The first album I bought for myself.

[Denn Forever]

I was just musing that it woud be interesting to see how we all started out.  The criteria is that it was your own money and you bought it for yourself not as a present (that you hope the recipiant will let you listen to it.  Showing my age here).

Dirty Deeds done Dirt Cheap.  AC/DC.

Bought it in Galway on the way home from attending my eldest sister's graduation.  Didn't dare asking my parents to play it in the car after looking at the sleeve notes!

[Billys Boots]

Long live rock and roll - Rainbow. Aaaaaaaaargh! 

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Christmas 1973.  Genesis - Selling England By The Pound.  I bought it on the recommendation of a mate at school who I thought was cool.  It was shit.  I swapped it for Steely Dan's Countdown To Ecstasy in early 1974...it was worse.  Thank God for The Clash!

[5 Sams]

Tonic for the Troops

Boomtown Rats

[Shamrock Shore]

Long live rock and roll - Rainbow. Aaaaaaaaargh!

I can confirm this - had to listen to the bastarding thing for 2 years in boarding school.

I seem to recall my first was 'Hot Tracks' by K-Tel circa 1979 on cassette.

[Harold Disgracey]

Prince Charming by Adam and the Ants in or around Christmas 1981.

[mackers]

Born in the USA.......only album I had for a number of months....just kept playing it over and over........

[lynchbhoy]

Long live rock and roll - Rainbow. Aaaaaaaaargh!

I can confirm this - had to listen to the bastarding thing for 2 years in boarding school.

I seem to recall my first was 'Hot Tracks' by K-Tel circa 1979 on cassette.

hot tracks or hot wax ?

did it have whitesnake, judas priest, rainbox, bad manners & genesis on it ?

[Shamrock Shore]

Lynchboy:

Its details can be found anseo:

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Hot-Tracks/release/1043700

[gerrykeegan]

Long live rock and roll - Rainbow. Aaaaaaaaargh! 

Only listening to some Rainbow on the phone yesterday. Still great music.

My first "Dire Straits" Dire Straits

[Treasurer]

Abba Arrival - on vinyl of course.

My first LP was a "Top of the Tots Pop Party" but Arrival was the first one I bought for myself - with birthday money. 

I feel old....

[Olly]

Can't remember which one came first. Bought these around 1989:

Patsy Cline Showcase - Patsy Cline
What's New Pussycat - Cliff Richard

[Asal Mor]

2 Unlimited - Get ready. Not something I'm proud of.

[118cmal]

Various Artists - Music Of The Millennium Vol.1 CD

1. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
2. Heroes - Bowie, David
3. Millennium - Williams, Robbie
4. Song 2 - Blur
5. 20th Century Boy - T-Rex
6. My Generation - Who
7. Layla - Derek & The Dominos
8. Band On The Run - Wings
9. With Or Without You - U2
10. Every Breath You Take - Police
11. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
12. If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher
13. Heart Of Glass - Blondie
14. Design For Life - Manic Street Preachers
15. Creep - Radiohead
16. Drugs Don't Work - Verve
17. Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack
18. Wonderwall - Oasis

1. Imagine - Lennon, John
2. Jesus To A Child - Michael, George
3. Jealous Guy - Roxy Music
4. Candle In The Wind - John, Elton
5. Purple Rain - Prince
6. No Woman No Cry (live) - Marley, Bob
7. In The Air Tonight - Collins, Phil
8. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
9. Stand By Me - King, Ben E.
10. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gaye, Marvin
11. Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
12. Waterloo Sunset - Kinks
13. Road To Nowhere - Talking Heads
14. Wuthering Heights - Bush, Kate
15. Little Me - Beautiful South
16. Say What You Want - Texas
17. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
18. Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
19. Dancing Queen - Abba

Perhaps a strange choice but I was only 13 at the time and this CD got me into John Lennon, Beach Boys, Phil Collins, Bowie etc when my friends were running around listening to bewitched and 5ive!

[haveaharp]

Jim Reeves - Countryside