Need in-print songbook suggestions

Subject: Need in-print songbook suggestions
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 02:51 PM

My friend Mrs. Lev called yesterday. She's looking for a nice songbook to give some folkie friends when she goes to visit. I suggested the University of Nebraska Press repint of Hard Hitting Songs for Hard-Hit People, but she checked it out and ount it cost almost fifty dollars, too steep for her budget. I also suggested Jerry Silverman's two-volume Folk Song Encyclopedia, but that's twenty bucks a volume and again too pricey. the other Silverman books are reasonably-priced, but not very generous in the amount of information they give. I think I'll also suggest the Folksinger's Wordbook (Silber & Silber). It may be a bit hard to find, but I think it's available. It's $34.95.
OK, so what would the rest of you suggest? I'm looking for something that has good material for fairly sophistocated folkies, not beginners. Also, I guess the price should be under thirty bucks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Need in-print songbook suggestions
From:
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 06:37 PM

Songs From the Mira
Songs & Ballads from NS - Helen Creighton - Dover

Subject: RE: Need in-print songbook suggestions
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 07:21 PM

From your suggestions, I assume that American Folk is an acceptable category.

About the only thing I've got in my 'acquisitions list' that's reasonably recent (should be still in print), pretty good, and under $30 is:

Logsdon's The Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing (and other songs cowboys sang) from University of Illinois Press, $15.95 about 4-5 years ago. I got my copy from Barnes & Noble, to my special order. It's been out of print, but reprinted frequently so there's a good chance of finding it.

If they don't already have it, the Warner Traditional American Folk Songs, Syracuse University Press, is a treasure of "lore" - and a valuable counter to the Lomax collections. It was in print recently, and should run about $30, if still available.

If they're into 'merican folk, you might be able to still find:
War Songs & Poems of the Confederacy by Wharton,        Castle Books, that I picked up from Barnes fairly recently - but I got it off the "sale rack" for $10, so they may have been dumping remaining copies. Some interesting lyrics, no music, some description of authors/sources.

Almost anyone "needs" one or more of the 'basic books,' (Warner/Lomax et.al.) but you'd need to know what they've got already. Most of my other recent "bargains" have been chance finds in used book/flea market excursions, and the ones I've recently bought "on purpose" get into the $50+ ranges.

I believe the Silber & Silber wordbook has been on the shelf at my local Barnes and/or Borders within the last few months, although I haven't noticed it in my last couple of trips.

John

Subject: RE: Need in-print songbook suggestions
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Nov 02 - 11:16 PM

Joe, if you go to www.bookfinder.com and just put in folk songs for the title, there are all kinds that come up and most start under $30, sometimes a lot less, and they include the usual Lomax, etc. Some are used, some new; some in-print, some not.

kat