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about

About the song:

I drove up to northern Idaho to catch the colors of fall and wound up falling for Rhonda. Little did I know it but my life was about to change big time. At times like this you gotta write a song.

I had most of the chords, a melody, title, and a handful of words. My co-writer Randy Handley added his priceless two-cents in a songwriting session or two, and this was the result.

Six years later in 1988, I re-wrote the song, changing some lyrics and adding a few new chord changes. Fast forward to August 2009 and I have started recording The Gift for my 6th album - a new version of the best of both versions.

Pianist, singer and songwriter Randy Handley currently resides in Nashville, and has had his songs covered by Diana Ross, John Denver, Garth Brooks and John Mellencamp to name but a few.

About the recording:

Located on Fourth Street near Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica California, was the small recording facility Sound Solutions. The place was owned by David Epstein and contained a handful of Steve Barncard's personal recording equipment. It was here that I came to record not only my songs of 1980 - 1982 but also the first four songs of my second CD 'The Island' in 1987. As always Stephen Barncard was the producer and mixer, and many times the engineer as well. Not only was the place intimate and had a good sound, but it was only blocks from the beach and the Santa Monica Bay.

The players on this 1982 four song session were Pete "Waz" Wasner on keyboards, Armando Compean bass, David Anderson lead guitar, and Mike Buono drums. You could always count on Buono for some solid drum tracks. I'm playing the rhythm guitar part on my Gibson ES 335 electric.

Steve just now got out the old quarter inch half track 15 ips master mix and baked it for a while to remove the grundge, then re-mastered it for this CD release.

lyrics

The Gift

words & music - Allan Thomas & Randy Handley


I've traveled the round world sailed the sea
Looking for who knows what
Lived like a king been knocked on my knees
Watched the doors open and shut
Played the game like a natural fool
But I won when I found you.

How can I just say I love you
You are all I can see
How can I tell you how grateful I am
For the gift that you are to me
The gift that you are to me

Everyone's talkin' 'bout the end of the world
But my world's just begun
It started when you walked into my life
And I'm not gonna turn and run
Wanna open myself to you
See where that leads us to

How can I just say I love you
You are all I can see
How can I tell you how grateful I am
For the gift that you are to me
The treasure you are to me

Your loving makes me humble
Sometimes I lose my nerve
I've got so much to tell you
In only three words

How can I just say I love you
You are all I can see
How can I tell you how grateful I am
For the gift that you are to me
The treasure you are to me
The gift that you are to me


© 1982 Black Bamboo Music - BMI
Randy Handley Music - BMI

credits

from Brooklyn Boy In Paradise, track released November 8, 1982
Produced & recorded by Stephen Barncard

Allan Thomas - vocals & rhythm guitar
David Anderson - lead guitar
Armando Compean - bass
Pete Wasner - piano
Mike Buono - drums

With much gratitude to Rhonda Jerald.

Photo - RJ @ Haleakala Maui

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Allan Thomas Hanalei, Hawaii

Aloha and welcome to my Bandcamp Music Store home page. Here you can listen to full-length samples of all seven Allan Thomas albums and three singles. Also to be found are credits, photos, stories and lyrics for all songs. Dig in...

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