1. MOONSHADOW
   
   
2. YOU’VE GOT TO HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY
   
   
3. TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS
   
   
4. DUST IN THE WIND
   
   
5. NOTHING COMPARES 2 U
   
   
6. SWEET BABY JAMES
   
   
7. MAGIC BUS
   
   
8. HEART OF GOLD
   
   
9. GIVE A LITTLE BIT
   
   
10. AN OLD-FASHIONED LOVE SONG
    
    
11. NOBODY DOES IT BETTER
    
    
12. AMERICAN GIRL
    
    
13. SISTER GOLDEN HAIR
    
    
14. DOWN ON THE CORNER
    
    
15. 50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER
    
    
16. HONKY TONK WOMEN
    
    
17. TAKE IT EASY
    
    
18. I GOT YOU, BABE
    
    
19. ONE
    
    
20. WHITE RABBIT
    
    
21. ALL THE YOUNG DUDES
    
    
22. IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM?
    
    
23. INSTANT KARMA
    
    
24. EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE
    
    
25. I FOUGHT THE LAW
    
    
26. THE STROKE
    
    
27. RIO
    
    
28. HOT CHILD IN THE CITY
    
    
29. HARDEN MY HEART
    
    
30. DREAM ON
    
    
31. TWO OUT OF THREE AIN’T BAD
    
    
32. WHITE WEDDING
    
    
33. PIANO MAN
    
    
34. WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
    
    
35. A LONG DECEMBER
    
    
36. THUNDER ROAD
    
    
37. PINK HOUSES
    
    
38. SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING

....
 

CRS 5 was a blast.  Don't believe us?  Peep the pics in our photo section.  Y'all are singing louder than ever, and we couldn't be more proud.

It's a ways off, but please mark Nov. 22 in your calendar.  That's right: The next Singalong will go down on the Sat. night before Thanksgiving.  Will we drink some Wild Turkey to mark the occasion?  It's entirely possible.  As always, we'll assemble at the beautiful M Bar in Hollywood at 10pm.  See you there.

We sang, we drank, we hugged and kissed, we gave away CDs (thank you, EMI/Capitol) and T-shirts (thank you, RockNRollDating.com).  Here are the songs that were sung, and who sang lead.

Is She Really Going Out With Him? (Simon)
Rebel Rebel (Greg)
Blister in the Sun (Mike)
867-5309 (Simon)
Raspberry Beret (Sam)
Breakdown (Jim Dinda)
Don't Dream It's Over (Mike)
The Stroke (Camille)
Addicted to Love (Mark)
Walking on Sunshine (Kara)
I Want You to Want Me (Mills)
Juke Box Hero (Matt/Justin)
Wild World (Gustavo)
Heartbreaker (Shelly)
Only the Good Die Young (Simon/Justin)
Drift Away (Greg)
You Shook Me All Night Long (Libby)
Roll With the Changes (Mills)
I Melt With You (Paul)
Centerfold (Simon)
Working for the Weekend (Justin)
Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Simon/Shelly)
Roxanne (Matt)
Use Me (Mark)
Sweet Child O' Mine (Sam)
Just What I Needed (Gustavo)
S.O.S. (Camille)
Hooked on a Feeling (Greg)
Don't Stop Believin' (Matt)
Hopelessly Devoted to You (Libby)
Lola (Paul)
The Weight (Ensemble)
Desperado (Simon)
Total Eclipse of the Heart (Libby)
We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions (Camille/Matt)

See you at the next one, beautiful.

10pm

M Bar (1253 N. Vine, at Fountain)

10 bucks

You know the drill.  See you there.

Mad smooches,
The CRS

Kudos you to our superb musicians and singers, apologies to the people who DIDN'T get to sing and play, and THANK YOU to Alan and Robbie for hooking us up with last-minute gear when we had equipment problems.  It was another Singalong for the record books.  Josh took some photos, which we'll be posting soon, but here, for posterity, is what we played and who sang it.

First the lineup:

MIKE RUEKBERG - guitar and vocals
JIM MILLS - keyboards, bass, vocals
JASON CHESNEY - bass
DEAN MACNEIL - drums
FRANKLIN WISE - saxophone
MARK CADE - bass and vocals
PAUL PLAGENS - guitar and vocals
QUINTON FLYNN, JEFF NIMOY, ROBBIE RIST, MAUREEN MAHON, LIBBY LAVELLA, MATT DOCTER, MICHAEL WISE, GREG DAPONTE, SHELLY KRAMER, SIMON GLICKMAN - vocals

YOU'VE GOT TO HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY (PAUL)

FIRE AND RAIN (QUINTON)

CHANGES (MAUREEN)

BRANDY (GREG)

LIGHTS (MATT)

THE JOKER (SIMON)

SUPERSTAR (ROBBIE)

BLISTER IN THE SUN (MIKE)

867-5309 (QUINTON)
BEAUTIFUL (LIBBY WITH SHELLY)

MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL (PAUL)

IN THE AIR TONIGHT (MARK)

MAGGIE MAY (JEFF)

REFUGEE (MICHAEL WISE)

AT THIS MOMENT (MARK)

 DAYDREAM BELIEVER (PAUL AND QUINTON)

TEMPTED (JEFF AND CO.)

LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER (MAUREEN)

BIG BOTTOM (SIMON)

THE LOGICAL SONG (ROBBIE)

NO MYTH (MIKE)

DESPERADO (SIMON)

SURRENDER (JIM)

YOU'RE SO VAIN (MIKE)

KISS (JEFF)

ROCKET MAN (PAUL)

HERE COMES THE SUN (QUINTON)

WE WILL ROCK YOU /WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS (MATT AND ENSEMBLE)

What a night of wonderful singing.  First of, thanks to band leader Josh, who coordinated the players, played guitar and sang a bunch.  Thanks also to our magnificent core band:  Jim Mills (bass and keys), Mike Ruekberg (lead guitar and keys) and Joey Ponch (drums).  Special props also go out to guest saxophonist Franklin.

You're wondering, I suppose, who sang what?  I will tell you.

Quinton Flynn kicked things off with "I Want You To Want Me" and also joined Simon Glickman on "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace Love and Understanding" and assisted Mark Cade on "Addicted to Love."

Mark Cade was sublime on "Jack & Diane" and "Your Song."

Shelly Kramer knocked "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" outta the park and added groovy backups to "Total Eclipse of the Heart."

Libby Lavella KILLED "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "I Will Survive" and "Total Eclipse."

Matt Docter got onto the stage ON CRUTCHES -- so he got points for dedication even before nailing the incredibly difficult high notes on "Jukebox Hero" and "Don't Stop Believin'."  He also brought wigs for the entire band ... very thoughtful.

Paul Plagens was magisterial on "Rocky Raccoon" (with Rick Shaw) and "Creep."

Josh delivered typically riveting versions of "Born to Run," "Runnin' With the Devil" and "Wanted Dead or Alive."  He and Simon also delivered an unofficial "Fuck Her Gently." (That's a Tenacious D song, you philistines!)

Mike Ruekberg turned in an unhinged (and bewigged) "You Shook Me All Night Long."

Jim Mills led a stellar "Roll With the Changes" (and also played piano).

Christine Joaquin (lovely spouse of Joey) warbled a charming "Close to You" and sang the girly verse on "Don't You Want Me."

Rick "Spooney" Shaw turned in an ultra-cool vocal on "Just What I Needed" and joined Paul Plagens for "Rocky Raccoon."

Michael Wise came on strong with "Touch Me."

Tony Lunn came with the grit on "The Weight " (with Simon, Bill and Doug) and "Take It Easy."

Jim Dinda returned for a command performance of "Wonderwall."

Simon channeled his inner Billy Joel for "Only the Good Die Young." He also did  "Don't You Want Me," "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Peace, Love & Understanding," as well as the "crazy Chester" verse in "The Weight," and a buncha backups (including the "turn around" bits in "Total Eclipse).

The audience, meanwhile, sang EVERYTHING.  The table in the corner made enough of a racket to win the bottle of champagne.  Much joy was experienced.  We'll post pictures when we get 'em.

Wonderful.  See you in '08.

Well, kids, we're back at M Bar on 12/15 for a semi-holiday edition of the Singalong (10pm; five clams).  It'll be another unforgettable debauch.  We still need players and singers ... hit us up.

We're drained, we're hoarse and we're a tiny bit hung over, but we're pulling it together to jot down some scattered memories of an EPIC night.  Thanks so much to Josh Pickering and the various singers and players, as well as to the nice people at M Bar -- and most of all to the wonderful folks who came out to sing.  A complete list of what we did appears below, and we've posted some pics captured by Josh. 

Will we do some things different next time, assuming we're able to do it again?  Sure: Someone at the door collecting money would be nice.  Itty Bitty Book Lights or something similar so folks can read lyrics with the house lights down.  Some slight adjustments to the repertoire.  Perhaps we can even get started earlier.  But hey, live and learn, right?

Here are some highlights we recall:

Mary and Lori tearing the roof off the joint with "Total Eclipse of the Heart."

Josh nailing "Wanted Dead or Alive," with David Green totally shredding the solo.

The crowd singing the "I still love you" line in "Don't You Want Me."

Lyle's gorgeous guitar solo on "Purple Rain."

"Wonderwall," led by the universally beloved Jim Dinda.

Mary (in Lori's cap) rocking "You Shook Me All Night Long," and making the whole room want her sooooooooo bad.

The reprise of the "na na na na na" section of "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" (also sung brilliantly by Mary).

Maureen's incredibly sassy rendition of "One Way or Another" and her bewitching "Close to You."

"Faith," with Lori singing.  As Mary said, "the evening's most charming surprise."

The manic, joyful expression on Cheche's face while he played keyboards.

There's so much more -- what do you remember best?

Cinnamon Girl (requested before we even got started!)
Suffragette City (Quinton on vocals)
One Way or Another (sassy vocals by Maureen)
Wonderwall (Dinda!  Dinda!  Dinda!)
American Girl (Q)
Let's Stay Together (Mark)
Don't You Want Me (Simon & Maureen)
Feel Like Makin' Love (Simon & Q)
Total Eclipse of the Heart (Mary & Lori)
I Want You to Want Me (Q)
Just What I Needed  (Q)
Fuck Her Gently (Josh & Simon)
Alison (Michelle)
Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' (Mary)
A Hard Day's Night (Bill & Q)
Close to You (Maureen)
Easy (Aaron)
I Love Rock 'n' Roll (Jessie)
Superstition (Mark)
You Shook Me All Night Long (Mary)
Runnin' With the Devil (Josh)
Suspicious Minds (Josh & Aaron)
Time After Time (Josh & Lori)
Sweet Child o' Mine (Jessie)
Believe It or Not (Greatest American Hero)
I'm a Believer (Bill & Q)
Faith (Lori)
Wanted: Dead or Alive (Josh)
WKRP in Cincinnati (Josh & Simon)
Purple Rain (Aaron)

Guitars: Josh, Lyle, David, Erik and another guy whose name we didn't quite catch or were too intoxicated to remember. (Come forward, mystery dude!)

Keys: Cheche, Josh, Erik

Bass: Jon, Todd, Mark

Drums: Joey and Joe