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About Online Songbooks

Online Song books are collections of material either by one or more artists. The Lyrics and music are documented and proper credits are given to them. Web sites, like this one, list some songs that they have collected over the years and encourage you to purchase the actual sheet music or bona-fide recordings of any songs you may find appealings. Please report any errors or omissions.

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Song and Music Stuff...

The second in my trilogy on offbeat rock landmarks, this time spotlighting tragedy, both fictional and actual, in oldies history and oldies songs. If you've ever wondered where to pay tribute to Otis, Buddy, Jim, or Skynyrd, or just where that Tallahatchie Bridge was that Billie Joe jumped from, here's your chance. Find out more here... complete with directions!

Rock and Roll Road Trips: Tales of Tragedy originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Wednesday, June 19th, 2013 at 11:21:20.

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One of Paul's most beautiful ballads, "Golden Slumbers" actually took its musical inspiration from another song he'd only recently recorded -- and its lyrical inspiration from over three hundred years before. But he couldn't make it a reality until he got two of the words just right.Read all about the history and recording of "Golden Slumbers" in my latest Beatles fact sheet.

The Beatles Songs: "Golden Slumbers" originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Monday, June 17th, 2013 at 19:30:10.

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Modern pop chanteuse Lana Del Rey has a new single out called "Beautiful Player," and it's raising some eyebrows for what is very likely a reference to pop production legend (and convicted murderer) Phil Spector: in the middle of singing about a male lover who can't keep his hands off of other women, she coos "Hit me and it felt like a kiss / You know it hurt so good / When you do me like this." The first half of that line quotes The Crystals' infamous girl-group hit from 1962, "He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)," written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King after their babysitter, Little Eva of "Loco-Motion" fame, told them about her own abusive relationship. That single was so controversial, even for its time, that it was banned on most radio stations; the Crystals themselves hated it. The second song of Lana's to be leaked onto YouTube this year, "Player" is rumored to come from the sessions for her upcoming album.

Lana Del Rey Revives Phil Spector Controversy originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Monday, June 17th, 2013 at 18:57:27.

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Ever wonder where the Dock of the Bay or the Chelsea drugstore was, or where Lynyrd Skynyrd needed those three steps, or where Robert Johnson made his deal with the devil? The first installment of my three-part series on oldies landmarks lets you know, complete with directions... see what the famous landmarks look like today, and how to get there!

Rock and Roll Road Trips: Lyrical Landmarks originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Monday, June 17th, 2013 at 17:59:19.

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Two of doo-wop's premier original voices passed away recently: This past Saturday, Marcels lead singer Cornelius "Nini" Harp, the angelic lead heard on their 1961 classic "Blue Moon," died of natural causes at his home in Pittsburgh. One of the last great original doo-wop groups, the Marcels, named after Harp's popular "Marcel wave" hairstyle, were formed in Pittsburgh while its members were still in high school; one of several racially integrated vocal groups of the day, they distinguished themselves with near-novelty covers of pop standards (a similar reworking of another '30s standard, "Heartaches," was their other big pop hit). Harp, who also played guitar for the group, left after their big hits ended. No official age has been given, but Harp was approximately 72 or 73 at his death.

Marvin Junior, lead singer of the Dells who passed away on May 29 at his home in Chicago, also formed his group in high school, but the Dells had a considerably longer career. They'd already been together for half a decade when they scored the hit they're best known for, 1956's "Oh What a Nite," but when subsequent singles failed to chart, Marvin (sometimes known as Junior Marvin) kept at it, eventually retooling the group as a Chicago Soul outfit and returning to the charts with "Stay in My Corner" (1965), "There Is" (1968), and hit pop remakes of both "Corner" and the retitled "Oh, What a Night" in 1969. Marvin stayed with the group until 2009, getting a boost in popularity with the release of the semi-biographical film The Five Heartbeats in 1991. He was 77.

Marcels and Dells Leads Pass Away originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Wednesday, June 12th, 2013 at 04:24:12.

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In the middle of the famed Abbey Road Medley is a rocker that perfectly describes just how insane the Beatles' world had gotten, but buried in the middle of this very real groupie nightmare is a bad pun of sorts and an ex-cop for certain. Though another British Invasion band claims it was also involved... Read all about the history and recording of "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" in my latest Beatles fact sheet.

The Beatles Songs: "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Wednesday, June 12th, 2013 at 03:31:17.

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Okay, recent events may have conspired to make summer road trips more difficult than they used to be, but some folks have to make them no matter what... and if you're so inclined, here's a selection of hand-picked platters that really matter to those of us with white-line fever. Featuring rock and roll, blues, boogie, country, and more! Complete with music reviews, track listings, and a price comparison guide.

The Top 10 Road Trip Albums originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Monday, June 10th, 2013 at 21:26:38.

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For Father's Day... hit oldies from the 50s, 60s, and 70s about dear old Dad. Or sometimes not so dear old Dad -- the hit music of these decades also tackled the thorny issue of rebellion against authority, which always starts at home, not to mention the even more delicate problem of runaway and delinquent dads. However, this Father's Day playlist of oldies, most of which you can download right here, is generally positive.

Playlist: Papa Don't Take No Mess originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Monday, June 10th, 2013 at 11:40:29.

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Yes, "Polythene Pam" was a real person -- actually, at least two people, one of which had quite the crush on George, and one of which may have actually consummated her crush on John. But was a polythene bag involved? And what is that stuff, anyway? Is it edible? Read all about the history and recording of "Polythene Pam" in my latest Beatles fact sheet.

The Beatles Songs: "Polythene Pam" originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Monday, May 27th, 2013 at 19:09:34.

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Marshall Lytle, one of rock's pioneering bass players, died on Saturday at the age of 80. The bassist for Bill Haley and His Comets, who jumpstarted the rock craze with their 1955 smash "Rock Around the Clock," Marshall played an old-fashioned acoustic standup bass, but over his many years with Haley he came up with a number of showman moves for it, including laying it down on its side and riding it while he played it. This was considered quite scandalous and improper for the time, and it became a major influence on rock's first bassmen, most of whom didn't have electric basses. Just a teen himself when he joined the what was then a country-swing group called the Saddlemen, Lytle became a particular influence on rockabilly bassists, most importantly Elvis sideman Bill Black. (Lytle also co-wrote the band's first big hit, "Crazy Man, Crazy.") When the Comets became stars, Haley refused to give the band the kinds of raises they were looking for, and Marshall led the defectors away, starting their own group, the Jodimars, to little chart success, although they became one of the first rock groups to thrive in the showrooms of Vegas. Lytle, who became a real-estate agent after his music stint, lost his battle with lung cancer at the age of 80 in Port Richie, FL, leaving tenor saxman Joey Ambrose as "Rock Around the Clock's" last living survivor.

Bill Haley Bassist Dies originally appeared on About.com Oldies Music on Monday, May 27th, 2013 at 19:03:10.

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