Some suggestions for RUSser:

Me and Bobby McGee (how did they miss this one?) California Dreamin' (yeah, it'll stink with a big group, but people already insist on singing it) Surfin' USA Fun, Fun, Fun Love Potion Number Nine

Dear Matilda, how I love's ya.... Britain's Motorway Three Score and Ten The Parting Song When First We Met A Sailor's Farewell Windmills The Cliffs of Dooneen

We'll Pass 'em (our songs) On (by Sally Rogers) Wash My Blues Away (Guthrie)

NOT: the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald UGGHHH!

Hey, Yellow Door, I think illustrations are a good idea. I even know a woman who coloured hers in. I find them, if nothing else, a convenient place to put stickers listing my alternate chords, words, whatever.

My only suggestions for format are: -keep the spiral binding and -offer a large print edition -a web site with midi melodies for all the tunes -- perhaps with a reasonable subscription charge? -a site for sending in corrections (no, not version problems, yes, out and out errors) and checking their status (ie, has someone else already noticed this).

In general, I think the WORST bad thing about RUS is that it encourages the singing of songs that NOBODY knows very well. How often have you seen this happen: It's Joe's turn and he can't sing or play, but he'd appreciate it if someone would try leading "Send In the Clowns" on page xxx of RUS. Sally volunteers. ARGHH!!!

Songbooks are great for practice, they're OK for cheat sheets, but please don't think you can play a song from RUS when you haven't even heard that song in fifteen years. There ought to be a law against it!