Lyr/Chords Add: Old songbooks

Subject: information
From: kendall
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 10:25 PM

After reading the thread on Believe me if all those endearing..etc. it occured to me that someone might be interested to know about some old song books I have. One is titled HEART SONGS copyright 1909, and the other is titled SONGS THAT NEVER DIE, 1894.

I'd be glad to share the contents.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: Old song books
From: Dale Rose
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 10:50 PM

Heartsongs (Joe Mitchell Chapple, Boston, 1909 and reprinted in 1938)has been reprinted with a new introduction by Bill McNeil, folklorist at the Ozark Folk Center, published for Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, Maryland, 1997. (ISBN 0-8063-4737-6) The book was compiled by the National Magazine from the suggestions of some 20-25 thousand people. To quote from the title page: Dear to the American People And by them Contributed in the Search for Treasured Songs

I think it is still available from B&N, Amazon, etc. and if you are ever in the neighborhood ~~ at the OFC as well! Joe recently picked up an earlier used copy as well, I think there are several available from the book sources.

The University of Tennessee has a searchable song index Heart Songs title listing is here and the main gate to the index is here.

Subject: Old song books
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 11:00 PM

Hi, Kendall - a number of us are familiar with Heart Songs, which was put out by National Magazine in 1909. Some small finm recently reprinted the book in paperback, and it's available for $40. Click Here for a table of contents. If you like sentimental old songs from the 19th century, you shouldn't be without this book - it's readily available at places like http://www.bookfinder.com/ as a used hardcover for under $15, so it's silly to order the paperback like I did.
I recently found out that National Magazine published a two-volume set called Heart Throbs, which is a collection of sentimental poems and stories. I got volume one, and now I'm hunting for the second.

I haven't seen Songs That Never die, Kendall, and you got me interested. What can you tell us about it. I see a few copies at Bookfinder, but they're a bit expensive.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: Old song books
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 11:03 PM

darn. Dale and I must think alike....
...and at the same time.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: Old song books
From: Dale Rose
Date: 29 Nov 99 - 11:08 PM

Heh, just what I was thinking. I suppose our posts compliment each other a bit, as we did not give EXACTLY the same info. I took time to check out Songs That Never Die as well, with prices ranging from $48 and up for 615 pages.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: Old song books
From: kendall
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 12:55 PM

these two books were given to me by a friend who rescued them from a building wrecker. They were in the rubble of an old house that was being torn down. They are both hard cover, and quite old. In fact, Songs that never die, is falling apart. I know the feeling lol. the titles range from A WET SHEET AND A FLOWING SEA to YE BANKS AND BRAES O' BONNIE DOON. There are far too many to list all of them.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: Old song books
From: raredance
Date: 30 Nov 99 - 11:43 PM

In keeping with the mood of this thread, permit me to add one of my titles, and a long explanatory title it is! Based on the title, these songs not only don't die, they don't age.

"SONGS THAT NEVER GROW OLD - A complete collection of all those standard songs which are known and loved by English-speaking people the world over - INCLUDING - Home Songs, Patriotic Songs, Love Songs, Sacred Songs, College Songs, Operatic Songs - As well as the national and home songs of all the principal nations and peoples - Selected with the greatest care by the most competent authorities."

Published by Syndicate Publishing Company, 1909 and 1913

The publishers were damn proud of their book and not afraid to extol its virtues. I quote some passages from the Forward:

"Songs That Never Grow Old is exactly described by its title, being a collection of the old-time songs that havelong been tried and forever loved, in contrast with the trashy short-lived ragtime songs of the present day. The songs in this book are for all time.
This collection is the most complete ever offered in one volume, comprising all the old favorites - the songs for mother, father, sister and brother. No other collection approaches it in careful selection or in completeness of range. It is, in fact, seven books in one...
In addition to the songs themselves, the music for which has been carefully arranged to meet the needs of the average home singer, there is included in the book a gallery of the most renowned vocal artists, comprising 69 portraits in all, such as has never before been found in a collection of this sort. This feature alone is of untold value, and is for the first time included in a folio of this character, usually being printed in the high priced De Luxe editions only.
The engraving of the plates is particularly clear, the words are printed in excellent type, and the binding is such that it allows the book to remain open flat on the piano, a much desired feature, but which so seldom appears in other publications."

Sorry that was so long, but I found it to be extremely entertaining. It makes me wonder why I have any other books at all.

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: Old song books
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 01:11 AM

So, Rich, seriously, is it any good? (grin)

Actually, I do mean that seriously. Heart Songs is a good collection, indeed, and one many of us would really enjoy. What about Songs That Never Grow Old? Is it a collection of good stuff we're not likely to find elsewhere, or is it just a pompous collection of standards I probably have in a dozen other books?
-Joe Offer-