First record you bought

[badgerx16]

On the heels of the "10 tracks" thread, and possibly one for the slightly more mature members, ( although vinyl is making a come back ), what was the first record, single or album, you bought?

 

For me, I bought 2 singles for my birthday in 1972; School's Out by Alice Cooper, and Amazing Grace by Judy Collins.

Edited 4 July, 2025 by badgerx16

[rooney]

Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets circa 1955

[Weston Super Saint]

1982 world cup single "this time".

Spoiler alert, it wasn't "this time".

[revolution saint]

I always pretend it was something by The Jam but actually it was Boxer Beat by JoBoxers.

[ecuk268]

Purple Haze  -  Jimmy Hendrix  1966

[trousers]

Album:

 

Single:

 

 

[spyinthesky]

'Brown Eyed Handsome Man'...Buddy Holly

[benjii]

I think it was "Bad" by Jacko.

 

[benjii]

Second was Bros or Right Said Fred, I think.

[Sheaf Saint]

Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.

[egg]

I'd love to say it was Blue Monday or something cool, but it was a complete embarrassment...Green Door...Shakin Stevens. FFS. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Think it would habe been Like A Prayer, with my own money at least.

[trousers]

56 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.

The song that Huey Lewis & The News successfully sued for ripping off one of their tracks... for which you, sir, are complicit in the crime, as a result of your purchase...

 

 

[Sheaf Saint]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

The song that Huey Lewis & The News successfully sued for ripping off one of their tracks... for which you, sir, are complicit in the crime, as a result of your purchase...

 

 

In my defence, m'lud, I was only 9 years old and had never heard that song before.

I guess that same defence from RPJ didn't wash with the judge.

[AlexLaw76]

[Sheaf Saint]

2 hours ago, egg said:

I'd love to say it was Blue Monday or something cool, but it was a complete embarrassment...Green Door...Shakin Stevens. FFS. 

It's okay, my first album was bloody Five Star 🤦

[Lord Duckhunter]

First album I owned was The Beatles 1962-66 (red) album. Before that I’d just played around with my mum & Aunties records. Parents got me that for Xmas. 
 

First single  I bought myself with my paper round money was “how does it feel” by Slade. First LP bought was either “Wings at the Speed of Sound” or “Venus and Mars”, can’t quite remember which, but I had them both around the same time…

Last piece of vinyl I ever bought was around ‘87 and I wish I could remember what it was. I know it was then because I moved abroad that year and when I came home in ‘91 it was all CD’s….Strange to think I don’t own a thing now, just a subscription to Apple Music. 

[Lighthouse]

Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

It's okay, my first album was bloody Five Star 🤦

Mine was The Smurfs Go Pop, if that’s not too cool for school, I don’t know what is.

[Sevvy]

Boogie Nights, Heatwave, 

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

Queens Greatest Hits a cassette....

[Whitey Grandad]

You Really Got Me

The Kinks

[Holmes_and_Watson]

50 minutes ago, Sevvy said:

Boogie Nights, Heatwave, 

If only I had something like that.

2 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

It's okay, my first album was bloody Five Star 🤦

But that was definitely one my brother got. To be fair it was just one of many from the Britannia Music Club. We didn't get pocket money as such, but got recurring things bought for us. Since my brother was in Britannia, I didn't have to ask for music. He'd let me order things too, once in a while.

That's why, by the time I was buying music my tastes were already refined. Which is why I reckon it was something by the Bangles. 🙂

[Hamilton Saint]

First opportunity I had to buy records was money earned as a paper boy for the newsagent on Hollybank Estate in Hythe in 1969. I bought mostly singles (45 rpm)--the first one was "Get Back". Singles cost 7/6 back then. The first album (LP) I bought was The Righteous Brothers Greatest Hits--prompted by the re-release (in 1969) of their single "You've Lost That Loving Feeling". There was a record shop on Pylewell Road in Hythe back then--near the Co-op grocery store.

Edited 5 July, 2025 by Hamilton Saint

[Farmer Saint]

Sabotage by the Beastie Boys single, and The Great Escape by Blur with money from my 10th Birthday.

Both cassettes, obviously.

The first vinyl record I bought was Dark Side of the Moon from a charity shop in Lymington, for £3. Cracking condition. I bought it because I recognised the cover and had heard of Pink Floyd by never heard them. Got me into my favourite band by complete accident. That same record is now worth (according to discogs), a couple of grand.

Edited 5 July, 2025 by Farmer Saint

[spyinthesky]

14 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.

Ray Parker Jnr had an interesting history within the American music scene as a guitar player and singer.
Have a Raydio LP when he was part of that group.

[egg]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

Sabotage by the Beastie Boys single, and The Great Escape by Blur with money from my 10th Birthday.

Both cassettes, obviously.

The first vinyl record I bought was Dark Side of the Moon from a charity shop in Lymington, for £3. Cracking condition. I bought it because I recognised the cover and had heard of Pink Floyd by never heard them. Got me into my favourite band by complete accident. That same record is now worth (according to discogs), a couple of grand.

Proper music that Farmer. Sabotage was close to my top 10, and nearly always on my gym list. Amazing track. 

I've done well in a Lymington charity shop. Mine was an original press of Closer by Joy Division. Gave a tenner for it, and with 10 + times that. 

[mickn]

First record bought was Virginia Plain Roxy Music, great track

[31cc]

15 hours ago, trousers said:

The song that Huey Lewis & The News successfully sued for ripping off one of their tracks... for which you, sir, are complicit in the crime, as a result of your purchase...

 

 

Unfortunately for Huey, he mentioned this in an interview - the settlement had an NDA so he had to pay it back...

 

Back on topic.. single - Joybringer by Manfred Mann's Earthband

Album,(if you exclude the Woolies/K-Tel top ten compilations by session singers)  How Dare You by 10CC

[Sarnia Cherie]

In the late 50's, 'Splish, Splash' by Charlie Drake (youngsters will have to look him up). The song was every bit as naff as the title. 

[spyinthesky]

40 minutes ago, Sarnia Cherie said:

In the late 50's, 'Splish, Splash' by Charlie Drake (youngsters will have to look him up). The song was every bit as naff as the title. 

There were some crap records about in those days eg 'Does your Chewing Gum Lose its flavour on the bedpost overnight' by Lonnie Donegan.
 .'Hole on the Ground' by Bernard Cribbins.
'Hole in my Bucket' by Harry Belafonte
'Ernie . The fastest Milkman in the West' by Benny Hill  etc etc

Edited 5 July, 2025 by spyinthesky

[Lord Duckhunter]

2 hours ago, spyinthesky said:

There were some crap records about in those days eg 'Does your Chewing Gum Lose its flavour on the bedpost overnight' by Lonnie Donegan.
 .'Hole on the Ground' by Bernard Cribbins.
'Hole in my Bucket' by Harry Belafonte
'Ernie . The fastest Milkman in the West' by Benny Hill  etc etc

You miserable sod 😂😂. 
 

Ernie was a great song, some great novelty records around my childhood. My mum reckons I went round the house singing The Singing postman’s  “Hev Yew Gotta Loight, Boy?"
 

Love  Bonzos, “I'm the Urban Spaceman”, probably my fav, but Ernie is a close second…

[Behind Enemy Lines]

On 05/07/2025 at 03:52, Hamilton Saint said:

First opportunity I had to buy records was money earned as a paper boy for the newsagent on Hollybank Estate in Hythe in 1969. I bought mostly singles (45 rpm)--the first one was "Get Back". Singles cost 7/6 back then. The first album (LP) I bought was The Righteous Brothers Greatest Hits--prompted by the re-release (in 1969) of their single "You've Lost That Loving Feeling". There was a record shop on Pylewell Road in Hythe back then--near the Co-op grocery store.

Small world. My first job was as a paperboy for the newsagent in Hollybank. They used to smoke like chimneys in the back room. 
 

Back to my first record. I was young. I fancied the singer like mad. She was also an actress. But the song is a bit cheesy and embarrassing so you should be so lucky if I’m going to tell you!

In my defence, I bought it more for the cover than the actual song.  
 

First CD album I bought was Dire Straits, Brother In Arms. Have been lucky to meet Mark Knopfler and also his family on a few occasions. All lovely people. 

[Dr Who?]

Megadeth - Rust in Peace, 1990. 

I have to say an album that works really well on Vinyl because the tinny sound works really well. Still have it! 

Edited 6 July, 2025 by Dr Who?

[benjii]

4 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

Megadeth - Rust in Peace, 1990. 

I have to say an album that works really well on Vinyl because the tinny sound works really well. Still have it! 

It's a top album.

[Picard]

2 hours ago, Behind Enemy Lines said:

Small world. My first job was as a paperboy for the newsagent in Hollybank. They used to smoke like chimneys in the back room. 
 

Back to my first record. I was young. I fancied the singer like mad. She was also an actress. But the song is a bit cheesy and embarrassing so you should be so lucky if I’m going to tell you!

In my defence, I bought it more for the cover than the actual song.  
 

First CD album I bought was Dire Straits, Brother In Arms. Have been lucky to meet Mark Knopfler and also his family on a few occasions. All lovely people. 

I'm suspecting Kylie Minogue.

[Kenilworthy59]

1971 - Pilgrimage by Wishbone Ash followed by Bolan Boogie

[east-stand-nic]

The ELO Discovery album in miss Selfridge London of all places. August 1979. 

[Turkish]

A-Ha take on me

[31cc]

On 05/07/2025 at 10:07, Sarnia Cherie said:

In the late 50's, 'Splish, Splash' by Charlie Drake (youngsters will have to look him up). The song was every bit as naff as the title. 

Heading off-topic for a moment, did you know that Charlie Drake recorded a single written and produced by Peter Gabriel? Not only that but the session musicians PG assembled for it included Robert Fripp, Sandy Denny, Phil Collins, Brian Eno, Percy Jones and Keith Tippet..  

The 1975 Peter Gabriel novelty single no one talks about | Louder

[Sheaf Saint]

14 hours ago, Turkish said:

A-Ha take on me

That was my first 12".

Well, it was either that or I Think We're Alone Now by Tiffany. But let's go with A-HA shall we, because it's infinitely less embarrassing.

(Cue @trousers taking the time to look up their respective release dates and showing me up!)

[Lord Duckhunter]

4 hours ago, 31cc said:

Heading off-topic for a moment, did you know that Charlie Drake recorded a single written and produced by Peter Gabriel? Not only that but the session musicians PG assembled for it included Robert Fripp, Sandy Denny, Phil Collins, Brian Eno, Percy Jones and Keith Tippet..  

The 1975 Peter Gabriel novelty single no one talks about | Louder

The great session musician Herbie Flowers wrote and played on “Grandad” for Clive Dunn. His second most famous bass line after “Walk on the wild side”  😂😂

[badgerx16]

5 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

That was my first 12".

Well, it was either that or I Think We're Alone Now by Tiffany. But let's go with A-HA shall we, because it's infinitely less embarrassing.

(Cue @trousers taking the time to look up their respective release dates and showing me up!)

In the film Mega Python vs Gateroid, Tiffany "stars" with Debbie Gibson, and in one scene they are together when DG asks "Did you hear that ?" and Tiffany replies "I think we're alone now".

 

You also need to be a bit careful when searching for pictures of Tiff as you might 'accidentally' come across her picture spread for Playboy.

[Hamilton Saint]

On 12/07/2025 at 06:29, 31cc said:

Heading off-topic for a moment, did you know that Charlie Drake recorded a single written and produced by Peter Gabriel? Not only that but the session musicians PG assembled for it included Robert Fripp, Sandy Denny, Phil Collins, Brian Eno, Percy Jones and Keith Tippet..  

The 1975 Peter Gabriel novelty single no one talks about | Louder

I'd not heard of that before. Thanks. Just listened to it. Interesting. He has quite the range on his vocals.

[sadoldgit]

For many years the only record player in our house was an old wind up gramophone so we just used to play the old 78’s that were lying around on it. When we finally persuaded Dad that we needed to have a “proper” record player, the salesman was trying to sell him a stereogram. He pointed to a piece of furniture with one speaker in it, saying we don’t need two speakers, how much is that! Consequently we ended up with a (mono) radiogram when stereo records were starting to be a thing.

The first record they bought was the 1812 Overture but I did get With The Beatles from my Nan for Christmas. I remember badgering Mum to buy the Twist and Shout EP but most of the records were either classical or by Ray Conniff (don’t ask). They did buy Revolver and Sgt Pepper for us though, bless ‘em.

I am not exactly sure what the first record I bought when I got my first paper round but it was probably Living In The Past by Jethro Tull or maybe Hello Suzie by Amen Corner or Carrie Anne*  by The Hollies.

I’m pretty sure the first album I bought was Stand Up by Jethro Tull and the second In The Court of the Crimson King for my then girlfriend.

It wasn’t until well into the 70’s that we managed to persuade Dad to dump the mono radiogram and invest in a stereo system. I think that he probably regretted it when my brother and I cranked up the volume to Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin etc. 

I don’t think that he ever did get the point of stereo speakers.

*Having checked the release dates it would have been Carrie Anne (which I have just discovered was written about Marianne Faithful). The first album would also have been The Beatles White Album in 1968.
 

 

Edited 14 July, 2025 by sadoldgit
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