QotD: My First Single
Music-wise, what was the first 45, single or download you bought?
Submitted by Paddy Melt Wagon.
The first single I bought was a double A side by the Specials in 1981: Ghost Town [YouTube] and Rat Race [YouTube]. I got it by using tokens from crisp packets. I think the deal was that you could get any top 10 single and I'm not sure that I knew what that meant at the time so just bought the number 1 single. It was most definitely a good choice as both tracks have aged very well, Ghost Town in particular (great song). I was 9.
[UK Top 40 - 11 July 1981] (Don't you just love the Internet!)
| 1 | Specials | Ghost Town | ||
| 2 | Michael Jackson | One Day In Your Life | ||
| 3 | Bad Manners | Can Can | ||
| 4 | Starsound | Stars On 45 (Volume 2) | ||
| 5 | Odyssey | Going Back To My Roots | ||
| 6 | Imagination | Body Talk | ||
| 7 | Elaine Paige | Memory | ||
| 8 | Smokey Robinson | Being With You | ||
| 9 | Bob Marley | No Woman No Cry | ||
| 10 | Tom Tom Club | Wordy Rappinghood |
The first single that I remember buying from a shop would be And She Was by Talking Heads. February 1986. I think I got given the money on the day of my grandmother's funeral and I went up to Woolies and bought it. Yep, I actually kept a diary at that time and I just confirmed that it was 24 February. Apparently I also bought Huey Lewis and the News (I'd forgotten about that - I think it was the album, Fore) and Billy Ocean was at Number 1 (with When the Going Gets Tough I would imagine).
Ah, but I just remembered another single I had, a 12" this time - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force - I Wonder If I Take You Home [YouTube]. Seemingly it was out in August 1985 so that comes before the Talking Heads track. I'll keep the Heads' track and info there though, since I've already researched it!
But now I really must get some work done. Damn you, QoTD!
Comments
"Ghost Town" and "Rat Race"--my, an excellent choice! I remember when these songs were in rotation on MTV--back before it went all corporate and then quit playing music altogether. (Just wheel me to the geriatric ward now....)
The 2 Tone guy on the record label is timeless.
I also loved #3 on the chart, "Can Can" by Bad Manners. I wonder what happened to our copy of it.