Do you remember buying your first vinyl single? Which shop did you buy your first vinyl single from? It may have been Woolworths, WH Smiths, HMV or possibly Our Price. Or was it an independent record store? And what was your first vinyl single? Do you remember rushing home in anticipation of the thrill of playing it for the first time?

For those later generations that have grown up with CD singles and digital downloads, it is difficult to convey the excitement of buying a first vinyl record and the buzz that came with exchanging 45 pence ( in my case ) for a wonderful seven inch wide piece of vinyl, with its own distinctive plastic aroma and personality; the face being represented by the brightly coloured branded label.

All these memories and sensations were beautifully captured in the BBC4 documentary “The Joy of the Single”. The BBC website perfectly sums up “The Joy of the Single” as “ a documentary packed with startling memories, vivid images and penetrating insights into the power of pop and rock’s first and most abiding artefact – the seven inch, vinyl 45 rpm record; a small, perfectly formed object that seems to miraculously contain the hopes, fears, sounds and experiences of our different generations – all within the spiralling groove etched on its shiny black surface, labelled and gift-wrapped by an industry also in its thrall”.

“The Joy of the Single” captured the obsessive love, addiction, dedication and desire for the vinyl single of two generations between 1952 and 1992. In particular the fevered and impassioned contributions from Noddy Holder, Richard Hawley, Suzi Quatro, Holly Johnson, Pete Waterman, Mike Batt, Graham Gouldman, Miranda Sawyer, Norman Cook, Trevor Horn, Neil Sedaka and Paul Morley were what really made “The Joy of the Single” a joy to watch.

And inevitably as the Record Press author watched “The Joy of the Single” documentary, I cast my mind back to not just my first vinyl single, but somewhat greedily to the first five vinyl singles that I bought and here they are –

1) Rubettes – Sugar Baby Love ( June 1974 )

2) Mud – Tiger Feet ( 2nd hand ) ( July 1974 )

3) Sylvia – Y Viva Espana ( September 1974 )

4) Kenny – The Bump ( January 1975 )

5) Peter Shelley – Love Me Love My Dog ( April 1975 )

Frankly there are some embarrassing choices in there, but only to the 50 year old Record Press author. I stand by the choices made by the 11 / 12 year old me!!

So what were the first five vinyl singles or CD singles that you bought or were bought for you? Let us know in the Reply Box below

Celebrate your first vinyl single or CD single in your home or office, by ordering your first vinyl single or CD single ; framed and mounted as a picture disc souvenir. You can also personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque…… 

ORDER HERE  www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Framed vinyl records, framed CDs and framed DVDs with a personalised plaque, make unique presents or original gifts for a special celebration  / special occasion ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th Birthday ( How about the No1 song on the day of birth? ), a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!!  THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!