>In 1974, at the very late age of 15, my first album purchases were
cassettes
>of The Beatles "1962-1966" and "1967-1970".

Good heavens, the esteemed Mr. Bash and I are the same age. That must be
(at least a small) part of why I find myself here, enjoying this list so
much. Man, what a great list of "first albums purchased"!

Gilbert O'Sullivan
Box Tops
Dr. Hook
The Archies
Supertramp
Queen
The New York Dolls
Beatles (6 time mention and counting)
The Spinners
Simon and Garfunkel
Beach Boys (surfin safari was my 2nd!)

In 1965, my grandmom asked my Mom what she should get me for my
birthday, I was 6. Mom told her that I'd been dancing around in my
Beatle wig for months now, singing along with the radio. Sure enough,
good old Mom-Mom got me "Meet the Beatles". I will NEVER forget her
walking in the back (pantry) door with it that February day (she didn't
gift-wrap it, due to arthritis). It was just "there" in her hand, I saw
it but could hardly believe it. She passed it on to me and I was GONE. I
remain, to this day, quite happily, GONE.

I can't remember ever having enough money in my little pockets to buy
anything other than candy and baseball cards until I was probably 10 or
so. I'm pretty sure mine was "The Monkees Greatest Hits", the Colgems
disc with the "crazy" black and orange "reverse" psychedelic cover. I've
a picture of myself in Disneyland that year on family vacation, getting
off a ride, wearing my red, double-breasted (with the white buttons)
Monkees shirt and my buckle-to-one-side-style Peter Tork big leather
belt. Far freakin' out, man. Y'all have got me going back to a VERY good
place. Thanks.

Jeff T.
Delaware