100 Years 100 Songs

I'm not sure if they are quite the 'greatest songs of the century' that it claims to have, but there is a lot of sheet music for some very good tunes in this book. It's also the best mixture of popular music in sheet form I've found together in a long time.

The book has 239 pages and is divided into sections of decades from 1900 to 2000. Each of the songs has the melody is sheet music with the chords and the lyrics written within the music, and the lyrics of the following verses written after. Each one has pictures and photos from each era to brighten up the book and each song has a bit about the history behind the song. So it's been very well researched - you can play the songs then impress people at the dinner party with your overwhelming useless knowledge newly obtained from this book!

As 100 songs to give my opinion on is a bit too much even for demanding ciao readers, I'm just giving my opinion on each decade and listed the songs for you! Aren't I kind?!?

1900s
Land of hope and glory
Bill Bailey wont you please come home

Obviously the first tune is the best from this era. I'm sure there wasn't a music draught and they are in fact saving their 100 quota and copyright fees for a more recognizable era!

1910s
Alexander's ragtime band
Memphis Blues
Keep the home fires burning
They didn't believe me
Swanee

Probably the most boring era in the book as far as recognisable music goes… I usually skip this part but it has some good retro photos and a world war 1 poster if you are old enough to reminisce!

1920s
Fascinating Rhythm
If you knew Susie
Show me the way to go home
Bye bye blackbird
Ol' man river
I can't give you anything but love
Sweet Sue - just you
Ain't misbehavin'

There is a fantastic picture in this section of government agents destroying illegal alcohol found in a Chicago warehouse raid. All the boxes have been brought outside and they are just throwing the bottles against the wall! What a waste!!! It also proves government has got far more boring as they'd never let them destroy it like that now!
The first song is probably the best song for playing as a lot of these are pretty slow and the notes pretty repetitive - good for beginners though.

1930s
Body and soul
Falling in love again
More than you know
Goodnight sweetheart
As time goes by
Georgia on my mind
Underneath the arches
Try a little tenderness
It's only a paper moon
Smoke gets in your eyes
The very thought of you
Over my shoulder
These foolish things
The way you look tonight
Pennies from heaven
Summertime
Thanks for the memory
Run, rabbit, run
We'll meet again
Over the rainbow

With 20 songs in this decade it is obviously the author's favorite era! There are some fab songs in this section. As daft as it sounds, run, rabbit, run is my favourite, as I can remember singing it loads as a kid! Just a shame it goes a little bit too low for the oboe… still I will just have to transcribe it one day! I've always loved playing summertime and over the rainbow, so now I can just play it in a different key! There is a great picture from the original wizard of Oz film to bring back the memories as well.

1940s
Kiss the boys goodbye
The last time I saw Paris
The white cliffs of Dover
I'll be seeing you
Ev'ry time we say goodbye
I'm beginning to see the light
There I've said it again
You'll never walk alone
The anniversary song
Mañana (is good enough for me)
Take me to your heart again
Baby its cold outside

You'll never walk alone is the best in this era although baby its cold outside has been written as the duet so it would work really well if there are 2 of you messing around playing the music. Picture wise, you have the old fruit bowl as a hat picture, Winston Churchill and more peace signs than they ever managed to muster up in the 60s!

1950s
Unchained melody
Rock around the clock
Heartbreak hotel
Blue suede shoes
That'll be the day
Summertime blues
Johnny B Goode
All I have to do is dream

Johnny B Goode just isn't the same without the guitar solo, but a good little song all the same. Unchained melody has to win hands down in this section though; such a timeless romantic tune… can just see those hands on the pottery wheel as we speak! Lots of Elvis reminiscing and screaming fans here, but you have to do your own screaming when you play it… maybe invite some neighbors over so you can have the screaming effect in your room as opposed to just through the walls!!! Also in this section… Buddy Holly should have gone to specsavers!

1960s
Cathy's clown
Save the last dance for me
Only the lonely
Moon river
Telestar
Blowing in the wind
She loves you
Mr Tambourine man
Yesterday
Good vibrations
Strawberry fields forever
Love is all around
All along the watchtower
My way
Give peace a chance
Woodstock

Where would the sixties be without a score for a beatles song?!? Pictures of Audrey Hepburn and the first TV transmitter in space… first time Neil Armstrong didn't get a look in! They are mainly pretty slow songs in this decade so nice for a Sunday afternoon play.

1970s
Bridge over troubled water
Imagine
Amazing grace
American pie
Layla
Without you
Candle in the wind
Sailing
No woman, no cry
I write the songs
Don't cry for me Argentina
Stayin' alive
I will survive
Message in a bottle

I was sure amazing grace would have been around for hundreds of years, but maybe I'm wrong as its here in the 70s! It's obviously just been fast tracked onto telephone waiting systems to keep green sleeves company! Mainly pictures of American politics, and for the plane spotters amongst us, the first jumbo jet. The candle in the wind song is the original tribute to Norma Jean (aka Ms Monroe) but there are pictures of Diana in with the song.

1980s
Woman
Thank you for the music
Karma chameleon
Thriller
I just called to say I love you
Careless whisper
Against all odds (take a look at me now)

Now the challenge for playing the 80s section is whether you can play Thriller and do the dance at the same time! There are some great tunes to play in this decade but the chorus for karma chameleon sounds a bit rubbish as its so repetitive - with and without the words!!! Pictures are of the original live aid and thanks to boy George and George Michael, men looking very camp!

1990s
(Everything I do) I do it for you
Tears in heaven
Have I told you lately?
Wonderwall
Say you'll be there
My heart will go on

Ahhhh, drawing to the end now - the final era! I'm sure there were a lot of better songs than this made in the '90s but obviously the copyright fees are too much, so we have to make do with the sheet music that's been done to death! There is a nice easy version of I do it for you - in C major … one of my favourite songs for a while. And how could you not end the book with a chart topping boat-sinking classic!

In conclusion, if you've made it this far or just wanted to skip my ramblings, this is a great little book for basis tunes to several classics and a few not so classic songs. The arrangements are easy and its clear to read. There is a good selection of songs for beginners to more advanced players.. just skip to whatever you fancy! I would definitely recommend this book. I bought it for 6 quid, which if you compare that to the absurdly high prices of most sheet music is very good value for money.