In answer to dwitty's original posting, I think that RUS is an excellent starting point for a group of friends who enjoy singing together, but don't collevtively know very many songs. I think the $35 for the companion tapes are probably a pretty good investment. My daughter and son (ages 18 and 14 respectively)found RUS to be a terrific starting point in learning songs. At times, many people(including myself) have blamed the book for people using it badly. The RUS "fundamentalist" mentality has been around since long before RUS was ever published. Many times have I been upbraided with "That ain't how Leadbelly sang it" or"That ain't the way Woody sings it on the record I own". And for those of us who have ever had the misfortune of stumbling upon a session dominated by Bluegrass purists....Oh brother!! More accusations of heresy than during the Spanish Inquisition. My advice to dwitty,use the book, enjoy singing together, and then move on to other resources.