# The first album you bought: on vinyl, on cassette, on CD, all digital **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 7, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870 "2005-11-07T04:14:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/21 "2005-11-07T14:33:16Z")
Umm… can’t remember having ever bought anything on vinyl. Cassette – some kind of christian rock, probably Petra. CD – Blackhawk’s “Love and gravity” All-digital: Think this was a tie between corrs “talk on corners” and leahy “lakefield” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/22 "2005-11-07T17:18:03Z")
Vinyl: _Remain in Light_, Talking Heads Cassette: _Brothers in Arms_, Dire Straits CD: _Chariots of Fire_, Vangelis All digital: None ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/23 "2005-11-07T19:19:20Z")
78- Tumbling Tumbleweeds - Gene Aurtry 45 - I Saw Her Standing There - The Beatles 33.3 - Meet the Beatles 8 Track - Wee Tam - The Incredible String Band Cassette - Workingman’s Dead - The Grateful Dead CD - The Lady and the Unicorn - John Renbourn ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/24 "2005-11-07T19:22:29Z")
Cassette: The Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? CD: Rage Against the Machine - Battle of Los Angeles & Green Day - Dookie (tie) Digital: N/A, I’ve never spent money on that, nor do I have an iPod. ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/25 "2005-11-07T19:30:40Z")
Vinyl: Johnny Cash ‘Live from San Quinten’ Tape: Guns and Roses ‘Appetite For Destruction’ CD: Black Crows ‘Shake your Money Maker’ Digital: Ween ‘The Mollusk’ (to replace a cd I broke) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/26 "2005-11-07T19:41:24Z")
LP- Queen, _The Game_ 45- Alice Cooper, _How You Gonna See Me Now_ Cassette- Bauhaus, _Burning From the Inside_ & Fugazi (I think) CD- Depeche Mode (I don’t remember which album since I bought a ton of CD’s as soon as I got a CD player. Digital - None yet. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/27 "2005-11-07T19:56:34Z")
**Vinyl** : I owned lots of records as a kid, but by the time I was buying my own music, I had entered the cassette era, and the only LPs I bought were those that were either much cheaper or much easier to find on vinyl than on cassette, and I don’t remember which one was the first. The first grown-up album I owned (given as a gift) was, IIRC, _Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits_. **Cassettes** : _Synchronicity_ (by The Police) **CD’s** : I got my first CD player for Christmas (1991), along with a few CD’s I had asked for, including _All Things Must Pass_ (by George Harrison), _Seventh Sojourn_ (by The Moody Blues), _There Goes Rhymin’ Simon_ (by Paul Simon), and _Smiley Smile/Wild Honey_ (by the Beach Boys). The first CD’s I bought for myself were _Daniel Amos_ and a few classical CD’s by Handel, Vivaldi, and Saint-Saens. **All digital** : CD’s are all digital, aren’t they? Oh, you mean like a download? None; I’m still buying my music the old-fashioned way. So how come the OP didn’t say anything about 8-track tapes? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/28 "2005-11-07T20:09:55Z")
**Vinyl 45** The Kinks _Father Christmas_ **Vinyl LP** The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack **8 Track** n/a There was an 8 track player on the hand-me-down quad system my brother-in-law gave me, but 8 track was long dead by then (c. 1986) **Cassette** The Kinks _State of Confusion_ **CD** Elastica’s self-titled debut **Legally downloaded track for free** The Queers _Punk Rock Girls_ **Illegally downloaded track for free** Believe or not, haven’t done it. **Purchased download** haven’t done it yet ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/29 "2005-11-07T21:05:03Z")
I’ve never owned a vinyl record. Unless you count the vinyl insert from the Bloom County collection, _Billy and the Boingers_. My first cassette was, I believe, _Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash_ by The Pogues. My first CD was Iron Maiden’s _Fear of the Dark_. The first entire album I ever purchased digitally was Marcy Playground’s third album, coincidentally titled _MP3_. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/30 "2005-11-07T21:17:49Z")
Vinyl 45: **Beatles** : not sure which song, likely Hey Jude… Vinyl: **Partridge Family Album** (it’s true) Cassette: **AM/FM** George Carlin (my parents wouldn’t let me have _Class Clown_) CD: **Steely Dan** : Aja Digital: **Not sure** : either Howard Stern Sound bytes or Dr. Demento songs off Napster. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/31 "2005-11-07T21:35:15Z")
> [@ddgryphon](#): > > Vinyl: bought at the same time: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band and a two record collection of Big Band Hits (Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Dorseys, Glenn Miller, Cab Calloway and many others) > > Cassette: I believe it was Harvest by Neil Young, though it could have been Mudslide Slim by James Taylor – I forget. > > CD- I’ll use the first one I bought for ME, because I bought a few for my daughter that I just don’t feel a need to share. My first I believe was 10 Summoner’s Tales by Sting or Hank Williams Greatest Hits, I’m pretty fuzzy on this. > > First legal Download (Which I’ve converted to for some time now): A roots/reggae version of “Hotel California” by a band called The Moonrakers Okay there have been revisions to the rules: First single: A yellow 78 RPM – proudly bought with me birfday money of the QuickDraw McGraw Theme song with a B-side featuring Baba Looey 8-track–triple purchase: Little Criminals - Randy Newman; Meet the Roaches (Only Maggie and Terry on that one); Renaisance – can’t remember the title. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/32 "2005-11-07T21:47:32Z")
I don’t remember buying a first 45 (although I did). Vinyl: **Carpenters - Close To You** (to learn a song for my first gig.) (Really) First I bought for me was **Three Dog Night - Naturally** (A lot better, hunh) 8 Track: **Leon Russell - Leon Live** _Really_ pissed my dad off when I told him I admired this guy (on the cover) because he is from Oklahoma, like me! Cassette: **Santana - Abraxas** changed my life. The first cassette I _bought_ was **Johnny Winter - Saints and Sinners** CD: What does it say that I can distinctly remember all of the above but can’t remember the first CD I ever bought? I think it was **Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms** Legal Digital Album(sic): **Colonel Claypool’s Bucket Of Bernie’s Brains - The Big Eyeball in the Sky** ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/33 "2005-11-07T22:35:57Z")
Vinyl - _Band on the Run_ - Paul McCartny & Wings Cassette - _Works_ - Emerson, Lake and Palmer CD - _Tales of Mystery and Imagination_ - The Alan Parsons Project Digital - Haven’t bought a complete album, but my first digital purchase was _Honeysuckle Blue_ by Drivin’ ‘n Cryin’ ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/34 "2005-11-07T22:44:47Z")
God, I am so gay. VINYL: _The Sound of Music_ (Mary Martin/Theodore Bikel Broadway recording) CASSETTE: Yentl CD: _Miss Saigon_ and _Songs from the Civil War_ (same time) DIGITALl: Nothing yet, but when NAPSTER was legal I think my first download was Sting’s _Desert Rose_. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/35 "2005-11-07T22:51:43Z")
These are all the first I spent money on, not necessarily the first I owned. First vinyl: American Pie - Don Mclean First 8-track: Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Featuring Young Girl - Gary Puckett & the Union Gap First Cassette: Van Halen - Van Halen First CD: Nilsson, Schmilsson – Harry Nilsson First Digital: I haven’t purchased any yet. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/36 "2005-11-07T22:55:51Z")
How do you guys remember that? I remember the first 45, and that’s only because I didn’t have anything to play it on, but I loved the song – Only the Lonely by Roy Orbison. I borrowed the neighbor boy’s portable record player to play it. Can’t remember any of the rest. You guys are amazing! ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/37 "2005-11-07T23:31:10Z")
Vinyl: _Sugar Town_ by Nancy Sinatra Cassette: _Abbey Road_ by the Beatles CD: _Into the Gap_ by Thompson Twins ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/38 "2005-11-07T23:55:40Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > How do you guys remember that? > > I remember the first 45, and that’s only because I didn’t have anything to play it on, but I loved the song – Only the Lonely by Roy Orbison. > > I borrowed the neighbor boy’s portable record player to play it. > > Can’t remember any of the rest. You guys are amazing! These were semi-important moments. I was always listening to my older Brother’s and Sister’s music. So starting to buy mine own was important in growing up. I was proud I was the first in the family to start a CD collection. Kind of silly I know, but important to a young man growing up. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/39 "2005-11-08T00:20:31Z")
Vinyl single: a 4-track **Beatles** single which included a cover of Roll Over Beethoven. I wish I still had it. Vinyl Album: I think it was **Guess Who’s Greatest Hits** 8-track: **ELP, Tarkus** Cassette: beats me - cassettes were a way to make albums last longer, or to listen to them in the car CD: **Heavy Weather, Weather Report**. I bought this CD so I could use it to pick out a CD player… Birdland is a great test piece. Downloads: free: Adrian Belew’s lost “lyrical” version of **“I have a Dream”** , which didn’t make the cut on King Crimson’s CD The Construkction of Light. Downloads: paid: none. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870/40 "2005-11-08T00:26:36Z")
Chronologically… Vinyl 45: The Byrds, **Eight Miles High** Vinyl LP: I think it was Beatles, **Revolver**. Might’ve been The Doors, **Strange Days** …Jeez, that was 40 years ago… Cassette: **Chicago II** (with 25 or 6 to 4, Make Me Smile) CD: Dunno. Joined a CD of the Month club, and got a batch on the same day. Most of it junk. Digital Download (Napster)…hmmm…going with Dexy’s Midnight Runners, **Come on Eileen** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-album-you-bought-on-vinyl-on-cassette-on-cd-all-digital/329870.md?page=3)