ILM Snapshot: First Five Records You Bought

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Spread over quite a few years, and if memory serves me right, mine were:

Queen: 'Flash' 7" Adam And The Ants: 'Dirk Wears White Sox' Various: 'Now That's What I Call Music Vol. 8' Eurythmics: 'Be Yourself Tonight' The Pretenders: 'Get Close'

No omission of dodgy purchases, please.

Johnathan, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bought or had bought for you? Cause I had a stash long before I started making my own purchases, and when I did, in that there early eighties at the age of 12 or so, I vaguely remember things like the first Asia album, some Rick Springfield thing and probably Hall and Oates. Dearie me!

Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

And!! How good do you think they are now?? Mine were spread over a couple of years, ages 11-13 - a slow starter, me: I thought records were fearfully expensive and risky, not surprising considering what I bought.

Howard Jones - "Things Can Only Get Better" 7" (in all probability very poor)

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "Welcome To The Pleasuredome" 7" (excellent then and now)

Ultravox - RAGE IN EDEN (really really bad. Or, actually is it - has The Thin Wall (ace) on and The Voice (OK) and a couple of other catchily Teutonic confections. But an awful title and cover and a very dreary song about being a WWI casualty. Will Ultravox synth sounds be next up for rehabilitation?)

Eurythmics - REVENGE (bad, and I knew at the time it was bad, but I had shelled out for an album and had to manfully struggle with it. Bought as best of a bad lot on a holiday in France.)

Stravinsky - THE RITE OF SPRING (my attempt to 'get into' classical music, feeling very intimidated by the older and cleverer boys at my new school. Excellent of course but I dont think I could listen to it now.)

Tom, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't remember. I'm sure they were things like Sound of Music soundtrack.

Lyra, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast (I bought this when I was 8! I bought it because the cover looked cool and I liked the name Iron Maiden. It may be the worst record I've ever bought.)

Michael Jackson - Thriller (just because everyone else had it)

Quiet Riot - Condition Critical (I was disappointed that it didn't have "Come On Feel the Noise" on it; I may never have even listened to it)

Beastie Boys - License to Ill (so I could learn all the words to "Paul Revere". One of the best albums ever.

Run DMC - Raising Hell (so I could learn all the words to "You Be Illin")

Kris, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

1. Pelican West - Haircut 100, on tape (age 11)

Then when we got a stereo, by dad bought my sister and me (age 12) a bunch of records:
2. Rio - Duran Duran
2. Hungry Like The Wolf, 7" - Duran Duran
2. Kissing To Be Clever - Culture Club
2. Special Beat Service - the English Beat
2. Lexicon of Love - ABC

The tape is broken, but I'd probably be most inclined to listen to Haircut 100 and the English Beat now.

youn, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

MJ -Thriller (with own money)
Pat Benatar - Live from Earth
Huey Lewis and the News - Sports
Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down
Wire - the Perfect Copy (just kidding :P)

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

First two: Go-Gos' Beauty and the Beat, Flock of Seagulls' Listen. Between those and the period during which my actual, "informed" buying began (ages 6-10?) I kind of lose track -- I mostly just listened to oldies and pop radio, but I'm pretty sure I bought cassettes of Kwame and UB40, and License to Ill.

Does anyone else remember Kwame?

Nitsuh, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

This is going to be very hard to remember!...

1) Prince - Batdance

2) Alice Cooper - Trash

3) Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

I honestly can't remember what I got after these, could have been something by either: Megadeth or Guns'N'Roses...but probably more Iron Maiden albums. Or maybe it was Winger.

jel, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oasis - WTSMG? (Possibly bought in vain attempt to be cool (I was 12!), seemed brilliant then, merely alright now, and always paled in comparison to Definitely Maybe anyway.)

Wayne's World Soundtrack. What can I say? Bought cause it had Bohemian Rhapsody on.

Blur - The Great Escape. Classic then and near classic now, despite the bad press it got. It's Blur's best work of that phase, Parklife was too long, and blatantly insulted by them purely to seem cool. (Note Alex never seemed to say it was crap, though.)

Queen - Made In Heaven. Liked it then, but basically it's unmitigated toss. But I do have a soft spot for 'Heaven For Everyone'.

I honestly can't remember anything else...

Bill, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I feel kinda cool that the first album I got was by Prince, but not so cool for the fact that it was Batdance.

jel, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

first 5 cds (beginning last summer, ooh look at modern me):
1) goo goo dolls, jed. love it.
2) radiohead, the bends. the thrill has worn off. like it.
3) smashing pumpkins, siamese dream. forgettable.
4) fiona apple, tidal. cheap and i liked it.
5) santana, evil ways. really cheap. i only listened to it once.

Lyra, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I *think* my answers went something like this:

Dare To Be Stupid - Weird Al Liscense To Ill - (You know.) Vacation - The Go Go's Batman sndtrk. - Prince

I can't really remember any others. These were bought/given over a course of about 4 years...I didn't really start paying attention to music until I was 13 or so...then it was all downhill...

Jess, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

1) The Fifth Dimension-The Age of Aquarius. Got it for my 8th birthday. I think I love it even more today, back then I probably thought it was a little too grown up.

2) Paul McCartney-McCartney. I really liked it then, now I just think it's underrated. The cover's cool. I found the instrumentals boring, but then I hated instrumentals when I was 8. I was jealous of Linda's daughter, featured in the inner sleeve.

3) Beatles-Let It Be. I remember I thought the movie was boring. I liked the album though, didn't realize how messy and back to basics it was supposed to be. I was puzzled by the reference to Charles Hawtrey.

4) Woodstock Soundtrack-Saved my allowance for months to get this. I thought I was so cool, a 3 record set with a triple gatefold sleeve. And the Fish Cheer! And pictures of skinnydippers! Musically, I think I'd like a lot of it now. John Sebastian sounds like a dipshit, though.

5) Blood Sweat & Tears-self-titled. My avant-garde purchase, ha ha. Dreadful, except "Spinning Wheel" and "And When I Die". David Clayton Thomas is pretty camp.

Arthur, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I can't remember exact order but bought first two on same day in reduced bin at Woolies in Berwick on Tweed.

Sparks -Beat the clock

Roxy Music- Angel Eyes

BA Roberston -Bang bang

ELO - Discovery

Flying Lizards - Money

I still love the Sparks/Roxy and Flying Lizards singles, in fact the Roxy one would probably end up in my all time top 50 if not quite top 10. BA Roberston- haven't heard in a long time, I would imagine it to be quite irritating now.

Discovery is one of ELO's weakest LP's but it does have the awesome Don't bring me down.

So all in all a pretty good selection, it's been downhill ever since though. And the year was 1979 pop pickers.

Billy Dods, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A wildly varying list. I am including compilations.
1 - Culture Beat - 'Mr vain'
2 - Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince - 'Boom shake the room'
3 - Energy Rush Dance Hits iof the Year 1994
4 - Cypress Hill - Black Sunday
5 - Chaka Demus and Pliers - Twist and Shout

One out of five ain't bad. But which is the one?

matthew james, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Jazy Jeff & Fresh Prince = Cool, a very good choice.

jel, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Pump - Aerosmith

Get A Grip - Aerosmith

Greatest Hits - Aerosmith

Permanent Vacation - Aerosmith

Pandora's Box - Aerosmith

Five guesses on which band introduced me to music fandom...

alex in montreal, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I like Tracer's list a lot. Well - I like some of it a lot.

Tom E - forgive me for saying you are being a wee bit pretentious in calling yourself a slow starter at 11-13. Some of us took a lot longer than that to BUY a RECORD.

I also disagree with you, or at least want to disagree with you, about the Eurythmics LP.

the pinefox, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Pinefox, you are of course at liberty to disagree. I do want to know what your first five records are, though.

I was under the impression most of the people on this board were buying records at age 5 or some similarly early age. Not sure why.

Tom, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My mother used to buy 45's for me from time to time. She'd pick out anything. AC/DC's "Back in black" was one. Adam Ant's "Stand and deliver" was the first record I can remember being bought for me. I really loved Frankie Goes to Hollywood. I remember getting "Welcome to the pleasuredomw" LP for Xmas. I knew they were supposed to be naughty but I had no idea why. I was only 8. Wham "Fantastic" was another. You could say Roland Rat's "Rat rappin'" was my introduction to rap music. Although I wouldn't. The first album I can remember buying myself was Queen's greatest hits when I was 12.

Michael Bourke, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles Live (awful but I still kept it for ages); Transformer by Lou Reed; Pinups by Bowie; Caravanseria by Santana (not awfull, still got it); For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music

philT, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Blondie, "Parallel Lines" Patti Smith, "Wave"

Don't remember the next 3.

Sean, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Tom E: yes, I understand the impression. But naturally it doesn't apply to me. I didn't buy a record till I was 15. I don't know what the next four were.

the pinefox, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

wow another early asia fan, i am pretty sure that was my first purchase at Kmart. only other early i can remember is judas priest 'screaming for vengeance' maybe the first fastway album too.

keith, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

First albums I shelled out my own money for..

1) Public Enemy - Nation of Millions 2) Arrested Devolpment - 3 Years, 5 Monthes, 4 Days in the Life of.... Or how ever long. 3) Pavement - S&E 4) Dinosaur jr - Where You've Been 5) Neil Young - Rust Never Sleeps.

I never realized how much I borrowed from older brothers till now.

zacko, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I started buying records very late, around 14 or 15. It just didn't occur to me. Paperboy money was for Atari cartridges and the radio was free. As best I can remember (this was about 17 years ago!) these were the first five, all LP:

1) Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A. - My brother had some other Springsteen albums, including Nebraska and Born To Run, and I really liked those. So I thought I'd pick up the new one because I liked "Dancing in the Dark." I don't own this album anymore, but I'm always looking for a clean $1 vinyl copy. Don't think I'll like it much (the production kills it) but want to have it around. Soon after buying the LP I bought the 7-inch of the title track, and it has one of Springsteen's greatest songs on the B-side, the heart- wrenching "Shut Out The Light." I even bought the "Born In The USA" 12-inch dance mix! I was obsessed. Owned the entire Springsteen catalog before I had 20 records total.

2) Led Zeppelin II - I still love this record. It's never gotten old.

3) Led Zeppellin IV - Still sounds great. Probably the last Zeppelin album I'd put on now, though, because I played it so much.

4) Bruce Springsteen, Darkness On The Edge of Town - Remember being very disappointed when I first heard this. Knowing it came between Born To Run, which was my favorite album of all time, and the very pop The River, my expectations were high. Still my least favorite Springsteen album of the 70s and 80s.

5) The Who, Magic Bus/Sings My Generation - I swear I remember this being a two-fer vinyl reissue. Again, my brother had all the good Who records, and I was filling in a gap. I remember liking "Bucket T" a lot, but most of my other faves were already on Meaty Beaty, which we had. Haven't heard these LPs in years.

Mark, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Pinefox you are being very cagey about what your first record was. Was it by any chance "Put Your Filas On" by Schooly D?

Tom, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Mark which side of Led Zep IV do you play for the chicks you cant to pull? ;-)

Answer: I only remember my first single. Still have it. Still sounds as great as when I first go it. The group is Hot Chocolate. The song "Girl Crazy".

nathalie, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

1. Michael Jackson, Off the Wall
2. Kiss, Destroyer
3. Grease OST
4. Billy Joel, Glass Houses
5. Donna Summer, "On the Radio" 7-inch

M. Matos, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

1) C & C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat (at 10)

2) Green Day - Dookie (at 12)

3) The Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (at 12)

4) Bjork - Post (at 13)

5) Portishead - Dummy (at 13)

Tim, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Didn't buy records as a kiddie - that's what FM radio and a big ten-pack of TDK AD-90s every birthday was/were for.

First had cash of my own when I signed on for supplementary benefit pre-college. Spent it on:

Suzanne Vega: "Suzanne Vega" Joni Mitchell: "Hejira" Tangerine Dream: "Phaedra" Jean-Michel Jarre: "Zoolook" Philip Glass: "Glassworks"

Guess which two of the above I no longer own.

Prior to that I had records bought for me; I think my LP collection pre-Sixth Form was 80% Abba.

Michael Jones, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Matthew: "Mr Vain" is awesome, though unlike 2 Unlimited's "No Limit" it is unconnected even tenuously to Iain Duncan Smith. Don't much like any of the others.

In my case:

1.) Unforgivable but it was for charidee: the reworking of "Ferry 'Cross The Mersey" following the Hillsborough disaster, May 1989.

2.) For the same reasons, the second version of "Do They Know It's Christmas", December 1989, which I don't think I've heard in 10 years (it's *always* the original).

3.) Jason Donovan's "When You Come Back To Me", early 1990. One of PWL's finest and cheated out of Christmas Number 1 by the above.

4.), 5.) and 6.) Can't get these into precise order but circa June 1990: Jason's "Another Night", Big Fun and Sonia's "You've Got A Friend" (more charity bollocks) and Elton John's "Sacrifice" / Healing Hands" (which I bought for my mum, really because "Sacrifice" is about the only Elton song she likes: the only one of these records not produced by Stock Aitken Waterman).

Next came (and this is the real crime) "That's Just The Way It Is" by Phil Collins, then "Tom's Diner" by DNA featuring Suzanne Vega, which I'm convinced would still sound great. I also have Jive Bunny's "Swing The Mood", NKOTB's "Hangin' Tough" and Snap's "The Power" from this period, but didn't actually buy any of them at the time.

Robin Carmody, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

first couple of albums i bought: aerosmith - get a grip, greatest hits, prince - batman (my favourite movie when i was 7!), weird al - greatest hits, wayne's world soundtrack. had em' all on cassette!! first few cd purchases included: toys in the attack, dookie, nevermind, more weird al...

James Annett, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

nathalie - side two, per Damone's instructions. "Kashmir" is OK, too (as Rat found out).

Mark, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The first single and album I'm very sure of, because that's what everone always aks: "I Feel For You" by Chaka Khan (a very cool first single, even today) and "Cupid + Psyche 85" by Scritti Politti (unlistenable production values). From around the same time I remember "Labour of Love" by Hue & Cry (a 10"! probably not very good), "Jeannie" by Falco ("Sie werden ihr nicht finden! Niemand soll ihr finden!" This German language single was probably not a hit in the UK or US. A dark rape fantasy. It sounded very dramatic at the time, ahem.) and "Holding Back the Years" by Simply Red (this back when they we're cool, no?).

JoB, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

DUDE! How do you people remember this shit? The first five records I think I shelled out my own money for, ie money I got on my birthday when I was quite young:

Madonna, Like a Prayer

Madonna, Like a Virgin

Tiffany

G'n'R, Appetite for Destruction

I think Janet Jackson...?

I really don't remember. Some of them I obviously bought quite late (Like a Virgin I specifically remember being my first my-own-money purchase, but I was like 8 or 9 at the time, and since it came out when I was like 4...). Had bought for me...the first album I ever had given to me was Michael Jackson's Thriller, but I can't remember anything besides that. I didn't need to own my own, me and my mom had the same taste then.

Ally, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't really remember, but if I were to guess, I'd say Björk - Debut, Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes, Sonic Youth - Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star, Suzanne Vega - Solitude Standing, Portishead - Dummy.

Melissa W, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - "Parents Just Don't Understand" single - I still know almost all the words...

U2 - 'Achtung Baby!' - I still like it, though I never listen to it. I hear its flaws now, and Bono can be a little over-the-top; besides, I can't really separate it from being a ninth grader pining about how no girls liked me and listening to "Who's Gonna Wild Your Wild Horses..."

MC Hammer - (whatever that first full-length was called) - ummm, whatever. At least I never bought Vanilla Ice.

It's weird, too, I distinctly remember hearing "How Soon Is Now" as a very young kid - maybe 8 or 9 - and getting goosebumps. It was only years later, when I bought 'Singles,' that I realized it was a Smiths song.

Clarke B., Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Breakdance Beats! v. 1 (at 6)

Boney M -- 10,000 Light Years (also at 6)

Chuck Berry -- Best Of (also at 6)

Elvis -- Sings Country (at 6)

Debbie Gibson -- Out of the Blue (at 8)

As you can see, my tastes haven't changed an awful lot.

Sterling Clover, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Steady Mike listed:

>>> Suzanne Vega: "Suzanne Vega"

which is fabulous - what a first buy! (It's a one-time thing - I know.)

>>> Joni Mitchell: "Hejira"

which Stevie T bought only months ago. Why couldn't he tape it from you When You Waz Kidz In Dat Liverpool Dere, dat's what I wanna no.

>>> Tangerine Dream: "Phaedra"

Probably underrated.

>>> Jean-Michel Jarre: "Zoolook"

This is the one - I'ds completely forgotten this absurd, yet seemingly memorable phrase.

>>> Philip Glass: "Glassworks"

Sounds boring.

>>> Guess which two of the above I no longer own.

Well, I hope Philip Glass is one of them. Hope != trust.

Tom E: the answer you seek is the Primitives' first LP, LOVELY.

the pinefox, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

On the Primitives tip, "Crash" was my first 7". I played the balls out of that mother.

Sterling Clover, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Guess again, Pinefox. And post your answers!

God knows what I was doing with the JMJ thing. Perhaps it was the Frenchness (the Tigana of the Prophet 5?) + he was quite short and had good hair. Maybe I imagined that if *I* learned to play the laser harp, I could marry Charlotte Rampling too.

Only just noticed the e-mail address of Johnathan, who started this thread. Spooky.

Michael Jones, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Spooky? Well, that was quite a good LP, but disappointing next to the eps, really.

>>> Maybe I imagined that if *I* learned to play the laser harp, I could marry Charlotte Rampling too.

And in many ways, that's what happened.

OK, ones you no longer own must = Jarre and... Tangerine Dream? Surely you wouldn't have got rid of the first Vega LP? That would just be STUPID.

the pinefox, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I had 'Bad' by Michael Jackson on 7" when I was a nipper (what year did it come out? Was it 87? That would make me about 8), because I thought he looked 'tough' on the sleeve. I got bored of it after a week because records were awkward and tapes were not, so I frisbeed it across the park and it smashed. I then stole 'Open Up And Say Ahhhh' by Poison and 'Appetite For Destruction' by G'n'R off my brother. Both on tape. I stole lots of things off my brothers, and still do...

The first CDs I bought were when I got a player when I was 14 (up till then everything was tapes), and included such shining sonic diamonds as Mega City Four and The Senseless Things...

Nick Southall, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Pinefox: you are correct.

Now - the four that came after "Lovely"?

Michael Jones, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh, that's easy. Lazy (1989); Pure (1989); Galore (1992); Camden Records' Best Of (1997).

the pinefox, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

cyndi lauper's she's so unusual; 85 what's hot; orchestral sci-fi hits; breakdancing for beginners (complete with instructional poster); 86 Just hits (my intro to the cure)

Geoff, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I give up.

Michael Jones, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Heh, 11-13 is a slow starter? The first CD I received was at 15, I think, and it was Tears For Fears "Break It Down Again" single. After that:
2) Men At Work - Business As Usual
3) Stone Temple Pilots - Tiny Music
4) Eels - Beautiful Freak
5) Alice in Chains - Unplugged

palpable, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

0. Breakin' Sound Track (bought w/ my brother) 1. Madonna - Like a Virgin

2. Paula Abdul - I forget the name

3. Tiffany - Hold an Old Friends Hand

4. Technotronic - I forget the name

5. MC Cool

One other hand the first records that I listened too when I was 6-9 years old were:

Beatles - Sgt Peppers
Henry Mancini - Greatest Hits
The Smurfs - Smurfing Fair
Various - Disney stuff Various - Peter and the Wolf

marianna, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Before I raided my sister's bedroom to find her stash of Cure, Smiths, Depeche Mode and Sugarcubes tapes, I purchased crud like Wilson Phillips, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson (actually, Deb and Tiff I still heart), and *gasp*, there was even a certain period of time when all my mom would buy me were fucking Christian youth orientated pop tapes. I shudder to remember...

My Dad would only buy me singles, since albums themselves, were too expensive. I remember purchasing the "Like A Prayer" single and buying each new Madonna single that came out afterwards. I remember being in a Soundware House, and hearing this lovely voice coming in over the speakers. I asked an employee there, who it was and he pointed me towards the "Nothing Compares 2 U" single By Sinead O' Conner, I purchased it immediately. I was probably 11 at the time, and hasn't happened since.

After that, my first CD was Pearl Jam's Ten, then onto Nirvana Nevermind, that Yaz album, Alice in Chains Dirt, and Madonna's Erotica. I was always in this stupid conflict over pop radio, what my friends listened to, and what the “cool” people at school who were obviously too cool for me, listened to, not realising it was actually ok to listen to both.

I have a horrible memory of being in 5th grade and some guy coming up to me and calling me a "new waver". That just shook my fucking world, cuz it sounded so completely alien to me, and I remember it confusing me terribly. Silly, I know.

JC, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i don't think i was allowed to spend my own money until i was 15 or so. the first 5 pre-recorded albums that entered my collection because i picked them out as birthday or christmas presents or something like that were iirc:

bon jovi - new jersey

def leppard - hysteria

aerosmith's greatest hits

guns 'n' roses - lies (my mother confiscated this. i've still never heard it.)

led zeppelin ii

i thought damone said to use side 1 of zep 4 to score.

sundar subramanian, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My first two CDs were Mariah Carey Unplugged and Michael Bolton Soul Provider (christmas gifts from my hipster parents). I don't know if anyone remembers the actor Joey Lawrence from Blossom but he put an album out and that was also one of my favorites back in the day. I also had (and still have) Michael Jackson's HIStory, and Weird Al's Greatest Hits (it's sad but I have 4 of his albums). I was too young to know better in the early nineties. Thankfully I'm finally getting my shit together.

Lindsey B, Thursday, 16 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Some no doubt bought by my mother or my brother, but this is what I remember:

The Kingston Trio At Large
The Kingston Trio Encores
The Chad Mitchell Trio At the Bitter End
The Chad Mitchell Trio Mighty Day On Campus
The Kingston Trio String Along

Frank Kogan, Friday, 17 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I remeber Dylan,Joan Baez, Kingston Trio and Disney

anthony, Friday, 17 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think my first five were all Beatles records, though there may be the odd Bon Jovi or Huey Lewis mixed in there too. First was 20 All-Time Greatest Hits followed by (from what I can remember) Meet the Beatles, Help!, A Hard Day's Night, Revolver.

tha chzza, Friday, 17 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think it went something like:

New Order 'True Faith' 7" single.

Labbi Sifre (sp?) 'Something Inside (So Strong)' 7" single.

Paul McCartney 'All the Best' LP.

Belinda Carlisle 'Heaven is a Place On Earth 7" single.

Beastie Boys '(You've Gotta) Fight for Your Right' 7'' single.

DavidM, Friday, 17 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

oh, christ.

1. beatles _white album_ (followed by long gap)

2. ac/dc _back in black_

3. motley crue _shout at the devil_

4. beastie boys _license to ill_

5. metallica _garage days rerevisited/$5.98 ep_

how embarassing. it was the 80s, though. uh, uh, i bought pil's _metal box_ when i was (quick calculation) 6, though. i swear!!

your null fame, Friday, 17 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

All of those beat Men and Women by Simply Red which I'm afraid I bought as a 14 year old. Very shameful.

Johnathan, Friday, 17 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Remembered today that the Darling Buds' POP SAID was maybe # 5 or 6.

the pinefox, Friday, 17 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I was worse: I bought "Stars" by Hucknall when I was *11* ...

Robin Carmody, Saturday, 18 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

three months pass...
IIRC 'Mull of Kintyre' - Wings
'Banana Split Song'- The Dickies
'Video killed the Radio Star' The Buggles
Super Trouper - Abba
'Fade to Gray'- Visage.

stevo, Saturday, 1 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

K-tel Compilations - Space Invasion (inc YMO, Dollar, War, Magic Fly and Atmosphere) and Star Tracks (inc John Foxx, Pina Colada Song)
Bad Manners - The Undersea Adventures of Ivor the Engine
Talking Heads - Remain in Light
AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Deep Purple - Deepest Purple
Queen - Greatest hits / Live Killers / Flash Gordon OST (this was a bit later I think)
Star Wars - Performed by the London Philharmonic

K-reg, Sunday, 2 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ooh I had a couple of Ktel collections too, Dimensions, Radio Active, Blast Off and that Star Trax one (big round space station on the cover that had a strip of vinyl record around the outside and the docking 'ship' was the needle arm?). I'd found a Supertramp cassette left in the car once, Crime of the Century, and played it to death. That and my mom's Herb Alpert - Rise. Also played her Beatles albums, ignored the Elvis ones except the ones that had Teddy Bear and Hound Dog (I was a little kid OKAY?) but as for the ones I actually bought myself - first one I remember was Thriller. Then there was Duran Duran - Rio, and The Thompson Twins - Into The Gap, I think I had Quiet Riot and that Breakin' soundtrack too, what else... this is embarassing to the extreme but I think it might have been Lionel Ritchie - or maybe either one of the Footloose or Flashdance soundtracks.

Kim, Sunday, 2 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

1. MC Hammer - Please Hammer Don't Hurt em

2. Nirvana - Unplugged in NY

3. Smashing Pumpkins - Melancholly & the Infinite Sadness

4. RHCP - One Hot Minute

5. Stone Temple Pilots - No. 4

It makes no sense at all.

Honda, Sunday, 2 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

This is going to be hard to remember with any exactness.

(1) I think I bought a single of Ringo Starr's "Photograph." (Or did I buy that for my older brother?)

(2) I bought a very bad live Beach Boys Album. Don't remember the title. They are dressed like referees on the cover, or something like that.

(3) Chic "Le Freak," or whatever album that was on.

(4) The Star Wars soundtrack. (Or was this given to me?)

(5) Paul McCartney "Ram."

I bought a used K-Tel collection in there somewhere, as well. That's about as precise as I can make it.

DeRayMi, Friday, 7 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My closest approximation:

The Jets - _S/T_
Pet Shop Boys - _Please_
The Bangles - _Different Light_
INXS - _Listen Like Theives_
Madonna - _S/T_

Part of my problem is that after the first two, I did a Columbia House 12 albums for a penny deal which also included Madonna (_Like A Virgin_, _True Blue_), AC/DC (_Who Made Who_), Pet Shop Boys (_Actually_), and _Pretty In Pink Soundtrack_. I can't remember what the other albums were without looking at them.

Dan Perry, Saturday, 8 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

three weeks pass...
1. Abba
2. Arrival
3. The Album
4. Voulez-Vous
5. Super Trouper
Bonus 6. The Visitors

There was something in the air that night, the stars were bright, when I used that Amazon GC to order a bunch of Abba remasters.

dleone, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dominique -- These were the first five records you ever bought. Did you really get yours on Amazon? If so, you're music interest is moving at a frightening clip.

This is a good thread to revive, anyway.

Mark, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I had my parents' cast-off records and an assortment of "Goofy Greats" and "Funnybone Favorites" K-tel novelty records I received as x-mas gifts, but I started saving up snow-shoveling money to buy my own records when I was 11 or 12. These I remember buying (probably because they're ones I still like): joan jett - i love r&r 45
the cars - let's go (45)
j. geils band - centerfold (45)
greatest american hero theme (45)
devo - freedom of choice
blondie - the tide is high (45)

fritz, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ummm...

The first records?

1. Nutty Animals - Animals singing nutty songs. Included Disco Duck. No one would play it in the class I was at when we were allowed to choose the records.

2. Peter Criss - solo album. I have no idea why?

3. Cyndi Lauper - Girls just want to have fun.

And then I turned 25..hahaah...joking, let's see, there was a dry spell where I lost any interest in music and then I got ....... through my friend, Dustin, into punk rock and bob dylan.

So, at the A&A's store I got:

1. Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks 2. The Smiths - The Smiths

And then down to Randy's Record Trade where Dustin told me to buy -

1. Butthole Surfers - Hairway to Steven 2. Big Black - Songs about Fucking 3. Bob Dylan - Bringing it All Back Home 4. Sonic Youth - Sister.

I still remember bringing all those records back to Dustins and having my head blown off in a small town in northern ontario.

Thus the seed was sown.

micheal reed, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I forgot, on a school shopping trip I bought Pat Benatar, Love is a battlefield and Phil Collins, Against all odds and the Footloose soundtrack. I was 11. And then nothing.................until the awakening.

micheal reed, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Michael Jackson -Thriller, DeBarge - Rhythm of the Night (I think that's the title, can't quite remember), Huey Lewis and the News - Sports, Weird Al Yankovic - Dare to be Stupid, Duran Duran - Rio

I don't quite recall the order in which I bought them, but those are the first albums I can remember getting. Actually there are probably about 3 or 4 more, like Cyndi Lauper and Madonna, that I remember buying at around the same time but I think they came *slightly* later. I became a music buying fool around this time because I was finally getting an allowance.

Nicole, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I can't put my finger on why I feel this way, but there is something just a bit sad about somebody's first record purchases being "hip." It's like, they never had the Eddy-esque feeling of being way into a crap record because it aligned with their adolescent outlook.

Mark, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Hip first purchases make me think that they're revising their own memories, which seems like a bit of a betrayal of the kid-self who loved an unhip record. It makes me sad too, especially since I suspect I'm selectively remembering my own first records. Otherwise, they lived some sort of Manhattan uber-hip childhood with discerning tastes defined before puberty, which is Royal Tennenbaum sad too.

fritz, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dominique -- These were the first five records you ever bought.

God no! Wrong thread. Those were the last 5. The first five were probably along the lines of:

Abbey Road Let It Be Sgt. Pepper's... Cosmic Thing Permanent Waves

dleone, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

or,
Abbey Road
Let It Be
Sgt. Pepper's...
Cosmic Thing
Permanent Waves

dleone, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Probably, if memory serves ...
Revolver - the Beatles
Venus & Mars - the Wings
Magical Mystery Tour
FM - soundtrack
Queen - A night at the Opera

Didn't get into the really cheesy stuff until much later. Not that I didn't listen to it on the radio, but my brother would have kicked my ass if I had come home with a Billy Joel record.

Dave225, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Aerosmith - "Get Your Wings"
Aerosmith - "Toys In The Attic"
Led Zeppelin - "Houses of The Holy"
Queen - "Sheer Heart Attack"
Johnny Winter And - "Live"

The shameful stuff came later.

dan, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Michael Jackson - Thriller Duran Duran - Rio Prince - "Let's Go Crazy" The Pointer Sisters - "Jump (For My Love)" Duran Duran - "The Reflex"

I also recall searching high and low for Rodger Hodgson's In the Eye of the Storm one weekend. My Dad and I went to every record store within a fifteen mile radius and gave up by the end of the day. I saw a copy of it soon after -- maybe the next weekend? -- and had no desire to buy it for some reason.

Andy K., Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

#1 being the very first..

1.Johannes Kepler's Harmony Of The Worlds LP
(This turned out to be an astronimical data record from 1979 with really creepy tones representing the planets' orbits around the sun. I got it when I was 8 years old at a garage sale for 25 cents, because I was really into astronomy as a kid. Still the most goddamn creepiest record I've ever heard.. but this easily set me up to be able to tolerate punk, industrial, and any other difficult music from here on out...)
2.Donna Summer "Walk Away -- Greatest hits 1977 to 1980" LP
3.Lipps, Inc. EP (the one with "Funkytown" and "Power" on it)
4.The Gap Band "III" LP (the one with "Burn Rubber On Me" and "Humpin'" on it)
5.XTC "Black Sea" LP (the one with "Generals and Majors" and "Travels in Nihilon" on it)

Brian MacDonald, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Brian -- Are those tones supposed to represent Kepler's "Harmony of the Spheres"? What do you think Sonic Boom would pay for that thing?

Mark, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Mark: Brian -- Are those tones supposed to represent Kepler's "Harmony of the Spheres"? What do you think Sonic Boom would pay for that thing?

I'm guessing that's what this record is. (pulls out record). Actually it's called "The Harmony Of The World -- A Realization for the Ear of JOHANNES KEPLER'S Astronomical Data from Harmonices Mundi 1619 -- Realized by Willie Ruff and John Rodgers". Released on the Kepler label, 1979. Catalog code: LP 1571. (So there's more?! Now there's a label to be a completist for!)

The idea of the record is to use tones to simulate the orbits of the planet starting at Kepler's birthdate and continuing for several centuries onward. Here's the track lineup of the record:

Side 1:

  • The Planets From Mercury Outward
  • The Nine Planets From 1571 through 1703
  • Nine Planets At Half Speed

Side 2:

  • The Planets From Pluto Inward
  • The Nine Planets from 1703-1815

At the end of the huge explanatory essay that makes up the back sleeve: "This realization of Kepler's data was developed at Yale by Professors Rodgers, and Ruff. Mark Rosenberg served as digital sound synthesis consultant, and the work was recorded at Princeton University Computer Center's IBM 360/91 computer, using the program MUSIC 4BF."

Here's as much as I could scan of the front cover:

http://www.kuci.org/~brianm/ile/kepler.jpg

That's probably more than you ever wanted to know.

Sonic Boom could wine and dine me and give me riches of the world, but it still would not be enough. This is the absolute last record I'd ever sell, for sentimental reasons alone. However, I'm not against digitizing this thing for others to hear.

Brian MacDonald, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Regarding the thoughts on hip first purchases does that not usually come around 13? The first teen alienation john hughes thoughts hit?

I find that, like myself, alot of people buy the Cyndi Laupers, The Madonnas, Micheal Jacksons and then nothing until the teen alienation hits.

Am I wrong?

I find myself thinking, this is going to sound strange when I talk about first record buys............I never realized until Dustin and I were talking about it, how uber hip we were at such a young age. It's very bizarre but I got hooked then and there and was listening to Happy Flowers, Big Black, Bob Dylan and The Smiths and from there, it progressed into Echo and the Bunnymen, I think, it was that damn Pretty in Pink soundtrack which started it..................The Smiths, Echo, New Order, it was a guide for the British music out there. And then the punk rock coming about of L.A. It made the youth feel dangerous and scary. When I was fourteen I brought home Raw Power and remembered being distinctly freaked out...by Iggy's look. That woman on amphetimines. It's different I suppose growing up in a small town - you buy anything remotely connected to punk. And then psychedelia and then branches out from there.

I traded my Psychedelic Furs albums in at Randy's Record Trade and got a box full of records that were sixties psychedelic.

I didnt get into crap music until I was at least 25.

micheal reed, Friday, 4 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Actually, Brian, I want to know more. I've always had an interest in the Harmony of the Spheres, & wondered if anybody had actually tried to put those ideas to music. Maybe I'll hit you up for a tape someday.

Mark, Saturday, 5 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Well, let this be a call to anyone who's interested in a CD-R of this record. (e-mail address is right under this line, or something)

Brian MacDonald, Sunday, 6 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Five? Hmmm. First record purchase, since I didn't have own money, was when I ordered my dad to get me ANYTHING Johnny Cash and he came back with the Sun Sessions. I was five. Also Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel at around the same age, Carpenters' Top Of The World. Then not much until we got our stereo and I could have Grease and Saturday Night Fever soundtracks. I used to walk to the local K-Mart to buy 45s and these were things like Bette Davis Eyes, Rapture by Blondie, and big- hair-in-a-rainstorm rock stuff (ewwww, Bonnie Tyler). I did not share neighbour boys' KISS fetish and was scornful at death of Elvis.

suzy, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Aged 8-9, my first five were (I think):

The Model b/w Computer Love - Kraftwerk. I remember deciding to buy this but being scared of the record shop. My big sis kindly accompanied me to Red Records on Rye Lane and helped me through the ordeal.
Cardiac Arrest - Madness. First pop song I learned all the words to.
It Must Be Love - Madness. From a newsagent's bargain bin. Newsagents selling 7"s! Those were the days.
Complete Madness - Madness. My first album. The hours I spent studying that sleeve. They were right about the Labi Siffre comeback, too. Still never heard Roxy Music's 'The Bogus Man'.
Strawberry Fields Forever b/w Penny Lane - The Beatles. I think my sister already had this on the Blue album, but I wanted my own copy. You could get old Beatles singles quite easily then. I bought it in some shopping centre.

N., Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Probably, although I'm no good at remebering these things: Stan Tracey - Hexad, after being taken to see him, an Edie Palmieri record, then probably Quenn - Night at the Opera and then Queen - Jazz. It took a long time for me to stop trolling second hand record shops and graduate to 'new records'. I think the first Indie record I bough twas if your feeling sinister and the next record was Torque, a no U turn compilation featuring Trace, Ed Rush and Nico.

Ed, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I started buying albums quite late, due to the extensive (seemed to me) collections of my parents and older siblings, but here's my list, anyway. I'm starting with the ones I actually _bought_, as opposed to the ones I was given as presents and such.

1) Beatles -- The White Album 2) Allman Brothers Band -- Beginnings (yeah I had a classic rock stage, so sue me) 3) Pink Floyd -- Atom Heart Mother 3) AC/DC -- The Razor's Edge 4) Soul Asylum -- Gravedancer's Union 5) Ugly Kid Joe -- As Ugly As We Wanna Be

Jack Redelfs, Monday, 7 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

four months pass...
I'm trying hard to remember, 'cause this was a while ago (I was allowed a record budget in lieu of an allowance from a very young age):

1. V/A, "Do It Now" -- a weird (and terrific) combination of psychedelic and bubblegum music, put together as a benifit for some anti-drug something or other. I bought it for the Beatles and for Donovan's "Sunshine Superman", was bowled over by the Airplane and Ritchie Havens. 2. Queen, "A Night at the Opera" 3. Queen, "Sheer Heart Attack" 4. Queen II 5. Queen, "A Day at the Races"

Kiss, Yes, and the Who were also mixed in there, but they were gifts or hand-me-downs.

Colin Meeder, Friday, 24 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...
Nirvana - Bleach (no i'm not cool i got this after Nevermind came out)
Radiohead - The Bends
Daft Punk - Homework
The Ramones - Ramones
The Beatles - Revolver

I Had Alot of Other Albums Before This but These are the First 5 That I Actually Payed for

The Beatles & the Ramones were Recommended to me by my Uncle


Dude (The Yellow Dart), Thursday, 22 April 2004 04:31 (twenty-two years ago)

First five that I can recall, all on cassette - Donnie Osmond's solo album from '89ish, the Phil Collins with Sussudio, a Tanya Tucker album, the Kentucky Headhunters album (w/ "Dumas Walker") and the Sawyer Brown w/ "Smoking in the Rockies." (I suspect that Chuck Eddy might be the only ILM reader/poster who remembers "Smoking in the Rockies")

miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Thursday, 22 April 2004 05:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Johnny Hates Jazz - "Turn back the clock" (cassette)
Pogues - "If I should fall from grace with god" (cassette)
Iron Maiden - "Seventh son of a seventh son" (cassette)
The Doors - "The Doors" (cassette)
The Best of Steely Dan (cassette)

Pretty much all unmitigated shite. My TDK collection was much better...

Jacob (Jacob), Thursday, 22 April 2004 06:05 (twenty-two years ago)


The Cars "Heartbeat City" cassette (I'm not sure if it was bought for me or whether I bought it, but it was the first album I owned)
Iron Maiden "Killers" cassette
Rainbow "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow" LP
Nektar "Sounds Like This" 2LP
Deep Purple "Made In Japan" LP

jazz odysseus, Thursday, 22 April 2004 06:14 (twenty-two years ago)

The picture gets all swirly and we take you back to 1965 or thereabouts......

1. I Feel Fine / Day Tripper. at age of four, was given the money to get this for my mum to buy from the NAAFI shop (Brugen, Germany)
2. Paperback Writer / Rain. Same as above (may even have been the same day)
3. Its been such a long way home / Thinkin (Garnet Mimms), my older cousins had a stall at a fair where you pulled out a lollipop and the coloured stalk showed you what prize you won. (South Shields)
4. Little Red Rooster / Off the Hook. My school project involved making puppets, and I said that we had 'puppet on a string' at home. We did not, and the local record shop didn't have it. So we got this instead.
5. Penny lane / Strawberry fields. Same day/situation as above. I don't recall if my puppet danced to 'little red rooster' or 'penny lane' in the end...

mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 22 April 2004 07:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Spin Doctors - Turn It Upside Down
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
REM - Monster
Green Day - Dookie
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
They were all on cassette, and they embarass me now.

Sym (shmuel), Thursday, 22 April 2004 08:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Beatles "Nowhere Man" 45
Bobby Fuller Four "I Fought The Law" 45
"Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits" LP
"The Early Beatles" LP
"The Peter Paul & Mary Album" LP

lovebug starski, Thursday, 22 April 2004 09:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not entirely sure but I have an unpleasant suspicion that they'd all have been by Gary Glitter!

Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 22 April 2004 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Probably:
1) Mike Oldfield: 'Moonlight Shadow' (7")
2) FR David: 'Words' (7")
3) Nik Kershaw: 'Human Racing' (MC)
4) Wham!: Make It Big (MC)
5) Bervly Hills Cop OST (MC)

Jay Kid (Jay K), Thursday, 22 April 2004 11:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Beverly, obviously, not Bervly, where is that? Anyway, the one with 'Axel F' on it!

Jay Kid (Jay K), Thursday, 22 April 2004 11:17 (twenty-two years ago)

When I got a mono tape deck for my 13th birthday, I asked for and received

Best of Blondie
Stray Cats - Gonna Ball
Police - Regatta de Blanc

The next 2 tapes I bought were probably

Stray Cats - Stray Cats
Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear

I have no comment.

noodle vague (noodle vague), Thursday, 22 April 2004 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

That I can remember:

Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
Queen - Live Killers
Queen - A night at the Opera
Guns n' Roses - Apetite for Destruction
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden

Although that's probably wrong, cos really I can't remeber!
And I had copies before I bought stuff anyway.

mei (mei), Thursday, 22 April 2004 12:09 (twenty-two years ago)

When I was a little kid my Dad didn't trust me to put the needle onto the records so insisted on doing it himself. As he couldn't be bothered to get up to do this too often he wouldn't let me buy singles, only albums. As a seven-year-old getting 49p-a-week pocket money (that's a whole other story) it took me quite a long time to save up for albums, so my first five are spaced over about three years I think:

Madness - Absolutely, The Jam - Sound Affects, The Beat - I Just Can't Stop It, Madness - Seven, Duran Duran - Rio.

The early purchases are quite good because I was heavily influenced by the cool teenager who lived in our street. Left to my own devices it went badly downhill in 84/85 with all kinds of crap (Wham, Go West, Mai Tai...).

Jamie Fake (the pirate king), Thursday, 22 April 2004 15:39 (twenty-two years ago)

REO Speedwagon - Hi-in-fidelity
Talking Heads - Little Creatures
The Rock Album - KTel comp
Journey - Escape

No idea what number five was.

frankE, Thursday, 22 April 2004 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

On cassette:

(Before I started buying albums I bought a shitload of europop and chart hit compilations.)
Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender
2 Unlimited: No Limits
Dance Nation: Dance Nation
Jam & Spoon : Tripomatic Fairytales 2001

On CD:

Bangles: Greatest Hits
Marusha: Raveland
Westbam: Bam Bam Bam
"Trancemaster 7" compilation
The Prodigy: Music for the Jilted Generation

Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 22 April 2004 17:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Can't remember the PRECISE order, so rather than five, here's the first six bought with my own $ are...

1.Supertramp - Breakfast in America
2.Donna Summer - Live and More
3.Stevie Wonder - Songs In the Key Of Life
4.Woodstock Original Soundtrack
5.The B-52s - Wild Planet
6.Get The Knack

...and I refuse to disavow any of 'em! Well, maybe the "Live" portion of the Donna Summer; and even so, the "More" is still great.

Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 22 April 2004 18:57 (twenty-two years ago)

let's do this... Bertie Higgins, "Key Largo" 7"
M "Pop Musik" 7"
Genesis "Three Sides Live" cassette
ELO "Discovery"
Neil Young "Harvest"

p.s. that was in NO ORDER, much like my life today

Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Thursday, 22 April 2004 19:10 (twenty-two years ago)

7th Grade (1987):

1. Weird Al - Dare to be Stupid?
2. Phil Collins - No Jacket Req'd
3. License to Ill
4. Joshua Tree
5. Huey Lewis - Sports

57 7th (calstars), Thursday, 22 April 2004 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

1. Naked Eyes "Always Something There to Remind Me" 7"
2. The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" LP
3. The Beatles "Yellow Submarine" Soundtrack LP
(two year stretch were I got all the Police and Men at Work records as birthday presents)
4. Michael Jackson "Thiller" cassette
5. Duran Duran "Rio" cassette
(don't forget the pre-internet days of home taping... kids can't afford to buy shit dude! This is like five years of music buying and only 5 records bought!)

sexyDancer, Thursday, 22 April 2004 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

First 7" was some kind of 'Rockit' sounding tune called 'Electric Kingdom,' bought in a Chinatown record shop, 8 years old, after asking the proprietor for some rap or hip-hop but not knowing what it was called. I needed something to breakdance to.

57 7th (calstars), Thursday, 22 April 2004 19:29 (twenty-two years ago)


i was poor and a taper so if this list looks chronologically weird... don't be shocked. i bought these roughly the year they came out.

-nightranger "midnight madness"
-prince "purple rain"
-dri "thrash zone" (minor threat and decendents i only had copies of.)
-public enemy "fear of a black planet"
-a tribe called quest "low end theory"

m.

msp, Thursday, 22 April 2004 19:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom Petty's Greatest Hits
Green Day - Dookie
Ramones - All The Hits and More 1
Nirvana - Nevermind
Pearl Jam - 10

Acid! Polizei! (ex machina), Thursday, 22 April 2004 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

albums I "bought" in a store (but didn't pay for myself, probably)
superman soundtrack
kiss: dynasty
the beatles: white album
john lennon/yoko ono: double fantasy
beatles: sgt. pepper

the first record I remember actually purchasing with money from my allowance, though, was synchronicity.

anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Thursday, 22 April 2004 20:00 (twenty-two years ago)

1. Alanis Morisette - Jagged Little Pill
2. M*tallica - Black
3. M*tallica - ...And Justice

Can't remember the next two.

SLeeeter Kinney (Leee), Thursday, 22 April 2004 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I know three that I'm pretty sure were amongst the first five:

Get It Together LP-Jackson Five
"Boogie Nights"-Heatwave
"We Will Rock You"/"We Are the Champions"-Queen

Slightly later: Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, "Y.M.C.A" and "In the Navy," Cheap Trick "I Want You to Want Me" 45.

I also bought the Rex Smith album on cassette! Oh yes!

Tim Ellison, Thursday, 22 April 2004 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

dream academy s/t
they might be giants - flood
violent femmes s/t
will the fetus be aborted? 7" - jello biafra/mojo nixon
r.e.m. - green

roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 22 April 2004 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

First 7" was the clear vinyl Donnas' cover of "Strutter" b/w some awful Kiss song

miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 23 April 2004 05:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Dick! "Strutter" is a Kiss song!$

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 23 April 2004 05:38 (twenty-two years ago)

1. No Dice, Badfinger
2. Diamond Dogs
3. An Incredible String Band record that scared the piss out of me
4. Ball of Confusion, Temps
5. Red, King Crimson / Berlin, Lou, same day

i gr y, Friday, 23 April 2004 05:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm only sure of the first three:

DeBarge - Rhythm of the Night
(It was going to be either that or Songs from the Big Chair. a friend who was with me in the shop said I was going to pick Tears for Fears, so I picked DeBarge. Moron.)
David Bowie - At the Tower Philadelphia
David Bowie - The Man Who Sold the World
(Got hooked on Bowie through "Let's Dance" and bought these two for cheap after hearing my mother's copy of Low, which i totally did not 'get' when i heard then it but his voice clicked big time)

willem (willem), Friday, 23 April 2004 06:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Our Amber's (age 6) first, chosen by herself as opposed to having them bought for her as presents, etc.

1. Janet Jackson - Control (she liked the sleeve)
2. Kate Bush - The Kick Inside (she liked Wuthering Heights)
3. Boney M - Hooray hooray it's a holiholiday (12" blue vinyl) 6 months pre the Cheeky girls' version

The next two are to be announced.

mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 23 April 2004 07:08 (twenty-two years ago)

1. The Beatles 1967-1970.
Meaning that Side One, Track One of my entire collection was "Strawberry Fields Forever" - a damned fine place for an 11-year old to start.

2. Roxy Music - Stranded.
Bought on the strength of "Street Life", I struggled a bit with this. Bought again for a fiver in Fopp last year, the groundwork finally paid off.

3. William Walton / Paul Schofield / Peggy Ashcroft - Facade.
Ur-rap which taught me the value of words as pure sound.

4. Slade - Sladest.
Bought for the hits, obviously - but the early pre-fame stuff came as a revelation (Pouk Hill, Look At Last Night.) People forget that Slade could be thoughtful as well - a strain which re-emerged with the "In Flame" soundtrack.

5. Steeleye Span - Below The Salt.
Still young enough to enjoy listening to people tell me stories, I think it was the narrative aspect of folk which pulled me in most of all.

Album #6 was my first embarrassing dud purchase, so thank God you only asked me for five.

mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Friday, 23 April 2004 09:10 (twenty-two years ago)

four years pass...

I was inspired to revive by this post, re: Disintegration

BTW - this was the first CD I ever bought.

― ENBB

I don't know if I can remember five, but I know the first three I ever bought with my own money, and it was all on one exciting day. I'm at just the right age that all of them were on CD, so they were extra novel and shiny. (And fucking expensive.)

Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
Nothing needs to be said about how good this is.

Chris Whitley - Living With the Law
Something may need to be said about how good this is. I'll stand behind it today. I will happily enter it into a Dead Rock Star Cage Match with your copy of Grace by Jeff Buckley. Any time, anywhere. Bring it.

Sting - The Soul Cages
This fucking blows, and somwhere deep inside my heart, I knew it even then.

tits akimbo (kenan), Thursday, 2 April 2009 11:59 (seventeen years ago)

Jethro Tull - some greatest hits album was the first CD I ever bought with my own money...it isn't really all that bad, though it gets minus points for leaving off "Cross Eyed Mary" therefore delaying my introduction to that killer track until just recently....

Kanye Twitty (Drugs A. Money), Thursday, 2 April 2009 12:03 (seventeen years ago)

wow that was tortured

Kanye Twitty (Drugs A. Money), Thursday, 2 April 2009 12:04 (seventeen years ago)

boomtown rats - tonic for the troops
tom robinson band - power in the darkness
the jam - all mod cons and setting sons
the police - regatta de blanc

not entirely my current picks from 78/9 of course

Dr X O'Skeleton, Thursday, 2 April 2009 12:15 (seventeen years ago)

The Stone Roses - S/T
De La Soul - 3 Feet High & Rising
New Order - Technique
Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting

ABSOLUTELY NO SCRUBS WHATSOEVER, Thursday, 2 April 2009 12:18 (seventeen years ago)

omg bloodletting

tits akimbo (kenan), Thursday, 2 April 2009 12:25 (seventeen years ago)

I was convinced I could be a goth at some point. I failed, I think, when I hit the Skinny Puppy wall.

tits akimbo (kenan), Thursday, 2 April 2009 12:26 (seventeen years ago)

at a hmv sale

nirvana - nevermind
the breeders - last splash
the hold steady - boys and girls in america
Hal - Hal
Saint Etienne - Tales from turnpike house

Michael B, Thursday, 2 April 2009 12:33 (seventeen years ago)

First five rekkids with my own, hard earned money (thanks paper route) - just checked that stacks - yep - all still there!

Journey - Infinity
Billy Squier - Don't Say No
Rolling Stones - Tattoo You
AC/DC - Back In Black
Prince - 1999

No lie - 'WKRP in Cincinnati' playlist per episode sure did influence my taste for a bit. Oh Bailey Quarters I'd bite your butt.

BlackIronPrison, Thursday, 2 April 2009 12:44 (seventeen years ago)

'WKRP in Cincinnati' sure influenced my love of turkey related humour.

ABSOLUTELY NO SCRUBS WHATSOEVER, Thursday, 2 April 2009 12:50 (seventeen years ago)

1. Olivia Newton-John, "Let It Shine"/"He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother"
2. KISS, Rock 'n' Roll Over
3. some K-TEL soundtrack comp featuring movie themes from "JAWS," "The Exorcist," "The Deep," etc.
4. KISS, Dressed to Kill
5. KISS, Destroyer

\m/ piece n' luv \m/ (Ioannis), Thursday, 2 April 2009 12:53 (seventeen years ago)

Quiet Riot, Metal Health
Michael Jackson, Thriller
KTEL compilation, Sound System
Weird Al, Polka Party
Survivor, Vital Signs

Euler, Thursday, 2 April 2009 13:00 (seventeen years ago)

Last time this thread came around, I listed albums. This time, it's singles.

1. Tom Tom Turnaround - New World
2. Johnny Reggae - The Piglets
3. Sacramento - Middle of the Road (reduced to clear)
4. Little Willy - The Sweet
5. Mouldy Old Dough - Lieutenant Pigeon

I was SUCH a bubblegum boy.

mike t-diva, Thursday, 2 April 2009 13:04 (seventeen years ago)

Tapes, not records:

Beatmasters - Anywayawanna
S'Express - Original Soundtrack
Bomb The Bass - Enter The Dragon
Coldcut - What's That Noise
Bit hazy on the 5th but I think it was probably
VA - Upfront '89

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO (Colonel Poo), Thursday, 2 April 2009 13:06 (seventeen years ago)

Rivers of Babylon - Boney M
Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick - Ian Dury
Chiquitita - Abba
Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Cool for Cats - Squeeze

Venga, Thursday, 2 April 2009 13:09 (seventeen years ago)

Oh shit:

The Police - Regatta De Blanc
The Police - Outlandos D'Amour
The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
The Police - Ghost in the Machine
The Police - Synchronicity

Dom Cry For Me, Passantino (NickB), Thursday, 2 April 2009 13:20 (seventeen years ago)

Ooh, t-diva's got the right idea. First five single purchases:

Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille
Black Superman - Johnny Wakelin & the Kinshasa Brass
Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell
Theme from "Rockford Files" - Mike Post
Disco Duck - Rick Dees (& his cast of idiots)

First three all bought at once to accompany my brand-new first stereo, woo-hoo!

Myonga Vön Bontee, Thursday, 2 April 2009 18:33 (seventeen years ago)

Phil Manzanera - Impossible Guitars
Passport - Looking Through
Egberto Gismonti - Solo
Roy Wood & Wizzard - Introducing Eddy & The Falcons
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Mowtown Superstars collection

BRTO (Mexican Sleeping Pill), Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:04 (seventeen years ago)

weird al yankovic - bad hair day
a "dogs sing the beatles" featuring beatles songs played on synths w/ a "bark" sound
barenaked ladies - the one with "one week" on it
rage against the machine - rage against the machine
prodigy - fat of the land

rip dom passantino 3/5/09 never forget (max), Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:06 (seventeen years ago)

first 5 non-disney related 45s i remember owning. parents bought em for me of course. age 5 or so.

matthew wilder - "break my stride"
kool & the gang - "celebration"
bonnie hunt - "total eclipse of the heart" (waht??)
michael jackson & paul McCartney - "say say say"
waylon jennings - "theme from the 'dukes of hazzard'"

now is the time to winterize your manscape (will), Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:16 (seventeen years ago)

my best guess. bangles was a 45, the rest were cassettes

men at work - cargo
bangles - hazy shade of winter
footloose sdtk
michael jackson - thriller
quiet riot - metal health

dmr, Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:17 (seventeen years ago)

that's "bought with my own money." before that I had Chipmunk Rock (also Urban Chipmunk), Kids From Fame, Disco Mickey Mouse and a buncha other stuff my parents bought for me and my brother

dmr, Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:19 (seventeen years ago)

various artists - top of the pops 1978 (lp)
various artists - action replay (tape)
blondie - parallel lines (tape)
squeeze - cool for cats (lp)
motorhead - bomber (7")

stirmonster, Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:32 (seventeen years ago)

hmmm with my own allowance/ Xmas $$...

Bryan Adams - Reckless
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Huey Lewis - Sports & Fore! bought same day.
Footloose OST, maybe? (actually might have been purchased for me)
Phil Collins - No Jacket Required

all cassettes.

now is the time to winterize your manscape (will), Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:34 (seventeen years ago)

pretty sure my mum paid for that ghostbusters 2 soundtrack so:

de la soul - the magic number/buddy (cassette)
de la soul - 3 feet high and rising LP (cassette)
various - skin beat: the first touch
808 state - the extended pleasure of dance EP (12")
candy flip - strawberry fields forever (cassette)

Hard House SugBanton (blueski), Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:37 (seventeen years ago)

Van Halen 1984
ZZ Top Eliminator
Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA
Huey Lewis and the News Sports

MTV was big that year

Ray Libloata (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:39 (seventeen years ago)

INXS - Kick cassette album
Pet Shop Boys - Actually cassette album
Now 11 cassette double album
Happy Mondays "Wrote for Luck" 7"
Holly Johnson "Americanos" 7"

zero learnt from nero (Neil S), Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:42 (seventeen years ago)

Van Halen 1984
Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA
INXS - Kick

^^^that's probably my #6-8

dmr, Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:44 (seventeen years ago)

run dmc- raising hell
top gun soundtrack
bon jovi- slippery when wet
poison- look what the cat dragged in
inxs- kick

mizzell, Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:46 (seventeen years ago)

classic rock all the way:

led zeppelin, "song remains the same" sndtrk
jimi hendrix, "are you experienced?"
the doors, "greatest hits"

after these it gets foggy. prob. some mid-90s alterna-rock. "siamese dream" maybe, nirvana unplugged

mark cl, Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:48 (seventeen years ago)

I am a little fuzzy on the chronology here since I bought my first CD in early '92 but asked for/was gifted several around the same time period, but I can remember definitely buying with my own money:

Wayne's World - Music From The Motion Picture
Guns N Roses - Use Your Illusion I
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
Pearl Jam - Ten
"Weird Al" Yankovic - Off The Deep End

deceptigoon (some dude), Thursday, 2 April 2009 19:50 (seventeen years ago)

i copied lots of stuff onto blank cassettes but here are the first 5 i can remember owning:

no doubt - tragic kingdom
spice girls - spice (a gift but i would have bought it, i'm sure)
aqua - aquarium

then the first CD i ever bought:

various - now 2

then i think i joined one of those columbia/bmg CD clubs and got a bunch, i'm sure the one i was most excited about was

britney spears - ...baby one more time

lil waynes babymama (musically), Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:00 (seventeen years ago)

All I remember is a load of random rnb/hiphop compilations (one done by kiss, one was for the mobo awards, one was mixed by trevor nelson) and around the same time my sister went travelling so i 'inherited' her cds and tapes while she'd gone so i had things like life after death, the score, crazysexycool, what's the 411?, 12play etc. without knowing what they were and how much i was going to love the shit out of them.

a hoy hoy, Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:01 (seventeen years ago)

they still sold tapes in '96?

xp

\m/ piece n' luv \m/ (Ioannis), Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:03 (seventeen years ago)

First five tapes I ever owned iirc, 1987-1988:

1. Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill
2. Weird Al Yankovil - Dare To Be Stupid
3. Rap's Greatest Hits Vol. 1
http://www.discogs.com/image/R-150-315880-1093583929.jpg
4. Rap The Beat
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/2f/33/05bd92c008a01ede143fa010.L._AA240_.jpg
5. DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince - He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper

Whiney G. Weingarten, Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:07 (seventeen years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf500/f551/f55111h3au9.jpg

cant remember the rest

meisenfek, Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:08 (seventeen years ago)

I bought Miss E... So Addictive on tape, so yeah, tapes must have been going fine in '96. They only really died when people figured out how to hook their ipod up in their cars surely?

a hoy hoy, Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:16 (seventeen years ago)

yeah some of my favorite albums of '96 i bought on tape. and i kept making mixtapes on cassette until like 2005, although i realize i'm a freak in that regard.

like a ringtone cowboy (some dude), Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:24 (seventeen years ago)

Billy Joel, The Stranger
Billy Joel 52nd Street
Original Soundtrack, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band (won off the radio)
Rupert Holmes, "Answering Machine" (7" single)
Blondie, "Heart of Glass" (7" single)

Eazy, Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:27 (seventeen years ago)

All when I was 7-9 years old.

Eazy, Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:27 (seventeen years ago)

this was one of the first. I would have been 7 or so.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7282/mrbean.jpg

Blackout Crew are the Beatles of donk (jim), Thursday, 2 April 2009 20:31 (seventeen years ago)

1 Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle
2 Talking Heads - Fear Of Music
3 Elvis Costello - Armed Forces
4 Electric Light Orchestra - Discovery
5 Can't remember. Either Xanadu soundtrack, Queen, The Sex Pistols, Rush or Styx, heh.

As a 9-10 year-old, I have to say ELO was my favorite. I had the "Cars" 45 and got the album, liked the sci fi feel but still felt a bit cold. I read about Talking Heads, Costello and Sex Pistols in CREEM at the A&P Grocery store. And despite being prepubescent, I still wanted to do stuff with Olivia Newton John.

Fastnbulbous, Thursday, 2 April 2009 21:52 (seventeen years ago)


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