Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo What was your first record?

Considering the new vinyl theme, I am just wondering what everyone's first record was?

Mine was Queen- Sheer Heart Attack and April Wine - Harder Faster, birthday presents from my sisters when I was 11.

My first 45 (I was 12 at the time) was "Upside Down" with Diana Ross (it had just come out; yes I'm that old). My first LP was Supertramp's "Crime of the Century".

My first record that I bought was Styx - Grand Illusion. The first record that I remember someone giving me was The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour. I wish that I had hung onto the Beatles LP as I now have a greater appreciation for that album (Grand Illusion? don't care for it at all now).

My first real LP was one of those compilation albums from Ronco or something in the mid seventies. If I think of it, I'll re-post because it really DID have some great tracks!

My first "regular" LP was Aerosmiths' Toys In The Attic.

First single was Blondie Heart of Glass. First LP that I recall buying was the Grease soundtrack. My mom let me play all of her records on our console stereo. She was a Beatles fan - even saw them live in 1964! We had a lot of 70s rock, like Queen, David Bowie, Alan Parsons' Project, Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack, etc.

Oh how I miss those days.

Zoë

I'm assuming we aren't counting kiddie records, as I may have had some of those I don't recall, and I know I had something star wars related that was an actual record.

However, my first true musical purchase was a cassette tape, as records were around but on their way out. It was Michael Jackson's Thriller, which I just saw is about to be released again as a 25th anniversary edition.

Oh boy, that's bit far back for me to recall. It was the 70s for crying out loud I think one of the first pieces of vinyl was a Billy Preston disc.

One of my Mom's favorite stories to tell is that apparently I could correctly identify all her Beatles 45's when I was only 3 or 4 years old. She would make a game of it when people came over by having someone name a Beatles tune and I would pick it out of the collection and hand it to my Mother to play, correct side up.

First LP....I'm almost ashamed to admit it but when I was pretty young my uncle bought me KISS - Destroyer. I still fondly remember the look of horror on my parents faces when I opened it up and they saw the cover art.

First album: Sean Cassidy - Da Doo Run Run

First music I bought with my own money (from detasseling corn in Central Illinois) was a cassette tape: Def Leppard - Pyromania

How about the a record your parents listened to when you were young that you recently purchased yourself? For me: James Taylor - Gorilla. What I won't be buying: Roger Whittaker (though I bet he'd sound nice on M80s).

A Beatles album, can't remember which one.

Fisher Price, Edelweiss.

Interesting thread. I had various kiddie albums given to me, but first serious LPs (got them at the same time) were:

Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced
ABB - LAFE

in 3rd grade at the time. Circa 1971 as I recall.

The Doors 'Light My Fire/Crystal Ship' on a 45 .... was bought brand spanking new way on back in the day.

Holy crap! That was my first 45!

First album, I believe, was "Music Machine" from K-Tel ('cause it had a cool robot on the front).

First real album would have been Eagles - The Long Run.


Yes, I realise that the 45 came out after the albums - I like to start big!

First 45 - "The Twist" by Chubby Checker in 1960...holy crap, I'm old!
First album - "Glad All Over" by the Dave Clark Five around 1964.

Oldest album that I still have - "If You Can Believe Your Ears and Eyes" by the Mamas and the Pappas 1966.

First record I remember:
Kid's 45 version of Puff the Magic Dragon (not Peter, Paul & Mary)

First record I could afford to buy myself:
Zapp for $7.99 at the Record Factory, when it still had a head shop inside.

First record given to me was HELP by the Beatles for Christmas 1965 (still have it)

First 45 was Long Cool Woman ( In a Black Dress)1971. To this day still have not been able to figure what the lyrics are for most of the song.

First LP, Pagliero in 1971. Still have it.

Funny that I remember these things because if you asked me what I did this past Monday I would have a hard time remembering that!

Here's those lyrics Meddy ... Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)

Now you know!

Holy crap, Joe's old

CCR - Cosmo's Factory. I was about 5. I had older sisters.

First LP I bought (in about 1986, not new in 1980) was the 12", 45-RPM Mr. Crowley Live EP, I think. First one I think I received for Christmas was a K-Tel "Best of 60s Rock Jukebox" one.

Wow, anyone remember when you could still buy an artist's back catalog at a record store?

Strangely, I think my first purchased cassette tape was also Ozzy - Speak of the Devil.

Bren R.

We had a similar thread a few years ago. See my post here.

Look at Jack with his institutional knowledge. I totally forgot about that thread.

LOL! I didn't remember that thread either. I did remember posting a photo of my Ventures album, and a search for "Ventures" came up with that thread.

Either Bay City Rollers or Kenny Rogers.
No, no waitaminute, Bay City Rollers was the first album i owned but Kenny Rogers was the first one i bought with my own allowance money.
Can't go wrong with a bit of The Gambler.

I believe it was Kiss Alive 1 purchased by my Grandmother as a Christmas gift. I'm sure the record store clerk wondered what she was thinking when she checked out. Many great times during the vinyl years.

As a matter of fact, if you don't know when to fold 'em, you could go really wrong.

My first 3 lp's- For the life of me I can't remember the order of aquisition, all within a year or so.

Fleetwood mac, rumours- required listening to this day. was purchased near the time of release.

Areosmith, toys in the attic- I once heard a version of big 10 inch done by a blues type artist from the 50's or earlier judging by the SQ. This was an eye opener for me as to the recycling of songs. I'd love to know who that artist was.

Tanya Tucker, TNT- I bought this one for the cover. This was legal porn for a 12 yr old. Had to return to alco discount on my bike several times to view it before I'd saved up enough to buy it. A couple of the songs were even halfway decent.

Ironicly, Rumours and Toys in the attic were my first 2 hi-rez discs.

I remember throwing the old records around like frisbees! The older ones would shatter some good but the newer ones could take your head off! Sad to say it but i think my fist record was MJ thriller. I remember buying Kenny Rogers the Gambler but it was for someone's 10th birthday present. Lucky kid!

Ps I have a RollingStones greatest hits on record not even opened! I think there's 4 albums in the box? Skid damage at my brothers work back in 1994-95. I could have had the whole skid but who wanted records back then! Think they went in the garbage.

The first record I owned was a gift "Peter, Paul and Mary" (album). The first one I bought and still own is Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass “Wipped Cream & Other Delights.”

Copied from my original post (3 years ago) that Jack linked to:

"Ok, now here is the disclaimer: It was 1978, it was 9th birthday, and my parents were big into Disco. Yes, you guessed it - Village People - YMCA.

But the first album I bought MYSELF was AC/DC Back in Black. It was also the first CD I bought. "

You're not alone Shawn, my third album I believe was YMCA or the Star Wars Soundtrack I can't remember which I got first. I still have the Star Wars soundtrack.

I have never bought a vinyl album in my life. I found some of my father's old ones in the attic but that was as close as I ever got to them. I remember Led Zeppelin and Santana and more of that era. There was even some old Prince album in there, his first one I think. Dont know had that got in there. I started off in the cassette age, those didnt last too long did they? Thank god.

Now THAT was a great album cover!

The first album I bought was Led Zeppelin, can't remember the name but it had a lead Zeplin on the cover, I also bought most the Beatles albums as they were released and a mixture of Mowtown.

I'm dating myself. Bought in early 1964. Doesn't seem that long ago.

Foreigner - 4

It certainly made, and thankfully still makes, quite an impression.

I vaguely remember an interview with her were she says it was actually shaving cream because whipped cream melted under the studio lights.

Rolling Stones' "Let It Bleed" and still a favorite. Within a week someone also gave me The Archie's "Sugar Sugar" -- that's not one I still listen to.

Rich

1st album - Back in Black
2nd album - Highway to Hell
3rd album - Dirty Dees Done Dirt Cheap
4th album - High Voltage

Then I realized there were other bands that made music. Some better, most worse. But I still own these original 4.

Original Triumph and Original - Rock and Roll Machine are in my collection too. The R&R Machine still has the wrapper on it. I am a huge fan!

Paul

Worf, that's too funny. Those are the same albums I bought after B in B - in that EXACT order! Lol!

Highway to Hell is still my favorite AC/DC album.

Do you have the Live at Donnington concert? If not, pick it up - you won't be dissapointed.

My first record: "Born to be wild" a 45, by Steppenwolf.
My first LP record: "Blues Theme" by Davie Allan & the Arrows.

Hey, Chess, my first LP was Kenny Rogers, The Gambler also! My Mom steered me toward that one when I told her I wanted it or the Village People.

My second LP was the Best of Blondie.

Mostly in my house we did 8-tracks, as my folks belonged to Columbia House or RCA, or somesuch. My first 8-track was a Sesame Street one that I played until it snapped.

AC/DC - Let there be rock
Boston
Pink Floyd - DSOTM

All bought at the same time I bought my first system, with my first ‘real’ paycheck and first stereo (techniques turntable, pioneer receiver and A/R speakers). I was 12 and was influenced by my sister’s 20 year old ‘cool’ boyfriend. He was cool because his car was cool and he let me drive it (a yellow 69 hemi roadrunner). He turned out not being so cool. I took a bat to him after he gave my sister a black eye. He did have a cool car and good taste in music though.

It seems to be AC/DC as the most popular 1st album on this thread, with the Rolling Stones as a close second.

Interesting that during the SARS concert in Toronto a few years a go most people I talked to said that AC/DC upstaged the Rolling Stones. I was in Winnipeg on a business trip at the time so I can't coment myself.

Funny how things work out.

I will keep and eye out for the Donnington concert.

Thanks for the tip.

paul

I think it was Gary Numan- The Pleasure Principle when I was 9. Just for the song "cars".

Oh my gosh, just got back in the country and was looking to see whats going on. Talking about bringing back memories. . .

First records were given to me by my dad. He gave me three if I promised to take good care of them. They were Booker T & The MG's, Nat King Cole and a Frank Sinatra album. They were older and he had them for a while. I was young but loved the music. Those were some of his fav's and I can remember standing in front of the Zenith console and loading all three of them up and listening, sitting with him on the sofa. After all of these years I still have one of them. From time to time I will pull it out and look at it remembering how much fun and joy they brought to me and Dad who's been gone for a while now. Anyway great albums, good memories.

First album that I bought was Frampton Comes Alive. First mastered album I purchased was Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon all played on my killer system. Sansui G-5700, Pioneer HPM 100's, Pioneer PL??? turntable with an Audio Technica cartridge . . . at least I think it was Audio Technica. Man did I get my $$ worth out of that system. Wish I still had the Sansui. OK, blame the sentimentality on the long plane ride :-)

Hi,

This is a great thread, and what follows is going to date me, but what the heck. . .

The first record I purchased was "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley, on a 78 rpm single, in 1956. There was a cultural lag in southern Ontario small towns, and record stores were still selling 78 rpm shellac records as they transitioned to 45 rpm and LPs.

The next singles I bought were all 45 rpm: "Bye, Bye Love," by the Everly Brothers, and "Blueberry Hill (I found my thrill on. .) by Fats Domino, then "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue" by Buddy Holly and the Crickets.

The first LPs my older brother (by 6 years) Tom brought home were Louis Armstrong and the All-Stars, "Ambassador Satch," and Andre Previn doing a jazz treatment of songs from My Fair Lady. I credit Tom for instilling a love of traditional jazz in me when I was in my early teens that began with these LPs.

The first LP I bought was Bobby Darin's great record, "That's All," in 1959, which had the first really hip big band arrangements of standards like "Mack the Knife" and "Beyond the Sea". Those band arrangements still stand up today.

My parents gave me records when I was really little, but they were classically oriented, "Tubby the Tuba", a narrated story about all the instruments in the orchestra, and "Peter and the Wolf", with the great Prokofiev score. There was a lot of classical music in our home, so I tuned into that as well.

By the time I was 16, I had a driver's license and was going to see touring rock 'n' roll shows that came through Kitchener and London, Ontario. They all featured lots of American black doo-wop groups (The Silhouettes, The Del-Vikings, Frankie Lyman and the Teen-agers, The Platters) so I loved the tight harmonies, call and response arrangements and great black voices. That triggered a love of black, gospel-based music and performers that continues today.

Regards,
Alan

Hands down, Alan wins.

Wasn't thinking of singles when I answered the question in the previous thread. Your post made me go look thru my singles and I ended up on a walk down memory lane. I had, and still have:

'62 - Memories of Maria/Invitation - Jerry Byrd
'59 - I Got Stripes/5 Feet High and Rising - Johnny Cash
'60 - Last Date/Sweetie Baby - Floyd Cramer
'58 - All I Have To Do is Dream - The Everly Brothers
'61 - Apache/Echo Boogie- Jorgen Ingmann
'61 - Asia Minor/Roy's Tune - Kokomo
'61 - Let There Be Drums - Sandy Nelson
'62 - Crying - Roy Orbison
'60 - Come Along Julie/Woman From Liberia - Jimmie Rodgers
'60 - Perfidia - The Ventures

I know I also had Santo & Johnny's Sleepwalk cuz I drove my parents nuts playing it over and over and over. Regrettably, that ones seems to have disappeared.

Any of those ring a bell with you, Alan?


Yipes! I had Tubby The Tuba as well. I can still see the cover sleeve. Talk about a blast from the past, WOW!

Bay City Rollers all the way.

The face to hair ratio of the guy on the upper-right is well below acceptable limits.

I think it was a K-Tel record when I was a kid, with the famous song "Beep, Beep" by The Playmates

[Very slowly]
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep
While riding in my Cadillac
What to my surprise
A little Nash Rambler was following me
About one third my size
The guy musta wanted to pass me up
As he kept on tooting his horn
I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Slowly]
I pushed my foot down to the floor
To give the guy the shake
But the little Nash Rambler stayed right behind
He still had on his brake
He musta thought his car had more guts
As he kept on tooting his horn (beep beep)
I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Normal speed]
My car went into passing gear
And we took off with gust (whoosh)
Soon we were going ninety
Musta left him in the dust
When I peeked in the mirror of my car
I couldn't believe my eyes
The little Nash Rambler was right behind
You'd think that guy could fly
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Quickly]
Now we were doing a hundred and ten
This certainly was a race
For a Rambler to pass a Caddy
Would be a big disgrace
The guy musta wanted to pass me up
As he kept on tooting his horn (beep beep)
I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn
Beep beep beep beep
His horn went beep beep beep

[Very quickly]
Now we're going a hundred twenty
As fast as I can go
The Rambler pulled along side of me
As if we were going slow
The fella rolled down his window
And yelled for me to hear
"Hey buddy how do I get this car outa second gear?"

If you wrote this down from memory, you need to see the doc! He should be in his Shout Box soon!...

google search for the lyrics,

Great song.

Hey Ajax,

Yikes, another "Tubby the Tuba" listener! Hilarious!

Absolutley. I had the Everly's "All I Have to Do is Dream" and Santo and Johnny's "Sleepwalk." I didn't know who Roy Orbison was until years later when I met my then-wife, who was wild about Roy Orbison. I think we had a "Best of Roy" on 8-track with "Crying" on it, because I clearly recall listening to him in the car. I recall "Perfidia" by the Ventures but I didn't own it. All my old 45s got roasted by the sun during an apartment move when I left the box in the back of a VW bug. They were all warped and unplayable. I think I salvaged one.

It's sort of weird to realize that I've been alive and purchased every music format--except wax cylinders!! Even "Extended Play" 45-rpm 2-disc albums (they weren't very popular) of which I owned a couple, and pre-recorded open-reel tapes. And, lest readers think I'm 100, the 78s I bought in the 1950s were all electrical recordings. The era of acoustical 78-rpm recordings (done with a huge horn that moved a diaphragm that moved the stylus) ended in the late 1920s.

Alan

I'd never thought about it, but I'm pretty much in the same boat - 78s, 45s, LPs (mono, stereo, and a few Quadraphonics) - still have 3000 of them, pre-recorded reel-to-reel tapes, pre-recorded cassettes, CDs, SACDs, DVD-As, DVDs, HD-DVDs, Blu-ray. I don't think I ever owned an 8-track or any media. It's life was so short lived that I must have missed it. However, when I was in radio, we used cartridges (stereo only, I believe) for commercials, etc. Does that count? Missed Laser Discs too.

I've got some 78s from the 30s and 40s, but it wasn't me who bought 'em. They were my parents.

Some dude is selling what he claims is the world's largest collection of music on eBay--heard about it last night on NPR. He wants someone to buy it and donate it to a museum.

You two may own these original records then!
http://216.109.125.130/search/cache?ei=U...&icp=1&.intl=us

Ha, ha, ha! LOL.

Speaking of Dame Nellie Melba, she was very big on toast (Melba toast). . .and maybe peaches. Peaches Melba? Isn't that a dessert?

Alan

Well, I certainly couldn't bear to give up my Edison wax cylinders(my first one was Tom reciting "Mary Had a Little Lamb"). The analog warmth and realism(including all the wonderfully natural noise)put to shame all this modern junk which tries to get by with stuff like frequency response and dynamic range. Of course, it's a little hard to find "high-end" players for them these days, but I was fortunate to locate a craftsman in Switzerland who constructed a special unit for $10,000. Maybe a bit pricey, but omigod, it was like Tom was standing there right in front of me!

John, please drink more often.

First 45 was probably "Monster Mash", followed by "Witchy Woman" IIRC.

First album was probably "Meddle" by Pink Floyd, followed by the first "Synergy" album. At the time my parents audio system was one of those big pieces of furniture with radio, phonograph, tube amplifier and big speakers in the base. Synergy just didn't sound right on it, which lead to the first speaker-building effort -- a basic two-way, with DeForest/Philips drivers in a sealed box. My mother nearly had kittens when I crawled into the back of the "hi-fi", chopped off the wires to the big speakers, and wired this new little 2-way in as a replacement.

Sounded great !!

JOHN! Good to see your name pop up again. Hope all is well with you.

first 45: eric burden and war - spill the wine
first lp: george harrison - all things must pass

My very first records of my own (excluding kiddie records from my parents) were...

45-"Have You Never Been Mellow" - Olivia Newton John
LP- Dimensions (as seen on TV) K-tel album

That's a good album- only one lame song!
I had one with "happy together" by the turtles, and "vehicle" by Ides of march. sp? Goin' back a day or 2 here.

LP- Dimensions (as seen on TV) K-tel album [/quote]

I don't really know what my first was, but I remember having a cool-looking Disney Pinocchio record with the picture on it.

Here, someone has it on eBay:
eBay - Walt Disney Picture Pinocchio LP Record SEALED

I also had my share of Star Wars story records. I would fall asleep listening to them, which wasn't the best thing when the top of the record player was down and it would overheat and melt the record.

I suspect I have them sitting next to the entertainment center right now. Sesame Street albums. I have nothing to play them on, so I'm not sure why I took them from my parents instead of letting them get rid of 'em, but there the are.

All you need is a needle, some tape, a cone made out of paper, a dowel, and a couple hands -- one of which should be able to spin the dowel at 33 1/3 rpm.

Kiss - Hotter than Hell probably in 1976, I was eight.
Followed shortly after by Led Zeppelin IV (Zoso/Stairway to Heaven/"The Fourth Album" - whatever you want to call it)

My first was a 45 The Turtles So Happy Together.Early to mid 60's. If you would like to hear it go to link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zixg-vIQBLM

black sabath

Pink Floyd - The Wall. I remember having to save my money and buying it at KMart. wow -- this brings back memories

I had fun reading through this thread. My first LP was The Beatles - Let It Be. My dad gave it to me for my birthday because I kept bugging him to play The Long and Winding Road. My first 45 was The Clovers - Here Comes Romance. My dad actually wrote the song and I have an old picture of him holding one of the first pressings. Great topic! Vinyl still rules!!

Welcome aboard!

The Fuggs-Go Fugg Yourself!