Forgotten Hits

Can You Believe It?!?!? Even MORE Of Your FIRST 45's Memories!!!

It's the series that just won't quit!!!

We're STILL receiving FIRST 45's Stories ... so we've added yet another page to our website!

Send us YOUR FIRST 45's Memories ... and then check back to see yours posted with hundreds and hundreds of others. (I guess we never really forget our first, do we?!?!?) Enjoy!

EVEN MORE OF YOUR FIRST 45's MEMORIES ARE NOW POSTED ON THE FORGOTTEN HITS WEB PAGE!!! Enjoy!

When Sheryl Crow recorded the old Jackson Five Hit "I Want You Back" for her new "100 Miles From Memphis" CD, she told reporters that this was the very first 45 she ever bought. How cool is it that she first rose to fame as one of Michael Jackson's background singers!!!

The first record Bobby Abrams ever bought was a 45 of "Hey Baby They're Playin' Our Song" by The Buckinghams. His mother thought they were "nice clean cut young men", not wild like those other bands. Many years later, Bob Abrams would join The Buckinghams ... and play lead guitar for the band for 24 years!

The first 45 I bought was Pleasant Valley Sunday by The Monkees !!! I still have the picture cover, and of course the record is mostly white now from playing it many, many times. I grew up on a farm and got 25 cents a week for an allowance. So, I had to save for awhile. Thanks for doing this article, it's been fun.

Susan Cox

Do you remember your first vinyl music? Of course I had a few Beatles' 45's and LPs in the 60's that I would love to own now. Some of the first records I purchased go back to the late 50's including Laurie London's "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands," Johnny Horton's "Battle of New Orleans" and "Sink the Bismark," and Connie Francis' "Lipstick On Your Collar."

Just thought this list would be interested.

Chris Jones

It was 1956, I was listening to pop and rock 'n' roll music AMAP and I was determined to get that record "Singing The Blues" by Guy Mitchell (Columbia). I was so proud that my selection topped the charts for so many weeks. I played it many times, but was concerned about wearing it out. After that there were many more records I wanted, but alas, I had no money, so my record collecting had to wait for years until I had a job and had bought my first car.

In 1964 my serious record collecting began, still constrained by available funds, but launching years of research and hunting for old treasures. But even though I found out that Marty Robbins had recorded "Singing The Blues" first, I still always favored Guy Mitchell's recording much more.
In recent years the records have given way to CDs and mp3s, and XM Radio has uncovered hundreds more to add to my lists.
Thanks, everyone who has contributed to the preservation of the oldies!

Tom VK

I was living in Crailsheim, Germany. It was Christmas, 1965, when I got my first record player and my first 45s. They were "It Ain't Me Babe" by the Turtles on the orginal blue White Whale label. I remembered the original "B'" side was the fine rocker "Almost There". Also "Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows" by Lesley Gore, short and sweet at 1:37. I remembered the flip was a dramatic ballad "You've Come Back" written by Van McCoy. Another one was "A Taste Of Honey" by Herb Alpert. I remembered the record would skip at certain points. I remembered the flip side was a sprightly version of Anton Karas' "The Third Man Theme". I liked the Tijunana Brass so much that I bought the follow-up "Zorba The Greek" that was edited to 2:48 from a 4:26 version. In addition to the edits, there was some extra crowd noise, an overdubbed trombone towards the end, and adddtional reverb.

MMarvin

I remember the day of my first record buying experience very well. As a child, I lived on Staten Island, NY. Every Friday, my sister and I would take the ferry to NYC where we would go to my mother's office and my father would join us there. We'd then go to a greasy spoon for a Friday night dinner of grilled cheese sandwiches, heavy on the butter, and then travel to see my grandmother in Queens. One day, dad told us to come up early and he brought my sister and me to a Sam Goody store in lower Manhattan as a treat. I was 11 and I was allowed to choose a 45 to play on our new phonograph. What a decision! I loved Rock and Roll and 1958 was a great year for it! I finally chose “All I Have to Do Is Dream” by The Everly Brothers. They became one of my favorites and I eventually owned all of their 45s ... until I came home from work one day and found my niece had destroyed many of them by using them as frisbees while her indulgent grandfather looked on. Now that I have grandchildren of my own, I understand ... but I sure didn't then!

Liz Nilsen

As a young man of 11 years old, my very first 45 rpm purchased was The Marcels, "BLUE MOON". I loved the record. The booming bass voice of Freddy Johnson. Having that record was the bug that bit me. I had to have more. And more. When the Beatles arrived, the album bug bit me as well. I was on my way to cluttering my house with vinyl. What a sweet virus that is. And 18 years ago, the biggest bug bit me. CAMEO PARKWAY records. I boast of my collection of 45s and LPs. www.vinylphilly.squarepins.org
I was did get to see the Marcels perform in East Rutherford but with no originals. But in 2001, at the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in Sharon PA, outside of Pittsburgh, I met Freddy Johnson, the Marcels bass singer. Oh man, I was in heaven. Blue Moon, my first 45.
Vinyl Philly Dave

Hi Kent !

This is a strange story, but true!

I was reading stuff from My First 45's on your website and was thinking of mine at the time, Hey Little Cobra, and for the life of me, I couldn't remember the group.

Then all of a sudden, I saw at the end of the letter, that I'm reading a letter by Mitch Schecter. From the Rip Chords. I was blown away ! Thought you might like to know. Keep up the good work.

Mark

The first 45 I received was the Elvis - Too Much, but the first one I bought was at Hested's (like Woolworth) in Aurora, Colorado. It was Little Girl by Ritchie Valens. It was on the Del-Fi label, but it was an all gold label with Valens Memorial Series scrolled across the top. I still have it, but it doesn't play too well. I've since got it on mp3 ... a great copy, too!

joe

kent ...

i was seven, maybe eight years old when my mom took me to about seven record stores before we finally got "bo diddley" by the man himself, elias mcdaniel ... i had no idea - i'm not sure any white people did - what bo meant when he sang "mother asked mojo where you been ... up to your house and i'm goin' again ... i must have played that
wax 10,000 times ...
i still get chills every time i hear the track ...

by the way, i suggest that all your disciples log on to youtube and type in chuck berry and bo diddley ... it shows the two titans together on stage at an oldies show in madison square garden back in 1972 ... bo appears far more comfortable than chuck.
chet coppock
wls radio
chetcoppock.com

Kent,

The first 45 I bought was "My True Story" by the Jive Five, in 1961. It's still one of my favorite records. My dad made a deal with me - "You don't play that record again tonight and I won't fashion your teeth into flying Chicklets!" I must've played it a hundred times in a row. The sound of those voices mesmerized me. Now, my sister was two years older so I was proficient at wearing out HER Elvis, Buddy Holly and Doo wop 45's but that was the first one I forked over MY spondulicks for! Still a bargain at any price!

To the best of my recollection, the second and third singles were "Barbara Ann" and "Runaround" by the Regents on Gee Records. After that, the floodgates opened and every penny I got in allowance went for new 45's and scratched up ones from garage sales. I still have most if not all of them! Though it was an LP, the record I remember playing more than any other in my youth was "Elvis' Greatest Hits, Volume One." It's still my favorite, although "The Sun Sessions" pulls ahead from time to time!

Henry Gross

Used to be a place (ah, how many people have used that phrase) in Portland, Oregon called Al's records. The entire center of the relatively small store contained the 45's racks - what he didn't have, he'd order for you, but he usually had the top hits; this was before a formal Top Forty. I toddled in at the tender age of seven, laid down my quarter and bought Robert Mitchum's Ballad of Thunder Road. Shortly thereafter, I did the same thing and bought Elvis Presley's Rock-A-Hula Baby. I still have them, some 51 years later.
Cheers,
Iain McLennon
Portland, OR

I have several 45's myself. My very first 45's were bought for me by my boyfriend ( who later became my husband ) when we were going out: The Diary by Neil Sedaka and You Are My Destiny by Paul Anka. We living in Chicago at the time and the music was jumping!

Claire Rivas of Janesville, Wi.

I remember when I was 11 or 12 years old and received ten cents a week for allowance and tried saving every penny I could to buy a 45. My first 45 was a Beatles record, Twist And Shout, which I played over and over till it could not play anymore. My girlfriends would come over to our house and we would make guitars from cardboard with a ruler and play these 45's. It was awesome. We would then make a little theater with chairs and have parents and family come and watch us perform as the Beatles.

Then the Herman's Hermits came out and at that time I was finding odd jobs to try and make more money to buy more 45's. My family did not have a lot of money but trying to find odd jobs and making ten cents a week for allowance made me appreciate more what I had bought. After the Beatles, I started to buy Herman's Hermits 45's records ... Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter, I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am and I'm Leaning on the Lampost, which was my favorite at the time. I still have those 45's hanging on the wall with all my other Herman's Hermits things and things I have collected from the 60's on my walls, which is so cool . When I go into the room it sure brings back good memories.

Thanks for letting us share the good days.

Terry Williams

My first 45 was Green Onions by Booker T. and the MG's. I did not buy it. It was a test record used by a local radio and tv repair shop. My father began working at the repair shop back in 1963. Every time they would repair a record player they would use the Booker T 45 to test and make sure everything sounded right. One day I was at the shop and Mr Pinkney, the owner, got sick of hearing it and tossed it in the trash can. I told him I liked it and wanted that 45. He replied, "You can have it, but keep it out of this %$##@ shop." I brought it home and it hangs on the wall of my record room to this day. The first 45 I bought was Surf City by Jan and Dean. It was from the local soda fountian. They sold 45s they pulled off the jukebox for 25 cents. I was hooked. Every week or so I would check the box and something good would be there. Early 45s I bought from "the box" were Suspicion by Terry Stafford, Do You Love Me by Dave Clark Five, Please Please Me by the Beatles It's All Over Now by the Rolling Stones and She's the One by the Chartbusters. That's been well over 40 years now, and 70, 000 records later, I still collect 45s.

Phil Shoemaker

Hello,

My very first 45 record purchase was 16 Candles by the Crests. (Lead singer Johnny Maestro passed away this year, 2010). It was 1959 and my girlfriend in Chattanooga was turning 16, and for her birthday I bought her the record 16 Candles by the Crests. I remember how mature I felt going into a record store for the first time to make that purchase. Shortly after her birthday, I moved from Chattanooga to Indianapolis and we lost touch. But in 2003 we found each other online. Realizing that we will be life long friends, we continue to correspond, and my wife and I have visited with her and her husband. And of course, for her 61st birthday I bought her a 45 record of 16 Candles by the Crests. As a side note, I'm a big fan of music harmony that is often referred to as doo wop, and suppose that even as a 16 year old kid back in 1959, I enjoyed R & B / doo wop harmony.

James Lewis

My first love lived out of state. He mailed me a dollar bill with a note asking me to go to the "record store" and purchase "Baby I Love You" by Andy Kim. I had never heard it, but he wanted it to be "our song". I begged my sister to drive me since I wasn't old enough! When we got home I played it for hours! To this day when I hear it on the radio all those wonderful feelings come rushing back!
PATTI PAVIS

My very first 45 was Come Softly by the Fleetwoods, I actually bought it for my sister's birthday. My next 45 was Alley Oop by the Hollywood Argyles. Then I bought a 45 for the song Nutcracker it was most all piano but can not remember the group ... I think it was Paul Revere and the Raiders. Then Palasades Park Freddy "BOOM BOOM" Cannon.
Frank De Priest

Long before anyone ever heard of Gurnee, Illinois, outside Lake County ... long before anyone thought of Great America or Gurnee Mills ... my sister worked for the "famous" Big Gurnee Discount Store. One day my mom was picking sis up from work and she told me I could buy a record with my hard earned lawn mowing money. I pored through the records and found "The Letter."
I got it home and put it on ... and I was really shocked to hear Joe Cocker!

I was probably 9 - how did I know I anyone other than The Box Tops did that song? But, in the end, I got to love Cocker's cover version. I still smile when I hear it and think of how dumb I was.

Keith Johnson

The first record that I ever bought was Maybelline by Chuck Berry on 78 rpm. I probably heard it on Porky Chedwick's show on WAMO, as few other disc jockeys were playing Black music in Pittsburgh in 1955. My parents only had a 78 player and rock and roll and rhythm and blues became increasingly hard to find on 78s. Whenever I said that we needed a 45 player, my Dad would say "buy it on a 78". Finally, I had to take my Dad with me to a record store so that he could see that they were no longer releasing many songs on 78, so that he would agree to buy our family a 45/33 rpm player. However, as a result of his procrastination, today I have an extensive collection of early rock and roll on 78 rpm.

Ed Salamon

My first 45 that I purchased with my own money was "Hurts So Good" by John Cougar. I bought it at Target in New Albany, IN, for 99 cents and still have the picture sleeve with the price tag on it. That's recent for some people but sure makes me feel old. I was 11 at the time. Since then I've amassed over 3,000 45's from 1951 through 2003.
I continued to buy new music that I liked on 45 whenever I could but it is nigh on impossible now to find much on 45 although some of the new "underground" artists still release 45's which I think is cool since my jukebox holds 100 45's and I like to rotate them every month or so.
Nothing sounds as good as vinyl and nothing ever will for me.
Chad from New Albany, IN.

My first record was Tom Dooley by the Kingston Trio. I was only about 7 at the time and originally had the 78. I remember it clearly though because I put it on the chair one day and my dad sat on it and broke it. I cried so much that to shut me up, my mum made him go out to buy another copy and he came home with the 45.

The B side was Ruby Red, another great song which I finally found on CD about two years ago. The first record I actually bought myself was Let's Jump The Broomstick by Brenda Lee. I was lucky enough to meet Brenda on my first visit to the States in 2006 and was surprised to learn that although the song was a big hit in England, it did nothing in the U.S. Most of the 45s I bought later are long gone, but I still have these two and whenever I hear them they remind me of the days when music actually meant something
Cheers
Nick Gordon

Kent;
June 1963, grade 8 graduation dance. I'd never been at any dance prior to this night,
but always wanted to.
On a dance floo

r, two gals could fast dance together, but NOT TWO GUYS. There was roller skating at the area, but I didnt know that yet. I had to be content with ice skating to the pop stuff, Oct through April or May.
HARD to ice skate and "DANCE" at same time. WAITED for Elvis and RETURN TO SENDER.
Grade 8 graduation, turns out the chaperone, well, I think everyone knew her, but I knew her a tad better because I'd hang out with her younger brother occassionally. She brought a stack of 45s.
The SOUND(???) SYSTEM ... Put a small record player at edge of the stage and a mic in front of it.
Went through her 45s and said "You don't have any ELVIS stuff. "
Our house was a five minute walk from the high school so I went over and got the ONLY 45 I had ...
Good Luck Charm. For gaduating grade 8 was given $4 or $5. First LP??? Elvis Golden Records. Wasnt listed as Vol 1 because RCA had noooo idea as to where he'd go after 1959.
Soooo anyway, after a few songs, the gal put on Good Luck Charm.
CanNOT recall how the situation took place, but she came down on the floor level and the FIRST gal I ever danced with (we did the twist) was the chaperon!
Robert Black of Willowdale CANADA

I was in fourth grade - there was a school carnival - and I think I won a prize by throwing a basketball into a hoop or something like that. Anyway, the prize was a promotional copy (mono on one side and stereo on the other) of "Lay Lady Lay". Being the oldest and in fourth grade, I really wasn't sure about what the song was about, but I played it anyway.

kip wahlers

I’m only 43 now, born in ’68, but have been an oldies music buff since I was about 15. However, the first 45 I bought was in 1981 and was a BIG pop #1 song.

I still have it and it’s in pristine condition: CENTERFOLD by J. Giles Band b/w RAGE IN THE CAGE. I bought it at Speedy’s Record Shop on 6^th and Hamilton Sts in downtown Allentown, PA. What a great place to get music (they moved about 20 years ago, but closed about 5 years ago). I was given $5 bucks a week allowance then and I would go into town every Saturday and buy one 45, see a movie and get a Frosty from Wendy’s and still have a little change. Life was good then. The Centerfold 45 was interesting to me because it was on a pink and black label with a handprint logo at top, disturbed by EMI America. Being new to record collecting I was eager to see what other labels did. The following week I bought PRIVATE EYES by Hall and Oates, which has Nipper on the front. My dad told me about “His Master’s Voice” tagging which by then had been stopped. From then on I was hooked. I would have listening parties at my house because no one else would spend their money on records.

I collected for about 25 years and stopped a couple of years ago at about 6K 45’s. Now I’ve switched to collecting a more expensive hobby: game worn baseball jerseys. Let me tell you, you can’t get a game worn jersey for a buck-forty-nine!

It’s ok to look back to the past … but don’t try to live in it!

Dave Z

Alburtis, PA

In 1957 I was 12 years old and starting to pay attention to the songs on the radio. My favorite was Black Slacks by Joe Bennett & The Sparkletones. One Saturday I went with my grandmother to the A&P to help her grocery shop. I saw a display of 45s in one corner and had to look at them. I found Black Slacks and bought it.
Kris

In 1959, I bought my first 45, Guitar Boogie Shuffle, by the Virtues, on the Hunt label. Curiously it was my grandmother who turned me on to the song. We used to sit in her kitchen in the early morning and listen to the radio. Grandma always listened to KQV, AM 1410, in Pittsburgh. When they played that record she always said she liked it. So I returned every empty soda bottle I could find for the deposit -- I scoured the neighborhood -- scraped together the money and bought the record from the record department of the Pittsburgh Merchantile department store. I think I paid 49 cents for it -- approximately 25 returned bottles! That very record is still in my collection. It also was the start of a long relationship with the 45, which continues to this day. As a followup, in later years I had the good furtune to meet and become friends with jazz guitarist, Jimmy Bruno, who's father, Jimmy, was the lead guitarist for the Virtues and played the lead on that record.

-- Joe Nez, Pittsburgh, PA

My first record was Paul McCartney and Wings' "Live And Let Die".

I bought the 45 with my babysitting money for 99-cents.

I remember that Paul and Linda were both rocking these really cool shag haircuts on the cover. I finally had long hair myself in college, but then I quickly grew this bald spot and it ruined my dream!

Ryan Murphy ("Glee")

My first 45 was Robot Man by Jamie Horton, in about 1958 or ‘59. She had another record “My Little Marine” after that.

My second 45 is one that I’ve been trying to figure out for years now. I can remember a light-blue label, and the song had something to do with a soldier sitting under a tree reading a letter. Or maybe it was a girl sitting under a tree reading a letter from her soldier boyfriend. Not sure, but I’d love to know what it was.

Like many others on your site, I got a 25-cent allowance back then ... and 45s were 50 cents ... so I had to save up for two weeks and then buy a record I just “had to have”. Never a week went buy that I didn’t have a favorite song that played on WCFL or WLS. “Itsy Bitsy ...” was one of those, as was Del Shannon’s “Runaway”. I still have most of those 45s although I can’t vouch for what shape they’re in.

Kathy Reilly

Rediscover Music

I lived in the suburbs of Philly from the early 50s through the present.

Since Bill Haley was then going from country and western to sort of a rockabilly - rock ‘n roll sound and lived in Chester, PA, I had some early recordings of him on the Essex label such as ‘Dim Dim The Lights” and ‘The Saints Rock and Roll.” By the time he signed with Decca, a “B” side of a single received play in the movie “Blackboard Jungle” and it all broke loose with that tune, “Rock Around The Clock.”

Later that year (‘55) I bought “The Great Pretender” by the Platters and away I went. My first summer job was at a small town swimming pool and amusement park / roller skating / bowling alley combination facility. The first week’s pay bought me a “45” record player and every check thereafter sent me to the local record store for some more of that good time rnr. I played a little drums and guitar for a local rock and roll band in the late 50s / early 60s. For a while I taught a course, “Rock and Roll Up To The Beatles” at a local high school evening course.

I now have 14,000 songs in my iTunes collection and love to make CDs for friends / acquaintances, high school reunions, etc. — for free. Every year or so I try to find a Philly area musician who recorded back in the day and I take him / her out to lunch and I take notes of our conversation.

Tom Moore

My first record when I was 5 yrs old was He's So Fine by the Chiffons. My parents bought me a record player and I used to watch the red and white 45 go round and round and then play it again.
Although the song isn't really ever forgotten I just haven't heard it in many years. Appreciate you playing it again.

Daniel Viscarde

Hi -

First 45 I bought was "Space Race" by Billy Preston ... purchased it at an Alco Store in Concordia, Kansas, for 75 cents back in 1973.

The second and third 45's were purchased for the same price at the same location later in the year 1973, on the same day:

Just You 'N' Me by Chicago and Helen Wheels by Paul McCartney. It was a blast to look through the new 45's, and there were usually a few of each ... and you would make sure you picked out the prime ones.

Douglas Rhine - 2011

The first 45 I bought was Stevie Wonder’s "Hey Love”. (Wonder later would write “Tell Me Something Good,” our first hit for the band Rufus.) Then the first album I ever bought was Led Zeppelin’s first album in high school. I’m a big rock ’n’ roller. If you look at early Rufus, that’s what we were doing.

Chaka Khan

I started buying all the records by Alvin and the Chipmunks in the early 1960's, along with "Hello Muddah,Hello Faddah" by Allen Sherman. Then the Beatles hit when I was 14, and I had to buy all their singles (starting with "She Loves You"), then all the Dave Clark 5 singles.
Finally I had to stop buying baseball cards and comic books so I could buy more records. Starting in January 1965, I would go downtown every Saturday and buy three or four 45's, starting with This Diamond Ring, You've Lost That Lovin Feelin, Keep Searchin and Tell Her No. I didnt stop until I had over 7,000 45's and they stopped making them.
Fred

The very first record I ever bought was a 78rpm of Freddy's "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans" in early 1960. I told Freddy that when I interviewed him years ago, and he was amazed. He didn't know it had been released on 78. Canada was a few years behind the U.S. then. It was on the Quality label here in Canada and unfortunately, it's been lost over time. I had an Aunt and Uncle living in Easton, Pennsylvania at the time and that summer, my family travelled down to visit them. My dad took me to a local record store (possibly it was in Philadelphia) where I bought my 2nd record ever - a Cameo Records 45 of Bobby Rydells' "Volare" in a red picture sleeve with a head shot of Bobby on the cover (that one I still have).

Doug Thompson

Canada

You've got to understand, my first record was "Martian Hop", I loved the Four Seasons and, in 1964, I became a Beatle fanatic. Elvis Presley was for old farts, even when he came back.

Bob Lefsetz

First 45 was Good Luck Charm and First LP Elvis Gold Records. (1958)

Robert Black

In 6th grade, in 1962, I had a crush on a girl name Donna. For "share and tell day", she brought in a 45 of Dion's The Wanderer. I loved the song, wanted that record. Donna and the song were a potent combo. But, I had to wait for the 45, since it was on back order at the only store selling 45s in our small town. So, the first 45 I took home was "My Boomerang Won't Come Back" by Charlie Drake. (the chorus swings ala Louis Prima).

In 1996 I bought a jukebox, and ordered more 45s to add to my collection ... including a copy of "Boomerang." (I had traded my copy away in '65), When I received the new copy, I realized that there were two versions of Boomerang, as the original was deemed too controversial for radio. The edited radio version was politically correct with certain word changes.
I've always loved Dion, he still sounds great! Donna is long gone, and she was never a prima-donna!
Billy F.

Kent:

The first 45 rpm that I ever owned was Johnny Ray singing "The Little White Cloud That Cried".

Then my mom bought for herself (which I eventually got) Eddie Fisher ... and lots of them.

DJ Stu Weiss

The first 45 RPM record I ever owned was one I had stolen at Big Apple Supermarket in Atlanta, GA. It was called “I Ran All The Way Home” by the Impalas. This was fall of 1959. The first legit 45 I ever owned was given to me for a birthday gift “Blue Velvet” by Bobby Vinton.

Bob Jones

My first 45 was Dizzy by Tommy Roe. I remember seeing him on American Bandstand performing it (the lip sync version), and I used to play it non-stop.

I recall some others from that era. My cousin's first was a song
called Israelites by Desmond Dekker. A refugee from eastern Europe who was living with us bought Spill the wine by Eric Burden and War and In the Year 2525 by Zaeger and Evans. I see Dennis Zaeger sells custom guitars these days. Nice stuff. He used to play them non-stop along with When I'm 64 by the Beatles.

Stephen Apple

My first record player was a 78 r.p.m. kiddy model with an old-fashioned diaphragm attached to the tone arm, which acted as a speaker. The thing was virtually indestructible and could have easily doubled as a murder weapon. It had steel needles that looked like carpenter's nails and always seemed to need replacing after every fifth spin.

My record collection was an odd assortment of "Little Golden Records" for kids interspersed with the pop hits of the day I heard on the radio. I had collected everything from Sammy Kaye to Yosemite Sam. My poor folks were forced to listen to an endless loop of "Mona Lisa", "Mule Train" and "The Three Billy Goats Gruff."

-- Tommy James

Wow ... what a great website!

My first 45 was "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin, bought in early 1959. I was in 5th grade at Washington Elementary School in Whittier, Calif. My teacher (Mr. Bradford) was teaching the class the Swing step. WOW ... we (guys) actually danced with girls!!! I really enjoyed the class. He played the Bobby Darin record every time we had dance-class (twice weekly) so, I really got to like the song. When I brought home the record my dad said "Oh, that's a gory song". I didn't understand what he meant then because I really didn't listen to the words ... just the beat.

Thanks Kent for the memories : )
Tom Creed

I remember buying that FIRST 45 with my own money like it was yesterday.

I got my very first job delivering papers on my bike every day after school. When it was time to get paid, I rode that bicycle down to the "Record Land" store on the main street of our city. The song I had heard a number of times on my transistor as I delivered those papers. It was "Sherry" by the Four Seasons. After that I was at the record store every week buying all the latest songs I heard on the radio. It was the beginning of a life-long love affair with 1960's rock & roll.
Rick McCaffrey - Poughkeepsie, NY

My first 45 was "Last Train to Clarksville" and I won it at a friend's birthday party. I still have it!

Lynn Roberts Grice

The first 45 I ever had was not really "mine"-- it was my parents'. I was only 5 at the time. But I know my dad bought it for my sake because I loved the song-- "Poison Ivy" by the Coasters. It probably wasn't a record my suburban parents would have wanted. I remember bopping around in the back seat of the car and singing along whenever they played it. So I know it was purchased for that reason.

The first 45 I ever bought with my own money was "Wonderful World"-- not Sam Cooke but Herman's Hermits. KRLA in Los Angeles was plugging the hell out of Herman's Hermits that summer. My mom, my little brother and I were in a TG&Y store in the San Fernando Valley and my mom bought something. We went back out to the car, but I yelled, "Just a minute!" as I made up my mind to spend the money to buy that record. I ran back and got it, making my mom and brother wait in a broiling hot car while I did so.

They've both been gone now for quite a while, but I still feel bad about that.

--Mike Devich

I started buying records in 1956. The first one I bought was

Be-Bop-A-Lula by Gene Vincent; it was on a ‘78’ disk and I was heartbroken when I sat on it and broke it to pieces. I bought it from a record store on Regent Road in Salford near Manchester, where I lived.

Graham Nash

I bought my first record in 1960; I was 13. I had $1 of my own money and I bought “Red River Rock,” an album by Johnny and The Hurricanes, at the Woolworth's in the first mall opened in southern Michigan.

Iggy Pop

Dave Kapulsky (or, as we all know and love him) Dave The Rave tells us that his first 45 ... the 45 that started his massive collection ... was "A Wonderful Dream" by the Majors on the Imperial label. This first 45 was acquired by winning a dance contest at the YMHA in Highland Park, NJ.

Shortly after that, his father gave him his first Beatles record.

"I was a big fan of the Beatles, and my father bought me Meet the Beatles, their first domestically released album," he said.

But neither record is the oldest in his collection. The oldest record is a 1953 release called "Gee" by the Crows. But that is not an original, he said. The oldest original recording is "Rock Around the Clock," by Bill Haley and the Comets, released in 1954.

"I call my oldies ‘Relics and Rarities’ because most of them are not big hits, but they sound like they should have been," he explained, adding that someone recently dubbed him the "king of obscure records that sound great."

-- Dave The Rave

My first single was "Martian Hop," by the Ran-Dells.
I heard it on my transistor. Probably WABC. I needed to own it. I begged my mother to take me to the store to buy it. You didn't have access to shops in the suburbs, you were reliant on the transportation of your parents. But I do remember riding my bike miles to Topps' discount store to buy the Beach Boys' "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)" a few years later, I needed it just that bad, I had to walk my Raleigh up the steep hill of Kings Highway on the way back.
But that was an album. After I realized singles were a raw deal. For the cost of a couple I could own LPs. Stuff like Gary Lewis & The Playboys' "She's Just My Style." I remember being infatuated with the title track, and the album included covers of "Lies" and "All I Have To Do Is Dream," which I first discovered on Jan & Dean's "Command Performance."
But I started with singles. "Martian Hop" had a pink label. And as much as I remember buying it, what I remember more is dropping the needle on it. That moment of anticipation, removing the disc from the paper sleeve, placing it on the heavy platter, and then lifting the tonearm with the ceramic needle and dropping it on the entry groove and hearing that static and then ... THE MUSIC!

Bob Lefsetz

I just heard about your site per a plug on Scott Shannon's True Oldies channel.

Not counting kids records by acts like Captain Kangaroo or Burl Ives, the first 45 I ever heard and asked Mom to buy was from 1958 when I was a pre-schooler: The Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley.

For many years, though, I was more into my parents' music and school band music in the '60's until we began playing a lot of pop hits at football games in high school. I became acquainted with many songs the band played and "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams was the first one I bought. I also bought "The Horse" by Cliff Nobles, "Everyday People" by Sly & the Family Stone, "Hawaii Five-O" by the Ventures and "Scarborough Fair" by Simon & Garfunkel.

It was really around March, 1970, when I began religiously following Top 40 radio and started buying heavily. Some of the early songs I bought follow: Celebrate by Three Dog Night, Travelin' Band / Who'll Stop the Rain by CCR, Love Grows by Edison Lighthouse, Easy Come, Easy Go by Bobby Sherman, Spirit In the Sky by Norman Greenbaum, Little Green bag by George Baker Selection, Love or Let Me Be Lonely by Friends of Distinction, Walking Through the Country by Grass Roots, Something's Burning by Kenny Rogers and First Edition ... well, you get the picture. I'll stop here.

John Kier

Atlanta, GA

1965, when aged 8, I got a hand me down battered up old record player that would play 45s or 78s. Talked my Mam (Mother) into buying me 6 x 45s from the local Swap shop (second hand shop) Tommy Roe Sweet Little Sheila was one of them, and although I am an avid music lover this is still the only song where I could sing a full verse Lol.

Regards

David Kirton

The very first 45 I bought was California Dreamin' (1965) by The Mamas and The Papas. After that 1st 45 (which I still have), I never stopped until they became unavailable. The very best memories were made in the fantastic 60's. I still play them and play them. Better than anything out these days!

Harry

My first 45 purchase in 6th grade was Walt Disney theme to Johnny Tremain. WOW!

My first rock and roll purchase was "Dance to the Guitar Man." This purchase led to a collection of thousands of 45's and albums all from the 50's and 60's. Recently moved to Florida so sold them all. Kept about 50 rare 45's and picture sleeves.

What a fantastic site.

Michael Vecellio

My first singles? Good question.

As far as I can remember ... believe it or not, it was "The Exodus Song (This Land Is Mine)" by Pat Boone.

Yeah ... I wasn't much of a swinger at 11 years old ... keep in mind this was with my OWN money from doing errands around the house.

My first 45 that my folks got me was at age 8 and that was "The Chipmunk Song"

Do you at least see a bit of progress from 8 to 11?

No?

Well, by 1963 I was purchasing many more records ... (my allowance had increased) ... even though my folks had a hiss fit every time (especially my mom ... dad could have cared less) mom heard a new song being played from my closed bedroom.

It came to the point when I was smuggling records up under my shirt and down my pants (don't ask).

I remember on her birthdays and Christmas gave me a really good reason to buy HER a record of HER choice ... so I ended up purchasing "Red Roses For A Blue Lady by Bert Kaempfert, "Dear Heart" by Henry Mancini ... yep, she loved plenty of elevator music ... however these songs WERE hits on the local / national charts.

The Beatles changed my entire way of thought about music ... I STILL loved The 4 Seasons, Beach Boys and had a GREAT appreciation for Phil Spector and his "family" of singers ... I must have played "Be My Baby" and "Baby, I Love You" a million times.

My collection blossomed to 14,000 and probably many more throughout the sixties, seventies ... and some eighties (I was a mobile disc jockey for awhile during the 80's) and was forced to purchase a LOT of music that I did not like ... it mostly was garbage.

So, that is that ... the beginnings.

Gary Peters

P.S. I forgot to mention "Love Kitten" and the GREAT B side "Why Can't A Boy and Girl Just Stay in Love" by Noreen Corcoran (who starred in the old tv sitcom "Bachelor Father"). This record is AMAZING ... produced by Nino Tempo and sax played like a crazy man, also by Nino. I thought for SURE this was another Phil Spector-produced recording, but when I bought it, it was on The 4 Seasons label "Vee Jay"

WOW!!

Of course many years down the pike I learned that Nino was one of many who played in the "Wall of Sound" grouping that Phil launched for his own company Philles.

IF you've never heard this record, seek it out ... it's one of the best ever recorded in my book ... IF you're a "Wall of Sound" fan.

Gary

Hi Kent!

Not sure if you're still accepting stories, but here's mine if you are:
Like others, I can't remember the first 45 I ever bought with real money, because I received a bunch free, then went on a buying frenzy. I had the bug!

My Dad had a friend in Western MD who owned a tavern with a jukebox. Well, when the jukebox was changed out, he would give me a boxful of 45's. I loved them -- some I'd never heard of, some real gems. After getting bit by the music bug, I was a big fan of local radio (Baltimore) in the 50's-60's, listening to my transistor underneath my pillow at night. I would win contests galore, go to visit the radio stations in order to pick up my prize then sweet talk my way into taking home more and more 45's, mostly promo copies. All of this while I was still in school.
I was in love with music. In 1960 I heard this new record by an unknown to me and had to have that record. Wow, I went to my local record stores after school the next day, searching until I found it! Yay! A brand new record that I played and played and played on my little portable player. I still have it and love the song: "Be My Girl"b/w "Lovesick" on PREP by Johnny Madara. Who would ever foresee that in the future I would be lead to this website to share this little part of my collecting memories. I have over 2000 45's now, pared down quite a bit in order to fit in our little house. Just as an aside, I worked for that local radio station about 30 years later, loved it, loved it, loved it. And still came away with more 45's that I treasure.
I have to do an aside to Freddy BOOM BOOM, if he's reading here ... Freddy, you were the hit of our farewell concert at WITH back in the 90's. Thank you! I'll always remember your energy filled performance.
And Kent, Thank You for this Johnny Madara interview ... I never knew what became of him. Wonderful!!!!!
Janet J,

Florida
ps ... and yes, I was one to put address labels on all my 45's records at parties. That's where all those strange calls came from? LOL

kk@forgottenhits.com