Although widely predicted for the last decade, the news that Kodak, the 130-year old photographic company has filed for bankruptcy, still came as a shock and has left a real resonance and sense of sadness and loss. For many generations, we grew up with Kodak cameras, films and slides as being an intrinsic and integral part of a party, a picnic, a day out at the zoo or seaside or a family holiday. For millions of us, the Kodak brand is synonymous with happy childhood, family and teenage memories, and therefore is interwoven into the fabric of our lives and will remain so for perpetuity.

The iconic mustard and red branding of the Kodak film roll boxes is seared into my memories of family life in the 1960s and 1970s and indeed I can remember my parents giving me my first Kodak Instamatic Camera in 1974, and my first handshaking attempts at photography, with the inevitable blurred prints returning from processing at Boots The Chemists or Timothy Whites!! Infact it was only recently at Christmas 2009 that we dug out Dad’s old Kodak slide projector and the family spent a thoroughly entertaining three or four hours immersed in the seemingly idyllic 1960s and 1970s!! Kodak cameras and films chronicled our lives visually in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, whilst vinyl records provided the soundtrack to those wonderful, technicolour memories. Put simply Kodak cameras and films and vinyl records documented the lives of anyone who is 40 plus. The two are inextricably linked and the most effective, emotive vehicles for all those evocative memories!!

Whilst Kodak sadly fell victim to the digital era, vinyl records initially gave way to the CD and the digital Mp3 download, but more recently vinyl records are making a comeback, as many music lovers feel the sound quality of vinyl is actually superior to it’s digital successors!!

So let’s pay tribute to Kodak with ten songs to mark the demise of this beloved brand, that became the best friend and close companion of nostalgia –

Ten songs to mark the passing of Kodak, the best friend of nostalgia, from the heyday of the brand in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s…..

1)  Gladys Knight & The Pips – The Way We Were – Try To Remember ( 1975 )

2)  A Flock Of Seagulls – Wishing ( If I Had A Photograph Of You ) ( 1982 )

3)  Johnny Bristol – Memories Don’t Leave Like People Do (1975 )

4)  Elaine Paige – Memory ( 1981 )

5)  Lotus Eaters – First Picture Of You ( 1983 )

6)  Ringo Starr – Photograph ( 1973 )

7)  Carpenters – Yesterday Once More ( 1973 )

8  )  Bucks Fizz – My Camera Never Lies ( 1982 )

9)  Public Image Ltd – Memories ( 1979 )

10)  Bay City Rollers – Remember ( 1974 )

As a tribute to the massive part Kodak has played in our lives as a custodian and chronicler of our wonderful memories, MyFirstRecord.co.uk is running a special promotion whereby you can have your favourite vinyl record or CD framed and mounted with a related / associated photograph, as the ultimate picture disc. ORDER NOW by clicking on…….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Alternatively this would make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration  ie a Wedding ( Wedding Song ), a 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!