The Beginning

When did it all start? What were the first records to start the whole collecting bug? Confession; the first two singles (remember them- 7" plastic spinning around at 45rpm) were not really the most head banging tunes you could pick (then again, this was years before the headbangers started).

First, and earliest single I can remember was The Batman Theme by Neal Hefti in 1966. A catchy little ditty not over taxing on the lyrics front. The other single that I remember was the first introduction to the Beatles with She Loves You from 1963. This was quite a few years before I actually walked into a record shop and bought a disc.

The Beatles single must have made some impact, as jumping ahead a few years I can remember the first two albums I bought. The first, won't appear on the must buy shopping list as it's definately not the definitive fab four disc. So Album number one was 1969's The Yellow Submarine by the Beatles, and the great disappointment to discover side two (yes we had side one and side two in those days) was an instrumental.

I'm sure I'll come back to the Beatles at a later day, but for now, Revolver is generally heralded as the best Beatles album, I'd however probably pick Sgt Peppers. For the beginner (is there anyone out there who doesn't have a Beatles CD)?  I'd recommend 1962-1966 (The Red Album) there's not a poor track on this essential compilation. Hooked? Then dive straight in with the pricey but must have re-mastered box sets available in Mono and Stereo. I struggled a bit for which to recommend and have chosen The Beatles In Mono . Why? Because it's the set I bought and it's hard to beat with every Mono album sounding as is was meant to be when originally recorded.

The second album I can remember buying is a total contrast from the Beatles and I don't really know how I chose it but  I'm very glad I did. The second album was The Sensational Alex Harvey Band The Impossible Dream / Tomorrow Belongs To Me (well actually Tomorrow Belongs To Me) the fifth album by SAHB in 1975. The gravel voiced Alex Harvey was my first introduction to Rock music and as they say, I've never looked back - So thanks Alex....