Guitarist and author David Todd has released Songs That Stay With You: From the 50's, 60's & 70's, a songbook of 70 well-loved songs arranged for guitar. The book is available now on Amazon.
The significance of the release lies in its practical focus. Todd assembled the collection over the years as his own working songbook, containing the songs he actually reaches for when he picks up a guitar, whether playing alone, with friends, or leading a group. The selection emphasizes songs that most people know a verse or two of and that are simple enough to carry a room, making it a useful tool for fostering shared musical experiences.
The list spans artists from The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Everly Brothers to Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley, with pub and folk favorites like "Dirty Old Town" and "Wild Rover" mixed in. Every song is written out with chords placed above the lyrics, right where the player would strum or pick them. Where a capo makes a song easier to play, Todd notes the fret position and key at the top of the entry. A handful of songs also include playing notes for fingerpicking patterns, strumming styles, and instrumental breaks.
This attention to detail addresses a common frustration for guitarists: finding arrangements that are both accurate and immediately playable. As one reader noted, "This book reads like it was built by someone who has led a lot of singalongs. Chords sit above the lyrics, capo positions and keys are noted at the top of each song, which makes it easy to open and start playing."
The book is meant to be used, not shelved. Todd designed it for solo players, small groups, and anyone leading a singalong, including at venues such as nursing homes and care homes, where familiar songs tend to bring people together. In an era when communal music-making is often sidelined by digital playlists, such a resource can help revive the simple joy of gathering around a guitar and singing songs that everyone knows.
By making these classics accessible to players of varying skill levels, Songs That Stay With You could encourage more people to pick up a guitar and lead a singalong, strengthening social bonds through music. The book is available now on Amazon.
