CDs We Never Listen To, But Keep

Subject: CDs We Never Listen To, But Keep
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 07:04 PM

When people look at my collection of CDs, cassettes, DVDs and videos, they usually comment on what an extensive collection I have.
It's a nice compliment and I am appreciative that I've accumulated as much music and movies as I have. But, I always point out that I've given away far more than I have. I've got a CD ready to go in the mail to a Catter because I know he will appreciate it, and I doubt that I will ever play it again. I'm not much into Pride Of Ownership, or volume. To me, a CD, book, video or DVD that is sitting on a shelf that will most likely never be listened to or viewed again is enjoyment for someone else just gathering dust. I realize for collector's there's a "completist" mindset. I'm not knocking that. Much of the music I have is because of collectors. It just ain't me, Babe.

What if everyone looked through their CDs, videos, cassettes and DVD and pulled out two or three that they never think they'll listen to or watch, and send them on to someone who might really enjoy them? If they don't enjoy them, they can send them along until they find the right home. Everything has a home. It's a matter of getting it there. This is something that Art Thieme and I have done for many, many years. Some of the most treasured music I have comes from Art.. things he knew I'd enjoy more than he ever would. I hope that some of the things I've sent to him found an appreciative home. If not, he knows that he can send them on to someone else who might appreciate them more.

Maybe tonight I'll look through my stuff and pick out a few more things to send to friends. I already have a stack of videos and a few DVDs. Someone might as well be enjoying them. If I get the gumption, I might even list a couple of things on this thread that folks are welcome to, in exchange for a mailing address.

Music should never gather dust.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs We Never Listen To, But Keep
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 11:03 PM

I've done the same thing over the years, Jerry, with Art and with other friends. Art is amazingly generous. It's funny, I can give away CDs easier than I can my books. I was looking at my books the other day and thinking the same thing about them gathering dust, but most of them are hardback collector type so maybe that's the allure of keeping them. I do have a complete set of the Book of Knowledge circa 1930/40s which I intended to send to a friend, but have to get them off the top shelf first! I just sent the same friend three CDs last week

I'll have a look and see what else I have, then post them.

Thanks!

kat

Subject: RE: CDs We Never Listen To, But Keep
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 03:09 AM

Not meaning to derail this thread, but it reminds me of something Jason Roweth said at a show the band Collector was doing. It was something like, "Our CD comes with a guarantee. If you don't like it, send it back to us, and we'll send you two that we don't like."

Subject: RE: CDs We Never Listen To, But Keep
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 09:57 AM

I like that, Gerry:

Fourtunately, none of us has the identical taste of anyone else. Art sent me a couple of CDs by an a capella doo wop group I had never heard of... and probably never would have. Someone sent them to him, unopened. Art doesn't really like doo wop or rock and roll so he sent them on to me. They are two of my most treasured CDs. Art has also sent me a few unusual black gospel CDs which I greatly value. They just aren't to Art's taste. It's a matter of being sensitive to the taste of friends so that when you get something that you don't enjoy you can pass it on to someone who does. I';m sticking a CD of "The Colored Sacred Harp by the Wiregrass Sacred Harp Singers" to Ron Davies today. I picked it up used and was real curious to hear it because it's by a black Sacred Harp group. I wasn't aware that the black community had it's own tradition (and composers) of Sacred Harp Music. I don't sing Sacred Harp and Ron does, so I figured that he'd enjoy it more than me.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs We Never Listen To, But Keep
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 11:34 PM

I'm with you Jerry....and Art.
But I usually listen to all CDs that I get, and frequently there's one song I really like.

So I'll pull that one off the recording, and add it to others to make my own compilation, and give the CD away.

Seamus

Subject: RE: CDs We Never Listen To, But Keep
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 02:21 AM

When I was in transition from Peter, Paul and Mary to more traditional stuff, I bought a little of everything I could find - including a number of CD's from singer-songwriters of the early 1990's. If anybody is really "into" those songwriters like Gorka and Wainwright and Wilcox and Massengill and the like, they'd be happier in your home than they are in mine. I can spare some of the Bitchin' Babes solo albums, too....
-Joe-