Songlist

TSR is a male quartet that features Steve on keyboards, guitar and trombone; Rob on drums, trumpet and flugelhorn; John on sax, flute, bass and drums; and Pete on bass, guitar, and keyboards.  We switch instruments often throughout the evening which allows us to present a wide range of musical sounds and an extensive variety of songs.  Naturally, everyone sings and many arrangements are sung in harmony.  Arranged by the decade in which they were popular, here are some of the songs we currently perform.  Because we are adding to this list on a regular basis, it is not complete.  In fact, it is ever-changing.

1930s and 1940s

Satin Doll--a jazz standard by Duke Ellington               
Don’t Get Around Much Any More--another jazz standard                          
Poinciana--”The Song of the Tree” featuring TSR’s fabulous 3-horn sound
Begin the Beguine--Cole Porter’s beautiful melody sung by Rob and played in Latin rhythm
Tangerine--one of Helen O’Connell’s big hits and another Latin styling
Day By Day--TSR performs this great standard in the style of the Four Freshmen
Walkin’ My Baby Back Home--usually the last song of the night and another Four Freshmen vocal styling
Witchcraft--Frank Sinatra’s arrangement and TSR features Steve on this one                     
Jump, Jive and Wail--TSR does this Louis Prima style (and John wails like Sam Butera)
White Cliffs of Dover--another Louis Prima styling
Just a Gigalo/I Ain’t Got Nobody--one of the best-known Prima hits that Pete sings           
In the Mood--well, you have to do this great tune or the era would not be complete
Love--a cute jump tune that keeps changing keys                                                                                      
Body and Soul--one of the great love songs of all time and a jazz standard                          
Blue Moon--done many different ways by many groups over the decades
It’s A Blue World--the signature tune of the Four Freshmen and done with their close harmony

1950s

Rock Around the Clock--the theme from “Blackboard Jungle” and the first R&R hit
Three Coins in the Fountain--the Four Aces Academy Award song
Rockin’ Robin--Bobby Day’s hit
Stagger Lee--Lloyd Price’s first hit (before “Personality”)
Shangri-la--originally done by the Four Coins and later by the Four Lads and the Lettermen
La Bamba--the first Hispanic hit in America
Misty--written by Errol Garner and always a favorite from the 50s
Graduation Day--a #1 hit for the Four Freshmen and TSR uses their arrangement
No Particular Place to Go--Chuck Berry’s story
Moments to Remember--a much-remembered Four Lads hit and sung in their unique style
Memphis--written by Chuck Berry and popularized by Johnny Rivers
Blue Suede Shoes--Carl Perkins did it and then Elvis recorded it
Dream, Dream, Dream--Don and Phil Everly
Chuck Berry Medley--three or four of Berry’s hits that maybe you’ll remember
Johnny Be Goode--Chuck Berry’s most famous tune
Kansas City--Wilbur Harrison’s hit that was originally titled “Kansas City Lovin’”
No Not Much--the Four Lads “almost forgotten” hit from 1956

1960s

Runaway--Del Shannon (TSR backed him singing this song in 1975 up in Duluth)           
Beatles Medley--three tunes that other bands don’t do: Please, Please Me/This Boy/I Feel Fine
Beach Boys Medley--two great dance tunes; Surfin’ USA/409                                                  
I Feel Good--can’t do the ‘60s without James Brown
Mustang Sally--wicked Wilson Pickett’s signature song                                                                            
New York, New York--Frank Sinatra did it and Rob sings it excellently
Shadow of Your Smile--another Academy Award song entitled “The Theme from the Sandpiper”
Twist and Shout--done first in the USA, the Beatles also recorded it                                      
Mary Lou and Travelin’ Man--two famous hits by Ricky Nelson
Strangers in the Night--another Frank Sinatra song
Mack the Knife--Bobby Darin’s #1 song of 1959 that stayed on the charts into the ‘60s
Peppermint Twist--Joey Dee and the Starlighters made it popular
In the Midnight Hour--another Wilson Pickett tune

1970s

Crocodile Rock--Elton John’s R&R story song
How Sweet It Is...--oh yes!  “...To be loved by you!”  said James Taylor
Long Train Runnin’--the Doobie Brothers great groove tune
Proud Mary--Credence and Tina Turner both did the song well; TSR combined both
Listen to the Music--another Doobie Brothers tune
Color My World--the Chicago love song complete with flute solo by John
Moondance--Van Morrison’s groove song complete with flute and sax solos
Evil Ways--one of the first big hits for Carlos Santana
Spooky and Stormy--the easy listening and dance hits from the Classics IV
Pretty Woman--Roy Orbison’s tribute to all our favorite ladies
You’re 16, You’re Beautiful...--Ringo Starr recorded it
China Grove--here is a Doobie Brothers hit that bands just don’t do live any more (we do)
I Wish You Love--a TSR 3-horn arrangement of this ‘70s love song

Other Songs

Brown-Eyed Girl--one of Van Morrison’s biggest and most played hits
Takin’ Care of Business--Bachman Turner Overdrive (TSR’s heaviest rock tune)
Gimme Some Lovin’--as done by the Spencer Davis Group
Time In A Bottle--a great love song by the late Jim Croce
At This Moment--done by Billy Vera and the Beaters as well as Tom Jones         
If You Don’t Know Me By Now--a great jazz waltz by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
Beer Barrel Polka--it’s the law that every live band in WI must play at lease one polka
Old Time Rock and Roll--Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Just the Way You Are--Billy Joel’s great love song
The Girl From Ipanema--the sound of Brazil is still alive in TSR’s repertoire
Here’s That Rainy Day--another jazz standard from the ‘60s
Days of Wine and Roses--another ballad featuring the TSR horns
Manha de Carnival (A Day in the Life of a Fool)--from the Brazilian opera
On a Clear Day--a nice and easy dance tune from the Broadway musical
Lay Down Sally--an almost forgotten Eric Clapton tune
Jailhouse Rock--Elvis did it and TSR does it, too

Country Songs  --  you will probably recognize most of these tunes

TSR is proud to offer this extensive repertoire.  And, it is always expanding!  We thought about adding the titles of the songs that we are currently working on, but it would make this list too long.  In short, we try to play songs we think people will like, that other bands don’t do, and that are musically challenging for us.  Above all, we want to keep the variety in our sets.    

One final thought: we do not have a CD that we can send you.  It is too easy for bands to fake their sound on a recording.   And, TSR is not a “bar band” so it is hard to hear us live unless you come to Fischer’s On the Green in Altoona, WI.  It is a supper club and we entertain there frequently  in the lounge from 7—10 PM. Call first. Otherwise, we encourage you to speak with other folks who have used TSR and get a recommendation from them.  When you call to check on a date availability, we can supply names and numbers.   At that time we will want to know the location of your event and some other particulars which will affect our pricing.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.                 715-834-0235