When I was a kid, tapes and albums were both popular. But, I didn't have a good way to play albums so I bought (or got them as gifts) tapes. Before I actually started buying tapes (because I was a kid without much personal scratch), I would tape my friends' albums (or tapes) on blank cassette tapes (which were cheaper than the actual original and two albums fit per tape). The album (or tape) played in their stereos and if I inserted a tape in the tape deck (or second tape deck) and pushed record, I could get the whole thing (our 1970s and 1980s version of illegal downloads). My very first recording was REO Speedwagon, High Infidelity.
I actually don't remember ever buying a tape (or album), but I'm sure I did. I think I mostly got through junior high, high school, and college by taping other people's albums/tapes. I know I got music as presents throughout my childhood and college years. My Barry Manilow albums were all gifts, as was the BeeGees doing Sgt. Pepper (I'm still a BM fan, but was really pissed when I got the Bee Gees rather than the real Beatles album - I was a music snob in grade school). Don't laugh. I could be telling you about listening to 8-tracks at my grandma's house.
The first album I bought with my own money was Rockwell, Somebody's Watching Me. The title track was great.
The oldest album I still own is Johnny Horton's Greatest Hits, which my parents had on LP and I now have on CD. Great stuff.
Posted by: Christopher Tassava | September 19, 2007 at 09:04 PM