What were your first albums and what do you think of them today?

[EJ3]

A picture of her later studio (with four flying Klipsch Cornwalls):

I was aware even back then that while my musical tastes occasionally connected with Billboard top-100, my tastes weren't really "widely popular". I also was playing Wendy Carlos' Sonic Seasonings (1972) as much as anything else (which you apparently can't find on YouTube):

Chuck Mangione:

Mahavishnu Orchestra...

Tomita...

Deodato...

The Modern Jazz Quartet...

and several other baroque period albums (J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Purcell, etc.)


Yes...but my friends weren't playing a lot of the stuff I spent time listening to. I attribute that to simply being exposed early in life to music that was better than the Billboard Top-100.

Chris

Concieved in Charleston, SC USA, born in the Mozart City of Salzburg, Austria, my musical influences were (and are) vast. Wendy/Walter Carlos, and folks like Morton Subotnick were on my TT a lot when I was 14-18 (1971-75 [I was an early adopter of quad as a young teen]). I saw Chuck Mangioni several times. Same with ZZ Top, Black Sabbath, KISS, Nantucket, Aerosmith (opened for Mahogany Rush, which is why I went), Led Zeppelin, Iron Butterfly, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Johnny Winter (I ran sound for Bobby Blue Bland once when B.B. King called out for a sound man to help Bobby's (sick or whatever) one out, Nantucket, and many others.
A lot of these people I actually did not have their albums at the time, because (once I bought my first motorcycle [with the proceeds from my lawncare business that I started when I was 10] {I quit growing at 12 & by 14 I had a moustache and had hitch Hiked Continental Europe, seeing people like Rory Gallagher, Chuck Berry and others by then). After getting the Honda CL 175 at Christmas 1971 (1/2 was paid by my parents as a Christmas & [March 8 1972] Birthday present, I quite playing pool and started going to concerts & clubs}. I bought most of their albums after I'd seen them.
But usually the music I was after was not in the Bill Board Top 40, either. In 1979 I lived for a year in the French Quarter of New Orleans (622 St Anne St) and expanded heavily into Jazz. If one looks at what I have in albums & CD's, they'd say "it's a freaky, eclectic collection".

 

[DanielT]

I'm a geezer but I play a ton of stuff that is from bands that have only existed say, in the last 10 years, as well as my good-taste classics. I have the time to play more these days.

In fact, while not dissing people's taste, I'd like a thread that was only "music I'm playing now from bands of the last 10 years", so I can find new things, rather than think "blimey, that old tripe again?"

There is definitely good new music. You have to really sift through to find the gems though.

I really like the winner and runner-up in the 2025 poll:

2025 Music Discovery Award!!!

With the year coming to an end, time is to nominate a track that was released in 2025 that captured your heart more than any other. Please post a link to the video or the track so members can listen to it without searching. Whoever's video gets the highest number of likes gets a free piece...

www.audiosciencereview.com

1:

2:

 

[DanielT]

Concieved in Charleston, SC USA, born in the Mozart City of Salzburg, Austria, my musical influences were (and are) vast. Wendy/Walter Carlos, and folks like Morton Subotnick were on my TT a lot when I was 14-18 (1971-75 [I was an early adopter of quad as a young teen]). I saw Chuck Mangioni several times. Same with ZZ Top, Black Sabbath, KISS, Nantucket, Aerosmith (opened for Mahogany Rush, which is why I went), Led Zeppelin, Iron Butterfly, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Johnny Winter (I ran sound for Bobby Blue Bland once when B.B. King called out for a sound man to help Bobby's (sick or whatever) one out, Nantucket, and many others.
A lot of these people I actually did not have their albums at the time, because (once I bought my first motorcycle [with the proceeds from my lawncare business that I started when I was 10] {I quit growing at 12 & by 14 I had a moustache and had hitch Hiked Continental Europe, seeing people like Rory Gallagher, Chuck Berry and others by then). After getting the Honda CL 175 at Christmas 1971 (1/2 was paid by my parents as a Christmas & [March 8 1972] Birthday present, I quite playing pool and started going to concerts & clubs}. I bought most of their albums after I'd seen them.
But usually the music I was after was not in the Bill Board Top 40, either. In 1979 I lived for a year in the French Quarter of New Orleans (622 St Anne St) and expanded heavily into Jazz. If one looks at what I have in albums & CD's, they'd say "it's a freaky, eclectic collection".

A superb collection of groups and musicians.

 

[Bland_username42069]

Did anyone buy EPs or 7inches? I was avid buyer every week when the latest imports came into my shop from Subpop and all the US independent labels. I can’t remember what my first one was but I definitely remember having a single by this carcrash

Along with

Was like a looking through a hazy window into the sound of independent America.

Still a loyal 7” buyer to this day

 

[Redacted]

No, I never bought 7", but had a few EPs.
I figured the per-track cost was a bit high for me, and if really liked the music, I'd try to buy the whole LP album. Which worked out badly quite a few times! There were quite a few albums that only had one good track on them and 75% of the time, that was the single that came out!

 

[Bland_username42069]

No, I never bought 7", but had a few EPs.
I figured the per-track cost was a bit high for me, and if really liked the music, I'd try to buy the whole LP album. Which worked out badly quite a few times! There were quite a few albums that only had one good track on them and 75% of the time, that was the single that came out!

Yes! So many times a band would have a good selling EP or 7 inch then be bundled into the studio for an album they weren’t ready to record.

I was a regular EP buyer. I know this band can record 20 minutes of music but 40 minutes in one go is a bridge too far for them.

 

[jimmyjames8]

The first record I can remember buying was Steppenwolf 2nd. Still holds up today. I had good taste even back then in 1968.

 

[Paul7777x]

This mighty non stop bag of fun. And I still listen to it from time to time and love it.

 

[Karmacoma]

Both
There are actually quite a few studies on this topic. The phenomenon is usually referred to as the “musical reminiscence bump” or, more generally, the “reminiscence bump.” This refers to the observation that people develop unusually strong memories, emotions, and preferences for music they listened to during their youth and early adulthood.

Also see, in a slightly different manner the '' madeleines de Proust '' or Proust's madeleines.

 

[Timcognito]

I'm a geezer but I play a ton of stuff that is from bands that have only existed say, in the last 10 years, as well as my good-taste classics. I have the time to play more these days.

In fact, while not dissing people's taste, I'd like a thread that was only "music I'm playing now from bands of the last 10 years", so I can find new things, rather than think "blimey, that old tripe again?"

KFJC 89.7FM

 

[Burning Sounds]

The Rolling Stones first album in 1964 (mono) - all my pocket money went on that. Then I saved for the next one and whatever singles came in between. I still have it framed on the wall in the music room. It's still playable, but very noisy. It did live a hard life on the Dansette.

 

[DSJR]

Wendy, at that time was Walter. Not sure when she transitioned (maybe around the time doing the sound track for Clockwork Orange, before 2001: A Space Odyssey).
At any rate:
Carlos doesn't get enough credit for her influence on music; classical and otherwise. She should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Consider how much we wouldn't have had she not taken synthesizers into the mainstream.
Many of the improvements that Robert Moog added to early generations of his synthesizers were a direct result of her feedback, input, and ideas.
ALL of Walter/Wendy's MASTERS were done in 4-channel/4-track as she stated in a Keyboard Magazine article in the early 80s.
Would be interesting to hear those today, now that we have such high resolution home theatre gear available!
And with that, I'll proceed to one of me earliest purchases (another heavy synthesizer user):
In late 1972, Winter brought together Dan Hartman, Ronnie Montrose and Chuck Ruff to form The Edgar Winter Group, who created such hits as the number one "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride" Released in November 1972, They Only Come Out at Night, peaked at the number 3 position on the Billboard Hot 200 and stayed on the charts for 80 weeks. It was certified gold in April 1973 by the RIAA and double platinum in November 1986.
Winter invented the keyboard body strap early in his career, an innovation that allows him the freedom to move around on stage during his multi-instrument high-energy performances. And should also be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Switched On bach I never bought, but I borrowed it and played it around 1970 when my musical vista was exploding

Frankenstein by The Edgar Winter Group was a staple in our mid 70s dem rooms and like other 'in-crowd' higher end dealers in and around London, we had a master tape copy of that track that was well played I remember. My vinyl copy must have been a worn stamper from a UK cut of a copy of the US original tapes, as it sounded muddy in comparison, more than good vinyl cuts usually do

I've got to stop looking at this thread, as so many of the albums linked to I love dearly or had forgotten in intervening decades. On the SOB vibe, Snowflakes Are Dancing by Tomita, may have been seen as sacrilege by lovers of the 'proper' versions, but it was this Tomita album that led me to appreciate and love the pieces as originally composed and scored. Clair de Lune is beautiful in both realisations to me...

 

[Mnyb]

As it stands now. Most people in the thread still like the first music they bought from what I can see. You can interpret that as you want, then teenagers, now (many of us) middle-aged or older.

Well, how is that possible? Other things about likes and tastes change with time and aging. Eternal music classics that still hold up? Hold up because of nostalgic reasons? Maybe both, or something else?

I transitioned to listen more pink Floyd than metal and then to fusion and jazz and blues and folk .
I think zeppelin eventually leads to blues and folk .

But I don’t dislike metal I just don’t choose it as much anymore, it does not give me the same vibe as it once did

I had friends with where specific taste when I was young one guy totally immersed in goth music and one devote Zappa fan .

I was more singular and elitistic and dismissive of other forms of music when I was younger .
Nowadays I think almost every genre has something to give and is worthy of some listening .
For example nowadays I can apriciate all the synth music I missed when being a metal head .

 

[Platypus20]

Beatles - Meet The Beatles

Still enjoy it today

 

[EJ3]

Beatles - Meet The Beatles

Still enjoy it today

I've got that. But I was 6 when I got it (mono [it was released 20 January 1964 in both mono and stereo]). I still have it and it is in great shape. Yes, it is still enjoyable today.

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

In late 1972, Winter brought together Dan Hartman, Ronnie Montrose and Chuck Ruff to form The Edgar Winter Group, who created such hits as the number one "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride"

The very first rock concert I attended was the Edgar Winter Group, which by that time had Rick Derringer on guitar. "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Coo" was his big hit that he played at the show.

The opening act was a band from England that nobody had heard of and who were making their debut appearance in the US. You might have heard of them by now, their name was "Bad Company".

 

[DMill]

Many growing up. I was fortunate my father loved late 60s and early 70s rock. Everything from Beatles to Led Zeppelin to supertramp and Elton in the later 70s. Always loved Yes. I guess the first one that really blew my mind was, Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking. I’d heard Floyd but never heard an album like that. Just brilliant musicians really coming together to make something that wasn’t pop. To this day I’m still very fond of this album and think it’s really underrated

 

[Redacted]

Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking. I’d heard Floyd but never heard an album like that. Just brilliant musicians really coming together to make something that wasn’t pop. To this day I’m still very fond of this album and think it’s really underrated

I recall liking the cover!

 

[Chanur]

My first cassette tape was Bruce Springsteen Born In The USA.

My first record was The Police Zenyatta Mondatta.

 

[theBoomer]

View attachment 534207it was 1970 and we called them records then.

I'm still listening to these songs, just not this album.

Oldies but Goldies has been around my parents' house since I can remember and is the first "grownups" record I ever listened to of my own choice. I was allowed the use of the family gramophone (that's what you listened to records with) when I was still at kindergarten.