first record

[calimac]

(inspired by a post by akirlu)

The first record I ever bought with my own money was a set of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. Collegium Aureum, an early "original instruments" recording. I still have it. I was 13, I think: I've been a classical geek for a long time.

One fairly early purchase I can date precisely is my first Shostakovich record - Ormandy conducting the Fifth. I bought it a month before I turned 15. I remember the date because I noted at the time that it was Rossini's birthday, an event that only comes around every four years.

I discovered electric folk music in a rush at the age of 20. Before I could do anything about it, I moved into an apartment shared with a guy who already had all the Steeleye Span albums, so I didn't need to buy my own until much later. He also had all the Bruckner symphonies, which at the time I did not. Heaven, in two flavors.

I was probably about 23 before I bought my first actual rock album. It was The Beatles 1967-1970.

When I got a CD player as a gift (I still have it), about five years after they were introduced, a couple of discs came with it. But I don't remember for sure what the first CD I bought on my own was. For some time I considered CDs merely a supplement to my LP collection, so it was probably Louis Spohr's Sixth Symphony or something esoteric like that.

The most recent CD I bought, or one of a batch, is described here. The most recent LP I bought is a used copy of Laszlo Lajtha's Fourth and Ninth Symphonies. You gotta get your obscure modern Hungarian music somewhere.

Comments

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

Hm, a 45 of the Little Old Lady from Pasadena (B side is Schlock Rod). I like spoof stuff.
The First Album I got as a gift was Danny Kaye Loves Children. And another Danny Kaye album which had The Fox on it. My parents also had My Fair Lady with the original Broadway cast which I listened to a lot. The record player was this huge console in the dining room until I got a portable monaural when I was 12 (so that my parents wouldn't have to listen to my rock 'n roll, which was surf music, Beatles and Bye Bye Birdie).
I know I still have the 45. I think I still have the Albums too.
Most of my classical is Bach, who I still love to listen too. Luckily he's easy to find.
My weird stuff goes to Indian Classical, which is getting easier to find these days.
David, remind me to show you the Classical 45s we have up on the shelf. An Album is literally an book of 45 records. They are designed to go on a drop spindle stack. After the last 45 plays you flip them over and play the other side of the stack. Very Clever.

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

The first record I bought with my own money was "Mr. Spock's Music from Outer Space," with Leonard Nimoy doing readings and singing things like "Lost in the Stars" (a Weill song - or is it Brecht? I forget the show it's from). You married such a geek!