turned-singers shouldn't have turned, but others are quite talented. Besides, who else but Norman Mailer could write and sing "Alimony Blues," after all? Even the liner notes (penned in part by Warren Zevon, who also contributes musically) are hysterical. And you'll never look at Amy Tan the same way after you see the outfit she wears while performing "Boots." It's obvious these authors had a great time making these CDs, and I had a great time listening to them. But hey, Wrockers -- no "Paperback Writer"? No "I Could Write A Book"? I guess you'll have to make a sequel ...

It's a great, fun album. It's evident all these artists enjoy life to the fullest. My favorite moments are the three songs on which Warren Zevon plays/sings, his self-penned liner notes, and his spectacular Ike Turner-esque harmony on Proud Mary. Oye.

This CD features writers singing classic rock and roll, country, R&B, blues and pop songs; along with a few original songs. The writers are people like Stephen King, Amy Tan, Norman Mailer, Dave Berry and Maya Angelou. Most of them are pretty bad singers, although a few of them can sing a little. At least they managed to get professional musicians to back them up, so it doesn't sound completely awful. Almost, but not completely. But it was done for charity, so I won't pick on them too much.

The music is not the greatest, but it's good. The singing is not the greatest, but it too is good. But that's not what this album is about. It's about writers having fun and about fans getting in on it.

The selections are a GAS. Norman Mailer singing about "Alimony Blues"! Esteemed National poet, Maya Angelou sings "Right, Said Fred" Oscar Hijuelos laments "I Want to Eat". My favorites: Amy Tan singing "These Boots" and Stephen King doing a more than passable "Bo Diddley".

This is all in good fun and though no matter how much the group decides to practice, practice, practice, they'll never get to Carnegie Hall but that just doesn't matter....bg