Subject: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect group songbook From: Joe Offer Date: 09 Sep 00 - 04:49 PM OK, so there's another thread going (click here), bashing Rise Up Singing again. As usual, everybody seems to put the blame on me for all the shortcomings of the book, just because I speak up for its good points. We all know that the Digital Tradition is the best songbook ever created, but it's a little impractical to use during a song circle. Can you imagine 25 people singing from laptops? So, OK, since Rise Up Singing is so awful, what songs would you suggest for the perfect GROUP songbook? Post your lists here - and preferably break them into categories. One Reminder: if you mention a song that's not in the Digital Tradition or the Forum, please post the lyrics. That's Official Mudcat Policy, Promulgation #001, issued by Dick Greenhaus himself on many occasions. And I'm late for the San Francisco Mudcat gathering, so I'm gonna hit the road. I want a good list ready for me by the time I get back. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Mbo Date: 09 Sep 00 - 06:42 PM Bonehead's Bank Holiday! |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: rabbitrunning Date: 09 Sep 00 - 10:31 PM Okay, that's tricky. I like thisversion of AIKEN DRUM for one. |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Tinker Date: 10 Sep 00 - 10:23 PM I've got to research the DT a bit better before I start, but this needs to be refreshed. Come on guys I know this group has opinions on songs worth singing. Tinker |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Midchuck Date: 10 Sep 00 - 11:08 PM I've done the Austin Lounge Lizards' Old Blevins a few times on HearMe, and had people request it yet again. I have performed it at gigs to the point of driving my partners crazy, and it is usually well received, primarily because it has the easiest chorus to learn of any song ever written, for adults at least. I've typed it in and tried to format it so it will read properly in HTML, but I have no idea how it'll come out. Here's what I've got: OLD BLEVINS (by the Austin Lounge Lizards, or some of them):
We had a little quarrel, she and I. |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Sorcha Date: 10 Sep 00 - 11:12 PM (can we put the melody line in for us poor souls who don't use chords? Pretty Please?) I like St. Brendan's Fair Isle and Whiskey in the Tay (Tea) but I don't have the words or melody to either of them. We need a couple of good tearjerkers like Hard Times and Lorena, too. |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Mbo Date: 10 Sep 00 - 11:23 PM Don't forget Mudcat's unofficial anthem:
Five Dollar Five |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: John in Brisbane Date: 11 Sep 00 - 12:15 AM Every session needs a farewell song. Here's one of my favourites.:
All the tunes in the world CHORUS: Lay down the jig and the reel
Regards, John
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: GUEST,rabbitrunning Date: 11 Sep 00 - 11:35 AM Hmmm. Still thinking about selections, but I've decided that the perfect Mudcat songbook would include more than one version if known, and leave space for "write the verses you know that we didn't include here..." |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: wysiwyg Date: 11 Sep 00 - 12:15 PM FIVE DOLLAR FINE. FINE. FINE. ~S~ |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: dick greenhaus Date: 11 Sep 00 - 01:03 PM I don't recommend singing from books. Or notes. Or computers. I would point out, though, that my newly-acquired (now out-of-production) Toshiba Libretto is physically a good bit smaller than RUS, weighs about seven ounces more and currently carries about sevet times as many songs. To make an almost-perfect songbook (for you, anyway---I might hate it) why not fire up the old printer and make your own. DigiTrad is a good source to start with; there are, of course, others. |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: The Shambles Date: 11 Sep 00 - 03:01 PM From the Mudcat Songbook Rise Up Screaming by Barry Finn |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: GUEST,Russ Date: 11 Sep 00 - 03:25 PM Actually I CAN easily imagine 25 people singing from laptops. I have a laptop I use as my electronic songbook and so do a number of my friends. We've never had 25 laptops going at once. Our personal best is about 6. Properly spaced, you could probably serve 25 people with 6 or 7 laptops. So what's wrong with 25 people singing from laptops? |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Joe Offer Date: 11 Sep 00 - 04:21 PM Hmmm. Well, this thread hasn't quite generated the response I was looking for. I was looking for suggestions for songs that work well in group situations, songs that nonsingers can easily join in singing. So far, I think I see two songs listed here that might work well for group singing. Unless somebody can give me a reasonable alternative that actually works with nonsingers, I think I'll stick with Rise Up Singing. Yes, I've led singing all my life without using a songbook. In situations like that, I use very simple songs that people can learn instantly, very familiar songs that a good number of people know, or songs with a chorus that is easy to learn. That all works quite well when I'm in charge, but what we're trying to have is a more democratic situation, where everybody has a chance to contribute. One song that's just about perfect for this sort of situation is "Long Long Ago." People can join in singing the repeated "long, long ago" immediately, and they can learn the rest of the song fairly quickly, without relying on a book. This is what I'm looking for - to get people singing right away and to encourage them to take the lead early on, and then to gradually wean them from books and song sheets. You haven't given me satisfactory answers yet. -Joe Offer |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Peter T. Date: 11 Sep 00 - 06:10 PM Pasted into my RUS (over the Mens Section, the Women's section, and at random over other dreary bits) are some of the following well known songs -- "Pennies from Heaven" "He'll Have To Go" "Tennessee Waltz" I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby" "Carrickfergus" "Bonny Portmore" "If I Were A Carpenter" "Reason To Believe" "Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair" "Beautiful Dreamer" "Daniel" "Your Song" "Mr Tambourine Man" "Just Like A Woman". and lots of others. yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Joe Offer Date: 11 Sep 00 - 06:37 PM Now, that's more like it. Give us more, Peter! -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Mbo Date: 11 Sep 00 - 07:34 PM We Beesech Thee Someday In Time Sweet Cherokee Young Country The Blues Man When The People Speak Buffalo Jump Don't Walk Away (I've had dreams about this one) |
Subject: ADD: The Goldfish From: dick greenhaus Date: 11 Sep 00 - 08:20 PM Joe, The classic get-'em-to-sing-when-they-don't know-the-words song is The Goldfish: (to the popular version of Auld Lang Syne) THE GOLDFISH The goldfish, in his little bowl Swims round and round and round, And round and round and round and round And round and round and round. And round and round and round and round And round and round and round And round and round and round and round And round and round and round. And when his mating time comes due He does not leap nor bound, He just swims...etc And when the crack of doom is heard You know where he'll be found, Just swimming round etc. Or you could use just about any sea chanty, or any union song or most simple gospels. |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Ely Date: 11 Sep 00 - 09:36 PM God forgive me for this, in light of the great contributions of Pete Seeger, et. al. to folk music, but it would NOT contain that mind-bogglingly simplistic song abut "last night I had the strangest dream". "Don't Think Twice", "Leaving on a Jet Plane", "Cocaine Blues", "Dehlia", "Darcy Farrow", the original version of "Ginny's Gone to Ohio", "1913 Massacre", "Forth Worth Blues", "Lost Highway", "Orphan Annie", "Billy Gray". I can think of lots of songs I'd include--_Rise Up Singing_ is nice but it's missing a lot of classics and it needs a bigger variety. |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Mbo Date: 11 Sep 00 - 09:39 PM The King of Dixie! |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: campfire Date: 11 Sep 00 - 09:59 PM Hi, Joe
When we're doing a 'fire with a bunch of non-singers present, we usually start with stuff "everybody" at least remembers little bits of, like
Clementine
If they "work", we'll do some other "camp" type songs, like
Pink Pajamas that are easy to learn and to make up verses for once you get the hang of it. If they don't work, we pretty much let the non-singers listen, and the "singers" present do whatever comes to mind. Usually, no matter what, there's a few people who won't join in. If I understand correctly, you're looking for songs for repeated sessions, and "non-singers" who attend frequently may learn more new (to them) songs. We are doing a "one time" thing for many of the campers. We have a new group every week. Some campers stay two weeks, and many were there the previous year(s), but we never know what's going to happen. We tried printing up songsheets, but its DARK out there, and they didn't help much. We ALWAYS end with Amazing Grace. campfire
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: campfire Date: 11 Sep 00 - 10:21 PM Ooops, you asked for lyrics if they weren't in the DT. If this is, I haven't ever found it..
PINK PAJAMAS
I wear my pink pajamas in the summer when its hot campfire
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Mbo Date: 12 Sep 00 - 12:41 AM DEFINATELY "The Town I Loved So Well." |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Ebbie Date: 12 Sep 00 - 01:49 AM Sorcha, St. Brendan's is in the DT under Saint Brendan's Voyage. One of my favorite group songs! The first time I heard it was the first time I heard Mick Moloney- I was utterly charmed. Ebbie |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Peter T. Date: 12 Sep 00 - 09:59 AM Umm, let's see -- "Unchained Melody" "As Tears Go By" "As Time Goes By" "Lady Came From Baltimore" "Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" "American Tune", "Kathy's Song", "At The Zoo" (Paul Simon) "This Boy", "I'll Follow the Sun", "Fixing a Hole" (and all kinds of other Beatle songs -- RUS only has We Can Work It Out, Yesterday, and Yellow Sub I think). "Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie" "El Paso" "Ghost Riders in the Sky" "Just out of Reach" "Blue Bayou" "Boulder to Birmingham" "Prayer in Open D" "Tower of Song" "Bird on the Wire" "Great Big Gobs of..." "Eddie Tushacatchacamatoesandearsandtoesanokasammakammawatchee Borwn" THE OTHER UNICORN SONG! yours, Peter T.
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Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Mbo Date: 12 Sep 00 - 10:42 AM Peter, RUS also has Blackbird, With A Little Help From My Friends, Taxman, Nowhere Man, Here Comes The Sun, and In My Life as well. |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Peter T. Date: 12 Sep 00 - 12:32 PM By golly, MBo, you are right. If I hadn't pasted Beatle songs over all the index pages, I wouldn't have made a fool ("Day after day...") of myself, irony of ironies. yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: katlaughing Date: 27 Dec 08 - 01:06 PM Great lists, PeterT! |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Stringsinger Date: 27 Dec 08 - 09:17 PM Make the print large. So you can see it when you put the book on the floor. Print songs that have lots of choruses. There are some solo songs that sound bad when everyone sings them (mostly off-key). Someone should do a folk song book with basic vocal harmonies. Maybe just two or three parts, not a glee-club approach. Some could have just descants or counter-lines. Put the songs in a contextual or categorical order with a few basic lines of accompanying information on the songs, meanings, etc. I think there are songs that rely on accompaniment patterns and don't hold up as tunes without them. There are certainly songs that rely on "production value" and sound sparse without it. Frank |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Gurney Date: 28 Dec 08 - 01:13 AM You don't ask much, do you, Joe! I should think that you would need several books, American/Canadian, Irish/Irish American, Scottish/English, Australian/New Zealand... The Beatles songs would make up a book on their own! Try singing them at a festival and see what I mean. Everyone joins in! |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: Ref Date: 28 Dec 08 - 08:27 PM To be a perfect Mudcat songbook, it would need to be printed on flash paper in disappearing ink in order to satisfy the "No Songbooks" crowd who can't get it through their very thick heads that their "performance" standards don't apply to group sings. Sorry, Joe. I'm still riled from the other thread. I really like "Early" by Greg Brown, Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Dreamland", Pat Humphries' "Cold Cup Of Water" and "Swimming To The Other Side", David Dobson's "Farthest Field", and Cindy Kallet's "Tide And The River Rising." Some already mentioned as well! |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 28 Dec 08 - 10:59 PM Large print editions are available |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: GUEST Date: 28 Dec 08 - 11:15 PM Ron, I was looking at that in our local Folk Shop the other day, and it's "larger" print, which is sadly not really "large" print. It is larger, though. ~ Becky in Tucson |
Subject: RE: Mudcat Up Singing - a perfect songbook From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 28 Dec 08 - 11:41 PM True - it is 120% of the original size |
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