OT: First Album You Ever Bought With Your Own Money

Submitted by Santa Clause on

So, what was your first album you ever bought with cash you earned all by yourself? Mine was Led Zeppelin's first album. I bought it at a local record store when I was 15 years old and had my first job. My dad always talked about how great they were, so I found out myself. As it turns out, my dad was right, and I love to get the led out to this day.

Wolfman

April 26th, 2016 at 6:53 PM ^

It was the first I had heard her - '66 or '67 - was actually playing at Record Store(Record, weird, right). I actually believe the album title may have been that of the ban'd name as well. If I am recalling correctly, It was caled Big Brother and the Holding Company and, although  she was the enginge that made it go, I think it took another couple of years until they were referred to as Janis Joplin and the Holding Company.

rob f

April 26th, 2016 at 6:54 PM ^

I was an 8th-grader at the time, went to hang out at a classmate's house.  He put was showing me his older brother's album collection, pulled out 'Tommy" and put it the stereo.  I was so impressed that when I went to KMart  with my mom later that week that I dragged her to the album aisle and bought it.

Mom's reaction upon seeing the album cover?  "It looks like my pie crust."

Mom's reaction once I put it on my older sister's phonograph?  "Turn that noise down---NOW!"

rob f

April 27th, 2016 at 2:04 AM ^

your original copy?   I still have mine, which I'm pretty sure I bought in the summer of '69.  I also have a CD copy of the same that I bought about 15 or so years ago, but you just can't beat those LP's.

Cover art, inserts, inner sleeves, posters, booklets, and other surprises were all part of the package when you bought an LP.    You couldn't get any of those goodies with cassettes or 8-tracks, and anything occasionally included with CD's is limited by the size of that plastic case.

Best of all, though, an album cover was the perfect surface upon which you could roll one up,  which in turn always enhanced the listening experience.

N. Campus Tech

April 26th, 2016 at 6:56 PM ^

I don't remember my first album, it would have been on cassette. Maybe VH 1984. My first CD was Kiss Crazy Nights. I purchased it at the Royal Oak Meijers in the fall of 87 with paper route money.

EGD

April 26th, 2016 at 6:59 PM ^

I can't actually remember the first album I bought with my own money.  But I do recall acquiring a fellow student's copy of the Miami Vice Soundtrack at an elementary school swap meet.  For the life of me I have no clue what I must have traded for it, but I am certain I came out ahead on that one.  Smuggler's Blues, yo.

This was on cassette, obviously. 

swalburn

April 26th, 2016 at 7:15 PM ^

I'm a 40 year old prosecuting attorney and I still listen to "The Chronic" on my way to and from work.  It is still my favorite rap album of all time.  I expected I would have gotten tired of it by now but I haven't.

First album I remember buying is Use Your Illusion Vol 1.  I remember it was when they still had the long boxes.

JHendo

April 26th, 2016 at 7:13 PM ^

I remember it like it was yesterday. From one of my first paychecks from my Ann Arbor News paper route, I bought both Bone Thugs N Harmony - E. 1999 Eternal and Tupac - All Eyez on Me.

goblueram

April 26th, 2016 at 7:16 PM ^

Couple years ago, got a White Stripes record with my turntable from Craigslist. First purchased albums included Genesis - Genesis, Police - Zenyatta Mondata, and Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow.

Zeppelin records are still a pretty penny unfortunately. Some day I'll have the full collection of the greatest band of all time.

BIGWEENIE

April 26th, 2016 at 7:16 PM ^

CCR the one with Traveling Man, looking out my back door and other great songs. Think I was 9 walked 2 miles to K mart and my mom yelled at me for spending all that money on a stupid record, about 3 bucks

SFBlue

April 26th, 2016 at 7:20 PM ^

I don't recall, exactly, but I think it was either Appetite for Destruction or the Fat Boys or someshit. I should just go with the former.