Most entries in my series The Everlasting First look back on my introductions to some specific performer or element of pop culture: The Go-Go's, Batman, Buddy Holly, Marvel Comics, the Isley Brothers, Powerpuff Girls, the Monkees, Tarzan, Suzi Quatro, The Occult Files Of Dr. Spektor, et al. Every love story starts with that very first kiss.
But today's music post isn't about introductions; it's about first purchases. Most (if not all) of these purchases were made after I had already been introduced to the artist's sound.
In some cases, these weren't even the first records I owned by the artist at hand. This list politely ignores records I received as gifts, or which I inherited from older siblings. It excludes promos I received as a record store clerk, freelance writer, or intrepid rockin' pop DJ. I acquired each of these records as the result of a cash or credit card transaction. Some transactions were at retail, new or used, some were flea market finds, one or two were bought from friends, maybe some mail order, and we even have two flexi-discs that came with my paid subscription copies of Trouser Press magazine. Alas, there were no artists I purchased first on eight-track, nor any listed here from cassette buys. Flexi-discs, 45s, EPs, LPs, compilation LPs, CDs and paid digital downloads. Money made 'em all mine.
And each of these led to more purchases of more records by the same artist. Music is your best entertainment value.
The value had to start somewhere.
* Denotes acts already in my collection (via gifts, hand-me-downs, etc.) prior to my first purchase of their work
BADFINGER: 45, either "Baby Blue" or "Day After Day"
THE BANGLES: EP, The Bangles
THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: 45, "Rock And Roll Love Letter"
*THE BEACH BOYS: LP, Pet Sounds
THE BEAU BRUMMELS: LP, The Beau Brummels Sing
CHUCK BERRY: LP, Chuck Berry's Greatest Hits
BIG STAR: LP, Radio City
BLONDIE: 12" single, "Rip Her To Shreds"/"In The Flesh"/"X Offender"
JAMES BROWN: 45s, "Cold Sweat" and "Don't Be A Drop-Out" [purchased together]
THE BYRDS: 45, "Eight Miles High"
CHEAP TRICK: LP, At Budokan
THE CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND: "Inner Mystic," track on various-artists compilation LP 15 Original Rock N' Roll Biggies Vol. 2
*THE DAVE CLARK FIVE: LP, either Glad All Over or Having A Wild Weekend
DEVO: "Come Back Jonee," track on various-artists compilation LP Rock 'n' Roll High School OST
BO DIDDLEY: CD, The Chess Box
THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES: LP, Flamin' Groovies Now
THE FLASHCUBES: 45 [with 33 1/3 B-side], "Christi Girl"/"Guernica"/"Got No Mind"
THE GO-GO'S: "We Got The Beat," track on various-artists compilation LP Urgh! A Music War
THE GRATEFUL DEAD: "Johnny B. Goode," track on various-artists compilation LP Heavy Metal
GEORGE HARRISON: 45, either "This Song" or "You"
HERMAN'S HERMITS: LP, The Best Of Herman's Hermits
THE HOLLIES: LP, The Very Best Of The Hollies
THE JAM: 45, "I Need You (For Someone)"/"In The City"
JOAN JETT: 45, "You Don't Own Me"/"I Love Rock And Roll"
THE KNICKERBOCKERS: "Lies," track on various-artist compilation LP Nuggets
JOHN LENNON: LP, Plastic Ono Band
LITTLE RICHARD: LP, The Very Best Of Little Richard
PAUL McCARTNEY: Either LP (McCartney) or 45 ("Another Day")
*THE MONKEES: LPs, Headquarters and The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees [purchased together]
MOTT THE HOOPLE: LP, All The Young Dudes
THE NEW YORK DOLLS: LP, New York Dolls
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS: LP, You're Gonna Get It
IGGY POP: LP, New Values
THE PRETENDERS: 45, "Kid"/"Tattooed Love Boys"
SUZI QUATRO: LP, Suzi Quatro
THE RAMONES: 45, "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker"
*RASPBERRIES: 45, "I'm A Rocker"
THE RECORDS: 45, "Starry Eyes/"Paint Her Face"
OTIS REDDING:"(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay," track on various-artists compilation LP Dick Clark 2 0 Years Of Rock N' Roll
PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS: 45, "Him Or Me--What's It Gonna Be?"
THE ROMANTICS: 45, "Little White Lies"/"I Can't Tell You Anything"
THE RUBINOOS: LP, The Rubinoos
THE RUNAWAYS: LP, Waiting For The Night
THE SEX PISTOLS: 45, "God Save The Queen"
PATTI SMITH: 45, "Because The Night"
THE SMITHEREENS: LP, Especially For You
THE SPONGETONES: CD, Oh Yeah!
RINGO STARR: LP, Ringo
THE DWIGHT TWILLEY BAND: "I'm On Fire," track on various-artists compilation LP Geef Voor New Wave
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: LP, The Velvet Underground And Nico
*THE WHO: LP, My Generation/Magic Bus
THE ZOMBIES: 45, "She's Not There"
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Carl's new book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones is now available, courtesy of the good folks at Rare Bird Books. Gabba Gabba YAY!! https://rarebirdlit.com/gabba-gabba-hey-a-conversation-with-the-ramones-by-carl-cafarelli/
If it's true that one book leads to another, my next book will be The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). Stay tuned. Your turn is coming.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO. Recent shows are archived at Westcott Radio. You can read about our history here.
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