Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen

Subject: Handful Of Songs CD
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 07:20 PM

I make Cecile B. DeMille look like a speed freak. Back in 1989 (17 years ago) I released Handful Of Songs on record and cassette. CDs hadn't quite taken over the market at the time, so I didn't even consider going that route. Unfortunately, Cook Laboratories, who pressed my record album, went bankrupt. I had to fall on the mercy of one of the employees even to get my records (which were already pressed and paid for.) What I wasn't able to get was the Master tapes. They probably ended up as land fill somewhere.

Fast forward 16 years, when Dennis Cook (irony, anyone?) offered to remaster the album from a pristine record album. He did a fine job on it, and here it is, only 17 years from when I released the album on vinyl, and it's out on CD. Well, almost out. I am supposed to receive a shipment of the CDs by next Tuesday at the latest.

The tracks are:

   1. Just An Old Fiddler
   2. Tennessee Dog (Trad.)
   3. Alfred
   4. Handful Of Songs
   5. Cabbage Patch Waltz
   6. Other Side Of Jordan (Trad.)
   7. Tennessee Earthquake
   8. Uncle Willie's In The Sheets
   9. Old Man At The Mill (Trad.)
10. Montana
11. Blue Waltz
12. Willie's Dog
13. Miller's Will (Trad.)
14. Ships On The Prairie

All songs by J. Rasmussen, except those identified as traditional.

It was a long time ago, in another galaxy, but I had a lot of wonderful help from friends on this album, including Gordon Bok, Pat Conte (of Major Conte and the Canebrake Rattlers,) Eric Garrison, Skip Gorman, Dave Para and Cathy Barton, Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen and Ed Trickett.

I'll be selling the CD for $15 + $2 shipping and handling. I'll also sell them through cd Baby which may be more convenient for my UK friends and other across-the-sea folks who don't want to deal with the rate of exchange, but that will take at least a couple of weeks before they get up and running. When they do, I'll refresh this thread out of limbo (oops... there isn't any limbo, anymore) and let folks know.

If anyone is interested, you can PM me with your mailing address and as soon as the carton arrives, I'll put a copy in the mail for you.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Oct 06 - 08:31 PM

When we returned today, I found a box of 100 Handful Of Songs CDs waiting for me. I'll start getting copies in the mail in the next couple of days. If you're interested in getting one, PM me with your mailing address.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: artbrooks
Date: 22 Oct 06 - 09:11 PM

I know it's pretty soon, but any chance of getting some to Dick Greenhouse for the Getaway?

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Oct 06 - 09:48 PM

I'll check with him, Art..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Oct 06 - 11:38 PM

hey, I missed this earlier...looking for a puppy about the time you first posted. That's great news! I'll send you a PM. Congrats!

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Oct 06 - 12:27 AM

My order's in.
Has everybody heard some of his earlier CDs? Great stuff.

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Oct 06 - 12:42 PM

Sorry I haven't been able to respond to individual PMs. We're just back from Wisconsin and we have company a'coming. Cleani, clean, clean..

For those of you who have ordered copies, I sent a first batch out today and will get another batch out in a couple of days.

And for those who asked, my mailing address is:

   95 Hillcrest Ave.
   Derby, CT 06418

Thanks,

Jerry

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: SussexCarole
Date: 24 Oct 06 - 01:30 PM

Three years ago this Halloween I spent the evening with Jerry and Ruth & the next day meeting & singing with the Messengers. Such wonderful memories!   Before I left, Jerry gave me a vinyl copy of Handful of Songs it is a superb collection of songs and my favourite....of course, which Jerry sang is Handful of Songs.

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 25 Oct 06 - 01:41 PM

Ah yes, Carole: I don't think we'll ever have as wonderful a Halloween as we did when you, Colin, Theresa and Noreen appeared with masks on at our front door. Your post reminded me that the first time that I had anything I'd written appear in print was in a Yearly publication at High School where a poem I'd written was selected for inclusion. The subject?: Halloween, of course.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: bbc
Date: 25 Oct 06 - 07:00 PM

I hope to get one at NOMAD, Jerry. I have the cassette, but my car only has cd player now. I got the cassette the 1st time I saw you. A song on it contains my mom's name. Who could resist that?! See you soon.

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 26 Oct 06 - 04:38 PM

See you there, Barbara: Looking forward to it.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 09:02 AM

Just an update:

I had hoped to get some CDs of Handful of Songs and Back When I Was Young in Dick Greenhaus's hands to sell at the Getaway this year, but for a variety of reasons, it hasn't worked out. Dick was agreeable to bring a few down, but I ran out of time. I had to postpone the delivery of Handful Of Songs because Ruth and I were in Wisconsin for a week for my Mother's funeral. It's ironic that one of the lines in Handful of Songs is "And the bible my Grandmother bought her last Christmas, that she gave to my Mother, now she's passed it on." I'll have copies for sale at NOMAD, or to any Catters who are interested. Handful Of Songs will also be available on cdBaby for those overseas folks who don't want to have to deal with the exchange rate of currency. I'll post again when the CD is on cdBaby. It also will allow a chance to hear 2 minute clips of all the songs on the album.

Thanks to those who've already gotten one.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: MAG
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 09:20 AM

Got mine in the mail yewterday; popped it right into the CD player in the car.

lovely stuff.

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: Ebbie
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 10:42 AM

Got mine a couple of days ago. Love it. Haven't decided yet which are my favorite songs but there are a number of them that I want to learn.

Jerry, you have a way with words, both on paper and in ear!

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 10:01 PM

Glad you're enjoying the music, MAG and ebbie. As I said I would, I'll just make one more post here to say that the CD is now posted on cdbaby, as is the Gospel Messengers CD.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 May 22 - 04:06 PM

Thread #30152   Message #928540
Posted By: Jerry Rasmussen
08-Apr-03 - 07:26 AM
Thread Name: Lyr ADD: A Handful of Songs (Various)
Subject: Lyr Add: A HANDFUL OF SONGS (Jerry Rasmussen)

I thought the song I wrote was already in the DT. Here are the words... slightly different than posted in this thread:

A HANDFUL OF SONGS
(Jerry Rasmussen)

All that I have is my Grandfather's hammer
And his old railroad watch, with the casing all worn
And the bible my Grandmother bought her last Christmas
That she gave to my Mother, now she's passed it on

      Some may leave money from a lifetime of savings
      Some just their name on a marble stone
      It's not what you leave, it's the joy of remembering
      And all I can leave you is a handful of songs

Some may leave stories, well tuned in the telling
Some may leave jokes that can still make you laugh
Some may leave lessons, hard in the learning
And some just a smile in an old photograph

How many days slip away without notice?
How many friends have you lost on the way?
How many good times are taken for granted
And only remembered when they've passed away?

My mother's Mother died on the operating table just before Christmas, when my Mother was about 11 years old. Before she went in for the operation, my Grandmother bought bibles for all eight kids for Christmas and wrote a loving inscription inside. She wasn't there to give the presents that Christmas, but my Mother always treasured the bible as the last gift she received from her Mother. Many years ago, my Mother passed it on to me. And, I still have my Grandfather's hammer and his old railroad watch.

The second verse was written, thinking of my friend Art Thieme and all of his wonderful stories, tall tales, jokes and terrible puns. That's a wonderful legacy to leave.

I have recorded the song on Handful of Songs on my own label.

Jerry

---

Thread #30152   Message #431537
Posted By: Francy
02-Apr-01 - 06:03 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: A Handful of Songs (Tommy Steele)
Subject: Lyr Add: HANDFUL OF SONGS (Jerry Rasmussen)^^

I'd like to pass this along with the song. "Sandy Paton taped 'Handful of Songs' for me three years ago, and I've passed it on to at least a dozen others. Thanks to Jerry Rasmussen for a wonderful piece of music." Quoted from Rick Fielding's CD Lifeline on Folk Legacy cd123.
Enjoy and pass it on...........
A HANDFUL OF SONGS
(Jerry Rasmussen)


All that I have is my grandfather's hammer,
His old railroad watch with the casting all worn.
The Bible my grandmother bought me last Christmas,
That she gave to my mother, now she's passed it on.....

Some may leave money from a lifetime of saving,
Some just their name on a marble stone...
It's not what you leave, it's the joy of remembering,
All I can leave you is a handful of songs

Some may leave stories well-tuned in the telling;
Some may leave jokes, that'll still make you laugh;
Some may leave lessons hard in the learning
Some just as smile in an old photograph

chorus

How many days slip away without notice
How many friends have we lost on the way?
How many good times are taken for granted,
And only remembered when they've passed away?

chorus

sing away my friend...Frank of Toledo

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: Tiger
Date: 23 May 22 - 05:18 PM

I learned "Handful of Songs" from Rick's album.

Simply a wonderful song, and a great arrangement. I like to sing it at end of session - it's a good closer.

Thanks, Jerry.

Subject: RE: Handful Of Songs CD - Jerry Rasmussen
From: saulgoldie
Date: 24 May 22 - 11:51 AM

I think CDBaby is no longer selling music. Is your CD still available?

Should I send a check herre:

   95 Hillcrest Ave.
   Derby, CT 06418

Thanks!

Saul