1980s Hip-hop artist Grandmaster Flash has lost three crates of irreplaceable vintage vinyl records when a car parking valet in New York mistakenly gave his car to the wrong person.

Grandmaster Flash informed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that some of the vinyl record collection dated back decades: “Records that I collected 40 years ago, some of my old breakbeats. How do you replace that?”

Grandmaster Flash lost his car in a mix-up in a Manhattan parking garage last weekend. He explained in the interview: “I came back and I proceeded to have the same guy who gave me the same ticket two hours ago and his eyes went as big as saucers and he says to me, ‘I’ve given your car to the wrong person. He looked like you!’ I’ve had to hire an attorney, who says we are going to have to go after the garage.”

What are the chances of that happening? Very slim in truth. In recent years many of us have regretted losing our vinyl record collection, albeit generally not under such freak circumstances. Many of you dumped your vinyl records, courtesy of the municipal refuse tip, or sold them at a car boot sale or to a second hand record shop thinking that the new-fangled CD was a superior being. Little did we know……..

At the risk of being smug and self-satisfied ( God forbid ), the Record Press author has retained his vinyl record collection, not because I am astute and a visionary, but just a sentimentalist. I have always been passionate about vinyl records and simply couldn’t let my collection go. So my vinyl single collection sat in a musty old trunk for 20 years until such time I could afford to buy a couple of 1950s jukeboxes. Although luckily I retained my vinyl record collection, I completely sympathise with those of you who let your vinyl records go and I understand your  remorse and sense of grief and loss.

That’s why in 2010, I launched the MyFirstRecord.co.uk website, in order to help others celebrate the influence, magic and pleasure that vinyl records have brought to all our lives over the years and in some cases replace favourite vinyl singles lost long ago. MyFirstRecord offers you the opportunity to immortalise a favourite song as the Perfect Personalised Present for those special gifting occasions for family members and friends.

A framed 7″ vinyl single of your choice with engraved plaque creates a unique, personalised gift for a special occasion i.e. a landmark birthday ( No1 on the day of birth ), landmark wedding anniversary or wedding ( Bride & Groom’s wedding first dance song ), Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!  ORDER NOW…….. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/