Most of these are really good songs -- and I'd hate to see them not done, even though I agree, I get sick of them.

I love to hear a new spin on an old gem -- One that comes to mind is Joel Mabus' handling of "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down". He almost makes it a new song. If more folk were reinterpreting like Mabus and Tim O'Brien (the absolute MASTER of reinterpretation), instead of regurgitatin' 'em, maybe I wouldn't tire of the good's so fast.

I love the old gems for one particular function -- they still work better than anything to bring strangers together. I have the joy of playing with strangers quite often as I bring my mando and guitar on the road with me (to art fairs). We can stumble 'round for tens of minutes trying to think of something to play together, then suddenly...

..."hey, you know "I Shall Be Released"?" or "Last Thing On My Mind"? or "Dark Hollow" or, or, or...

...suddenly half a dozen strangers are making music together like they've played together all their lives. A wonderful feeling.

Thank heaven for the standards!