The American Song Treasury: 100 Favorites

This a book of music we all grew up (if your in your 50s or 60s) loving in easy keys for almost any instrument. I keep coming back to it.

This is an excellent book. The editor writes in his introduction that most of the arrangments are at the Grade II level, and I am able to sight read pretty much everything here. Still, it all sounds awesome. These songs are so much fun to play it's almost a guilty pleasure, and each one includes an interesting and informative introduction of its own. I am really enjoying the chance to rediscover some of this music which I haven't heard in years. The only criticism I have would be directed at the publishers, because the book is difficult to keep flat on the music stand, and the newsprint or the ink has an unpleasant smell.

This collection has a nice historical introduction to each piece and the songs are presented in chronological order. The songs are well chosen and pleasant. As a pianist I found the arrangements to be quite simple, but nonetheless, enjoyable. I have to say, there is little music out there that is better than early American music, and this book is a nice foray into early America.

I highly recommend this songbook, not only for the 100 wonderful songs, but also for the introduction to each song. Though each intro is brief, each tells a bit about the author or the song or the times in which it became popular. A great potpourri of Americana!

When my little girl was born, I found myself trying to remember the words to all of the songs I used to sing with my family when I was growing up. My memory just couldn't come up with some (most!) of them, though. Fortunately, this book has them all: Sweet Betsey From Pike, Oh Susanna, I've Been Working on the Railroad, Bicycle Built for Two, She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain, and so many more. What's even better is that the book also contains standard sheet music with each song, plus guitar chords, plus a brief history of each song. A great find and one I'm so glad I bought!