Strip Polka: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection gives singers and accompanists immediate access to 46 of the most rewarding standards on record. Mercer's lyrics invite expressive interpretation and reward thoughtful diction work in ways that few other songbooks can match. Whether you're preparing a cabaret, building a jazz repertoire, or teaching students how to approach the Great American Songbook, this single resource eliminates the need to hunt for individual octavos or lead sheets.

These songs radiate confidence, charm, and genuine emotion. Some sparkle with humor and buoyancy; others settle into introspection and longing. What unites them is Mercer's belief that a great lyric can make a melody unforgettable and that sincerity in songwriting transcends era and genre.

This book serves pianists who accompany singers in lessons, rehearsals, and recitals, as well as guitarists seeking lead sheets with chord changes for jazz standards and popular classics. It works equally well for singers building a recital program, students exploring the American songbook, and ensembles preparing a tribute or cabaret concert.

• Study Mercer's lyrics as poetry first. His internal rhymes, alliteration, and use of colloquial speech demand clarity in diction and intentionality in phrasing; rushing the text will bury the craft.
• Adjust the vocal range or transposition as needed. The arrangements provided serve as a starting point, but many of these songs work equally well in multiple keys depending on the singer's voice type and the accompanist's comfort.
• Let the piano voicings breathe. The chord frames give you harmonic information, but the written piano part deserves respect; play what is written before substituting your own interpretations, especially if you're new to these songs.

Feature songs from this collection in a cabaret or solo recital highlighting the Great American Songbook. You might also pair selections with jazz ensemble accompaniment or use them as supplementary material for singers studying song interpretation and jazz phrasing. This collection works particularly well when paired with recordings of classic interpreters like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, or Nat King Cole to illuminate Mercer's influence on vocal tradition.

• Lyrical interpretation and expressive phrasing
• Sight-reading lead sheets with chord symbols
• Understanding harmonic structure in jazz and popular standards
• Diction and text clarity in American English
• Transposition and key flexibility for voice type