First single, album, CD you purchased?

Mark Guncheon

With my music industry background, I'm always curious about people's tastes in music and often ask others what was the first single (we called them “45s” when I was growing up), album or CD you purchased? For me it was Bob Dylan's “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.” It's so unlike anything he has done and caught my ear the first time I heard it on my AM radio one morning.

So what was your first purchase? Do you remember where you bought it and what you played it with?

roger berg

@Mark Guncheon
I think it was Billy Joel - The Stranger - and I about wore out the grooves playing it on my awesome all-in-one stereo system with built-in turntable, radio and tape deck. I probably purchased it at the mall, but most of of the subsequent purchases were classical records purchased at Rose Records on Wabash in downtown Chicago. I could ride the train in from the suburbs, walk to Rose Records (and Carl Fisher's for sheet music, just down the street from Rose) and head back home.

Crystal Bruce

@Mark Guncheon I'm going to be honest and say probably New Kids on the Block. I'm a fullllll on Gen X'er.

Lauren Henderson

@Mark Guncheon
the first recording I asked for and received as a gift was a cassette tape of The Nutcracker Suite. The first albums I purchased myself were Offspring Smash and Live Throwing Copper CDs with a Borders gift certificate (that was also a gift).

Joanne Felci

@Mark Guncheon

The first one I remember purchasing myself - and it was vinyl - was Journey's Escape

But my very first album was probably Shaun Cassidy

La Donna Borth

@Mark Guncheon

I'm not sure. I had three older siblings who were in their teens while I was too young to buy anything, and my parents had a console with radio, a turn-table, and an 8-track player.

I recall buying U2's “The Unforgettable Fire." I don't think it was my first music purchase, though. My 80's teen years were filled with groups like Duran Duran (maybe the first?), Depeche Mode, The Cars, some Billy Joel.

La Donna Borth

@Joanne Felci

Hmmm, I recall there being a Shaun Cassidy poster on our bedroom wall. Maybe we had his album, too?

Mark Guncheon

@roger berg I used to manage one of the Rose Records stores (The one on Broadway in Newtown. Actually, there were two on Broadway. One had rock and disco and R&B. Across the street was classical, folk and Jazz.) It was called Sounds Good before they changed the name.

Mark Guncheon

His first album

When his album came out, we placed a poster of it next to the poster for the Rick Derringer album:



@La Donna Borth

Stephanie Crawley

@Mark Guncheon
The Police: Ghost in the Machine 8-track tape to play in my 1980 Magnavox console stereo that I won when I was on Wheel of Fortune's Teen Week in 1980, hosted by Chuck Woolery.

Carrie Powell

@Mark Guncheon, I can remember the first cassette tape I purchased with my “own” money was Genesis's “Invisible Touch." It was so exciting to go to the music stores and listen to the singles.

Michelle Lacey

@Mark Guncheon First album I purchased was Billy Joel's Glass Houses – I still have it. The first 45's I remember playing were Don't Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John & Kiki Dee and Rock the Boat by Hues Corporation. I have fond memories of going to Tower Records on Tuesdays when new music was released.

Vicky Lopuchowycz

@Mark Guncheon the first album I purchased was Poison - Open Up and Say Ahhh! - I was in 2nd grade and thought I was so cool! I bought it at The House of Guitars (the HOG) and played it on my purple cassette/radio mini boombox with a shoulder strap.

Angela Finley Hunter

@Mark Guncheon - 1983 New Edition song Candy Girl! I was so excited to purchase the album. OMG the album cover was so cute!

Bobby Steurer

@Mark Guncheon I believe the first CD gifted to me was Nirvana's ‘In Utero.' That was, at least, the one that actually had an impact on me, musically. I can't remember the first one I purchased with my own money. It may have been Korn's ‘Life is Peachy" - almost certainly one of their earlier discs, whichever it actually was. The last CD I purchased was probably a local release around 2012 or so. The Nirvana CD really set the tone for the musical trajectory I’d take over the next couple decades.

Elizabeth Johnson

@Mark Guncheon The first album I purchased with my own money was Def Leopard Pyromania. I was at the orthodontist and there was a music store nearby. I remember going in and having to have it. It was of course vinyl. We would play it on our mom's stereo (that also played 8 tracks) with the huge speakers. My sister, @Tamara Christensen, I believe had the Shawn Cassidy too! Goodness, that cover brings back so many memories. there would be just enough room for my sister and I to sit between them and crank the stereo (especially when Rod Stewart's Passion came on the radio). The first purchase request was U2 I asked for Boy, October, and War one year. Our wonderful mom got them all for me on cassette.

Tineke Hage

@Mark Guncheon my first album I purchased was The DeFranco Family. Once I was on my own, I bought Bob Seger album.

Mark Guncheon

@Tineke Hage Back in the day, I had long hair and some said I kind of looked like Bob from his album cover photo:

I suggested they might need to get their eyes checked though my hair did kinda look like his. Eventually got to enjoy his concert up in Madison, Wisconsin one summer night.

Mark Guncheon

@Elizabeth Johnson Good old 8-tracks. Remember how they would sometimes switch tracks in the middle of a song?

Mark Guncheon

@Bobby Steurer It shows the power of music that it could have an impact on you and affect you for so long.

Mark Guncheon

@Angela Hunter Their lead singer always reminded me of Michael Jackson.

Mark Guncheon

@Vicky Lopuchowycz You bought a Poison album in 2nd grade? Wow!

Mark Guncheon

@Michelle Lacey Fantastic that you still have your first album. We sold so many copies of those two singles. They were huge hits.

Mark Guncheon

@Carrie Powell Genesis played at Northwestern when I was there. I volunteered to help with set up and along with the other students, we unloaded three semis filled with sound and lighting equipment and costumes, of course.

Mark Guncheon

@Stephanie Crawley Stephanie! Awesome! Congratulations on your appearance and winnings!

Angela Finley Hunter

@Mark Guncheon - OMG Yes! I never thought about that, but it's so true ?

Rachel Cavalier

@Mark Guncheon
The first single I bought was Radiohead's Karma Police from the Virgin Megastore in the local town centre. I used to play it on the family stereo system in the sitting room, since I didn't have a CD player of my own.

I think the first album might have been Vanessa-Mae's Violin Player

Mark Guncheon

@Rachel Cavalier I like Radiohead but not familiar with Vanessa-Mae.

Adrienne Baumann

@Mark Guncheon My first cassette purchase with my very own $ was Duran Duran's “Rio” ? I played it on my pink Sony portable radio! Circa 1982 when I was 11.

Tineke Hage

@Mark Guncheon I got to see Bob Seeger in Northern Michigan back in the day and again in Phoenix a couple of years ago.

Coco Parham

@Mark Guncheon great question! I bought James Taylor “JT”. I was a poor manager of my money as a kid, so I often taped songs from the radio .

I saw James Taylor a few different times in concert-He is amazing!