# Your very first album **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289 "2001-05-04T00:57:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/41 "2001-05-05T02:59:35Z")
I’m pretty sure it was a Jerry Reed album. Either _Hot A’Mighty_ or _Uptown Poker Club_. I know I had both, just can’t recall which I bought first, but both were before I turned ten. At twelve, the first rock album I bought on my own was Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s _The Roaring Silence_. I’m sure you don’t really need me say whether I still listen to them. The first album I bought that I still listen to (albeit on CD rather than vinyl) was The Clash’s _London Calling_. This was also the first album on which I recall seeing any sort of parental warning label. There was a label that said “Warning: Explicit lyrics” or words to that effect – apparently the lines “But I believe in this and it’s been tested by research/that he who fucks nuns will later join the church” were considered potentially objectionable . My parents were pretty tolerant, but I didn’t like to push them, so I kept it out Mom’s sight until we got home, then dashed to my room and tried to peel the label off. Unfortunately, it was on the cardboard of the sleeve rather than on the shrink wrap, and it proved to be nearly impossible to get off. My vinyl copy carried the scars of the attempt and the remnants of that label until my vinyl collection finally bit the dust. ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/42 "2001-05-05T03:02:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by goboy \* > \*\*Let’s see, the first album I ever bought with my own $$ was > _Never Mind The Bollocks_ by The Sex Pistols. \*\* You actually BOUGHT this? Ok…but did you _listen_ to it? 😉 All kidding aside…I read somewhere that the album itself (the vinyl album, not the cd) is a collector’s item now. (NO…I don’t have a cite, dammit…wish I did!) Might want to hang on to it if you still have it in your possession. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/43 "2001-05-05T13:19:49Z")
First album at the age of 13 was Bridge over troubled water by Simon and Garfunkel. First CD 16 years later was Paul Simons Graceland. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/44 "2001-05-05T13:45:52Z")
When I was 10 years old, early in 1970, I joined the Columbia Record Club. The first album I can remember ordering from them was a compilation LP: _Bach’s Greatest Hits_. It had the Toccata and Fugue, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, Air on the G String, and part of a Brandenburg Concerto from _Switched-On Bach_ (which I got soon after). From that record club my other early purchases included _Rimsky-Korsakov’s Greatest Hits, Leonard Bernstein’s Greatest Hits,_ and _The Well-Tempered Synthesizer_. I also got _Miles Davis Live at the Fillmore_, four sides of _Bitches Brew_-era amorphous free-blowing space funk. I couldn’t grok it at the time, but 8 or 9 years later when I had done enough psychedelic drugs, I put it on again and really dug it. The first album I bought with my “own” money when I was 16 was either a Ravi Shankar raga LP, or the Chieftains’ first album (titled _The Chieftains_). I got them both at the same time, I think. Or else it was _Sgt. Pepper_. As late as 1976 you could still buy the original Apple label Beatles records in stores. I got started on Ravi Shankar from listening to “Love You To” my sister’s copy of _Revolver_. Maybe this belongs in a new thread, but my most recent CD purchases (which I’m listening to as I type) are _“This Sentence Is True” (The Previous Sentence Is False)_ by Sheila Chandra and the Ganges Orchestra, and _Live in Paris and Toronto_ by Loreena McKennitt. Hmm, Indian and Celtic. I’ve come “Full Circle” back to where I was 25 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/45 "2001-05-05T14:56:49Z")
Y’all are gonna laugh at me… ☹ _Pac-Man Fever_, Buckner and Garcia. I know, I know… jayjay (child of the disco era) ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/46 "2001-05-09T13:24:40Z")
Bob Seeger and the Silver Bullet Band - Stranger In Town. I still listen to it occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/47 "2001-05-09T15:09:10Z")
My very first album purchase was The Rolling Stones’ _Sticky Fingers_. The original, with the pull down zipper. I still have it, and it’s in good condition, too. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/48 "2001-05-09T15:33:00Z")
First album was “Rods n’ Ratfinks” by Mr. Gasser and the Weirdos. (no, really!) It had an incredible cover drawn by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth (who recently died of a heart attack, may he rest in peace). Here’s a picture: [http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Diner/4999/roth4-foto.html](http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Diner/4999/roth4-foto.html) I’m pretty sure I received it as a Christmas present in 1963, to make up for the fact that my younger sister got “Meet the Beatles” for Christmas - her first album and a much cooler one, I must admit. Yep- I’m real old!!! ---
**Author:** ![Xgemina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b5e925/32.png) [@Xgemina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xgemina)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/49 "2001-05-10T04:11:14Z")
I remember Great White, but mostly their song Wasted Rock Ranger which was on a single… Iron Maiden’s Piece of Mind was a great album but my first Maiden album was Live after Death (I think) But the first album I bought with my own money was **Black Sabbath** Paranoid. I now have it on CD and still love listening to War Pigs. ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/50 "2001-05-10T05:41:45Z")
Found a very precious gem in a goodwill. An original copy of Dead Kennedy’s Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables in the original wrapping. Back in the good old days of tons of artwork within the album. $2.50 Still got it. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/51 "2001-05-10T06:17:02Z")
My first album was “The Monkees.” I recall having to decide whether to pay extra for the stereo LP, but I bought the mono version. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/52 "2001-05-10T07:24:42Z")
This brings back memories of when music was still exciting and dangerous. I guess every CD I buy nowadays, I’m trying to recreate that feeling of first purchase. Anyway, here are mine: First album owned by me (but bought for me): Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms First cassette bought by me: Iron Maiden - Powerslave First single bought by me: Van Halen - Dreams First LP bought by me: Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son First CD(s) bought by me: Kingdiamond - Them and Conspiracy I had to hide 7th son from my parents for months in a cupboard, and now it sounds fairly quaint 🙂 HenrySpencer ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/53 "2001-05-11T04:48:43Z")
My first album (cassette tape, actually) was the Beatles “Red Album,” back in 1983. I had received the “Blue Album” for Christmas a few weeks earlier. My first CD (in 1992) was The White Album. Funny thing is, I’m not really into the Beatles anymore. And, like **Heembo** , I bought my first at Caldor. I still remember S tapes for $6.88. –sublight. ---
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/54 "2001-05-11T13:50:32Z")
**Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band** I faked illness to stay home from school, and I managed to convince my mother to go to the store and buy me the album. This was when I was in HS in the late 70’s; I was playing the Beatles morning, noon, and night. ---
**Author:** ![AV8R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AV8R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AV8R)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/55 "2001-05-11T17:50:11Z")
When I was a kid in the 60s, I loved the tune _Classical Gas_ (Mason Williams was on every TV variety show at the time). So on my 8th birthday, my grandparents gave me **“The Mason Williams Phonograph Album”**. The first record I bought myself was later that year. It was _A Boy Named Sue_, sung by Johnny Cash. ---
**Author:** ![aubries](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aubries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aubries)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/56 "2001-05-11T19:00:28Z")
My first album was Barry Manilow Live, just in case anybody thinks they still have the most embarrassing story. My first CD was Dvorak’s New World Symphony. Couldn’t tell you the orchestra or conducter off hand but it was a pretty new recording in 1986. I still have both. My mom had “Bubble Gum, Lemonade and Something For Mama” by Mama Cass on 8-track when I was eight, and sometimes left it on all day (8-tracks are tape loops, for the young’ns, and didn’t stop playing until you took them out). I recently tracked down every track from that little gem on Napster and burned her a CD for mother’s day. What a trip into nostagia that was! ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/57 "2001-05-13T05:08:38Z")
**Aja** , by Steely Dan. Way back when… ---
**Author:** ![Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/db5fbb/32.png) [@Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/58 "2001-05-16T14:42:08Z")
The first album I ever bought (or owned) was “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John, a double album no less. I’ve still got the album. I haven’t listened to it in years but there are some songs on there that I still like. He is still recording over 25 years later, so I guess that’s not too bad a choice. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/59 "2001-05-16T20:18:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xtnjohnson \* > \*\*Oh oh oh me oh my, I was just 14 and it was 1982 and MTV was new and and my first-album-with-my-own-$$ was: > > Men At Work. > > I was redeemed with my _second_ album, Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams Are Made of This… > \*\* We must be about the same age, because I got the Eurythmics and not Men at Work, but Men Without Hats (S-A-F-E-T-Y, Safety, Dance). But my very first album? A collection from K-tel called “Starflight” with a cool rainbow on the front. It contained such gems as: “Blue Morning, Blue Day” Foreigner “Reunited” Peaches and Herb “Sad Eyes” Robert John And my ultimate favorite, and the reason I bought it: “Pop Muzik” by M “Detroit London Paris Munich, everybody talk about pop music” (I still love it) ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289/60 "2001-05-16T23:11:53Z")
Well, at the age of 16 or so, my first albums cost me nothing, courtesy of Columbia Record House. (Hey - what the heck were they thinking, sending records to someone named “K. C. Jones” without payment up front?) And of course, they were 8-track: [li]Crosby Stills and Nash, eponymous first album[/li][li]ZZ Top, _Deguello_[/li][li]Atlanta Rhythm Section, _Champagne Jam_[/li][li]Grateful Dead, _American Beauty_[/li][li]Pink Floyd, _Dark Side of the Moon_[/li][li]Led Zeppelin, _Houses of the Holy_[/li]and [li]Whichever Styx album that had “Miss America”[/li] They sent me a few others, that I never paid for, but none of them really appealed to me. I think my dad took most of em. There was an Eric Clapton tape, though… can’t remember which one. Eventually they just stopped coming. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-very-first-album/64289.md?page=4)