Pete Seeger wants you to save SingOut!

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger wants you to save SingOut
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 04:47 PM

Frankly, I think the magazine is still vital - perhaps more than ever.

For full disclosure, I do write for Sing Out!, and I have an article coming up on Loudon Wainwright and the Charlie Poole project.

I certainly agree that the magazine under Irwin Silber was a much needed source of information in the days before the internet, cable TV, and other forms of information.

Magazines need to change with the times, even if the old readers remains steadfast in the past. Back in what many of you are considering the "hay day", topical songs were timely when they appeared in the pages of Sing Out!    Today, by the time the magazine is published, the song has circulated on the internet, in forums like this, or have been played on one of the dozens of folk radio shows - which are more plentiful today than they were back in the 1960's.

Sing Out! needed to change, and those changes did not occur, the magazine would never have made their 50th anniversary yet alone be around for the upcoming 60th.   The magazine has taken a more worldly view instead of just folkusing (ouch!) on the music that surfaced in the U.S. during the folk revival.   Irwin Silber did an incredible job, but his viewpoint was the driving force in those days. I guess many of you agree with him, but I find that the magazine is more open to fresh ideas.

Less controversy? Perhaps, but look at what a divided community we became and how fractured the audience grew after the blip on the radar that was the folk revival.    Frankly, I think it is because of the guidance of people that followed Silber - notably Happy Traum, Bob Norman and of course Mark Moss - that the magazine is reaching a new audience.

Sing Out! is also more than a magazine. Their book publishing, radio show (hosted by Matt Watroba and heard on many stations and XM radio), plus their resource center provides a valuable commodity for this community. They have other plans for the future, and I would hope they receive the support they need.

It is a tough road. Everyone is certainly entitled to an opinion, and I respect that. I'm sure all of you understand that there are many people who have an opposite opinion of yours and want to see this magazine survive and we will do whatever we can to help support it. I believe Sing Out! is a vital and important resource that is playing a roll in the the perpetuation of ALL folk musics.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger wants you to save SingOut
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 04:20 PM

As one of the many who came to folk and then trad in the 60's, I remember seeing my first issue of SingOut! and being amazed such a wonderful thing existed. I soon met a guy who had lots of old copies and that was really great! But like others have already posted, I watched it deteriorate as it grew.......not all that uncommon sadly enough. I have only leafed through a few issues over the past couple of years and have no interest in subscribing or giving two bits whether or not it survives.

The world has changed.........some things are left by the wayside...........so be it.......


Spaw

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger wants you to save SingOut
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 04:08 PM

When it was brand new, it was a thin, cheap-to-print, but interesting & vital magazine. Now that it is fat & colorful, it is watered down as to content. I sometimes read it at friends who subscribe, but I seldom see an issue I would spend the money on.
Perhaps, like many print magazines, people are finding the content they want elsewhere. It seems to me that Mudcat is in some ways a direct competitor, without attempting to be.

I have no idea how it will turn out... I own 50-60 older issues from when it was a monthly publication, and I will treasure those, no matter what happens. (I have a few from the first 3-4 years)

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger wants you to save SingOut
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 04:07 PM

Speaking of which, how is Irwin these days? He used to write a lot here and on Usenet - articulate, knowledgeable and to the point. The last I can trace of him on the web is from 2007. I hope he's not too ill to write.

If anybody knows, tell him he's missed.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger wants you to save SingOut
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 03:52 PM

I have to agree with Frank Hamilton.
What was once an essential magazine for me is now but a shadow of it's former self. In fact it's unrecognizable. Like a well known magazine here in the UK that used to have some interesting articles it has become more of a "World Music" (what an awful term that is)fanzine. I still have all my old copies back to the late 50's but gave up around ten years ago when I found I was wasting my money. Any article that seemed it might be worth reading usually turned out to be very light weight.

So sorry Pete but it doesn't appeal to me any longer.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger wants you to save SingOut
From: GUEST,E Man
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 03:31 PM

"Sing Out has been around for almost 60 years and it's been more than 40 years since Irwin Silber was the editor. The times they a-changed a long time ago."

Kind of like folk music itself. Not necessarily a good thing.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger wants you to save SingOut
From: C. Ham
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 03:15 PM

Frank,

Sing Out has been around for almost 60 years and it's been more than 40 years since Irwin Silber was the editor. The times they a-changed a long time ago.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger wants you to save SingOut
From: Stringsinger
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 01:36 PM

Sing Out! has problems. It is no longer the magazine that it was. I really liked it better under Irwin Silber. It was more controversial, more exciting because it stepped on some toes and more compact and argumentative (which isn't always a bad thing).

Sing Out! in my opinion has become more of a fan magazine with some important musicological articles. I'm not impressed with the songs they print. I don't see it as vital as it once was.

I realize that my opinion is in the minority but in this thread it may have been asked for.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger wants you to save SingOut
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 12:53 PM

My paypal donation done! Thanks Max.

Subject: Pete Seeger wants you to save SingOut
From: Max
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 12:02 PM

"Today, in these changing and challenging economic times, Sing Out! is struggling to survive. As we head toward our 60th anniversary next year, we need your support more than ever. I ask you to consider making a contribution to help Sing Out! get through this very difficult year AND to ensure another 60 years of sharing songs that we need to learn and sing." Read more here: http://bit.ly/SingOut