This is the one, original, remaining"Jim-handmade CD-R". The last one of 15 custom, handmade, home-burned CD-Rs straight from Jim's, in-home, art and music den. This cd includes authentic, ink-jet printed cd-label, tray card (J-card), cover and two-page booklet in a jewel case. It's the only one left and it is a collector's item. That's why the price is what it is. JimChaps First album is now remastered and available in physical format at a nominal - not phenomenal - price from Amazon.com.CD Baby offers the BEST PRICE TO PURCHASE JimChaps DIGITAL music files as either single tracks or full album. Printed lyrics, pictures and liner notes are available at jimchaps.com-----------(As written in 2004) The First album is acoustic, raw Folk, and includes some fun"beat box" bass/drum sounds on a couple cuts that will get the subwoofers bouncing. After all, Jim's slogan is Fresh Folk Music. His musical influences are wide and diverse. Jim was born in Detroit, grew up and went to school in Dearborn and Ann Arbor. Some friends describe Jim as the"Beach Punk Cowboy." It's a given that Jim sparks fun, and can inspire a whistle or shout from the listener, but it is his literary side--the poems-to-music aspect of his craft and his sincerity in addressing the theme: our days on earth are brief and valuable--that will lift this music beyond boundaries of any one genre. Jim Chaps"First" is an important album worth adding to your collection of acoustic music.To JimChaps, Folk music is more than an historical art form. Jim became a songwriter in 1976 and sang original compositions as a college freshman and sophomore at the Hinge Coffee House (held at University of Michigan-Dearborn campus in the"Field Room" of Henry Ford's Fair Lane mansion). First includes some of the early songs JimChaps performed at The Hinge. The songs had never been recorded until 2004.Folksinger JimChaps First (Fresh Folk Music) begins with New York For Firemen a reflective Sept. 11 tribute. The song was written as a"person sketch" in Sarasota, Fla. about a New York Fireman living in Venice, Fla. All I Think About Is Girls is dedicated to Johnny Cash, who Jim says"recorded some very fun songs" and Bob Hope"His humor often parodied men's attraction to women." All I Think About Is Girls has rapid-fire originality, with innovative twists and a couple new rhymes-with-girls words (beyond the predictable, curls, pearls, whirls and twirls.) Subwoofer speakers bounce on this one. Other fun songs on the album are Highway 23 co-written with brother Dave while driving in a car for a fishing trip in Michigan--it sounds like cattle-driving, singing cowboy, square dancing music; One-Eyed Mouse is pure, tall-tale fun; Tell Yourself You Can is upbeat, positive, motivational. Time To Ride and East From River resonate with acoustic guitar, and nice words and vocals. Man With Blue Guitar is an instrumental classical/flamenco guitar solo. JimChaps was inspired at an early age by Andres Segovia. While in college in Ann Arbor, Jim saw Segovia perform live inside a 4000-seat auditorium -- using no amplifiers. Man with Blue Guitar is also inspired by a Picasso painting called"The Old Guitarist" from Picasso's"Blue Period." A poem by Wallace Stevens may become song lyrics for this music. Destiny is a song Jim wrote while he was 18 years old. Ride of Time is mindful of works by Harry Chapin or Jim Croce. Last Minute Charlie is a tall tale and Hey, Mr. Ego is a dig against love of money and material possessions. To compliment the CD and/or digitally downloaded songs, fans and listeners can access full page printable lyrics, credits and other liner-notes in single-page, easy to read format directly from the jimchaps.com website."It's always been too difficult to read the tiny text that comes with cds. I used to always love to look at album cover artwork up close and to read the lyrics that were printed with them. It's nice for people to be able to read the lyrics and see the pictures at a comfortable size." In the coming months, Jim plans to incorporate more formal poetry, by noted writers into his songs. The"poems to music" aspect of Jim's songwriting began in 1976 too. Jim believes that brilliant wordcrafting in great poetry is enhanced in song. That poems-to-music provides a fresh interpretation and pleasure -- and will introduce great verse and lyrics to a larger audience. Background of"New York For Firemen" - as an assignment with other songwriters in the Tampa Bay/Sarasota area Jim had one week to compose a"personality sketch" song. A local newspaper ran a story and photos of Mr. Gerald Hanley, retired New York Fireman living in Venice, Florida attending a local 9-11 ceremony. Jim wrote the song describing Mr. Hanley and his family. The song is from the heart, and seems to make the surreal / tragic events of 9-11-01 feel personal to many listeners. Jim was invited to play the song at a street-naming ceremony on Staten Island held in June, 2004.