Customer Reviews

Rise Up Singing - The Group Singing Songbook: Large Print Leader's Edition

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Too bad that I believed the good reviews of this book. I purchased it so that I could play guitar (the editorial review stated that it had guitar chords in an easy-to-use format) along with the songs. I have never seen a more poorly laid out book to try to play guitar to in my life! Confusing doesn't begin to describe it.
Take a look at the sample pages 3-29 (I wish I had), that is exactly how the material is presented. In my opinion, a terrible waste of money.

This book contains all kinds of great songs we can sing at demonstrations.

Singing is one of the most empowering and inspiring activities we can engage in as a group, and this book contains the songs we need for our movement!

I highly recommend this book to all progressive musicians.

Let's sing on the streets!

Diana van Eyk
Nelson, BC Canada
[...]

I bought 3 copies of this book a few years ago and have given them all away so now I have bought another one for myself. I love this book, every song that means anything to me seem to be in this book. I thought maybe it was my age, 61, but visiting my 36 year old son and seeing him use it all the time made me realize it truly is a family, friend sing along book, simply the best.

With knowledge of most basic chords and a fondness for folky music (traditional & revival + related - old English/Irish, spirituals, 60s-70s pop) I'll page through for hours picking through these tunes.
I'm familiar with ~ 15% of the songs here but that's still loads. When I pick up a new Leadbelly CD or hear a classic on the radio I look it up and usually find it - dog ear another page.
Some of the reviews seem to be looking for a teaching guide. I wouldn't call S.O. that but if you're looking for a classic source of classic tunes, definitely pick this one up!

When I first came across the first edition, at the Philly FOlk Fest, I literally jumped up and down in excitement. They were sold out and while we waited for a new supply to arrive a friend and I sang our way through the sample book. I had to buy the second edition a few years ago because my original copy was falling apart, quite literally. (But I still have it; couldn't bear to throw it away.) The second ed adds a much-needed songwriter index.

You couldn't play the songs in this book if you don't already know the tune, since only chords are listed for most songs. On the other hand I can't open to any page without finding songs I know (and usually, love). Many of these are songs you won't find in other songbooks. All are singable. Included songs run the gamut of folk music (and that includes trad, Celtic and other ethnicities, folk-rock, singer-songwriter, and on and on) as well as Motown, Tin Pan Alley, a few showtunes, and more. When I first came across the first edition, at the Philly FOlk Fest, I literally jumped up and down in excitement. They were sold out and while we waited for a new supply to arrive a friend and I sang our way through the sample book.

This book has to be experienced to be believed. Compressing 1200 songs into less than 300 pages, it is a masterpiece of concise musical reference. The songs are organized into chapters based on themes, but there is also an excellent index which even lets you to look up a song by its first line. Extremely handy!

Some people have mentioned finding the book confusing or poorly laid out/organized. While I disagree I can understand how it might be that way for some. The abbreviated chord notations don't convey the timing details as well as regular sheet music, and there are no melody notes (vocal part) so you really have to be somewhat familar with the song. But there is a definite logic to their notation system, which is explained at the beginning of the book, and I think they've done a fabulous job of squeezing a huge amount (and variety) of music into a really small space. It replaces several times its weight in other songbooks and the spiral binding is not only convenient but also very durable.

This is a fantastic, fun book to have at every gathering of two or more people. I love it!

I have bought more copies of this book than I can count. Why? I keep giving my copy away! This is a must for any family that enjoys singing. Every mother or father with a decent voice wlll want a copy after looking it over, it's got so many great songs -- from the shakers, to spirituals, to the grateful dead, to rogers and hammerstein. A few minutes thumbing through this book and you are humming. Every night for 9 years we have sung from a well-worn (and now missing!) copy to our children as they drift off to sleep.

I'm ordering two this round, I'm hoping they will stay in my house for a while. I imagine that someday my 2 children will each want a copy so they can sing the songs that meant so much to them to their own children. I only hope its still in print by then -- or that I have managed to hold onto two copies!

Like most people, I had to get this when I saw a friend's copy. So much great stuff! I've been singing out of it for years, and now I'm starting to play mandolin and using the chords for the first time. I sympathize with the people who have difficulty with the notation in the book, but as a total beginner I can figure most of it out. There are a lot of songs that are included more for their admirable political content rather than for their lyric power. Since I, like almost anybody else, have never heard them, I can't comment on their musical charms, but they aren't destined to survive. But there's so much timeless music here: a must-have treasure.

This collection includes all the old favorites, as well as the songs of the labor and civil rights struggles. It is indespensible for anyone who sings along or with groups. Easy guitar chords. I highly recommend it.