What was your first music that you paid for?

Shut Down by the Beach Boys, I think. Back in those days I principally bought 45s. Can't recall whether my first album was a Beach Boys one or Beatles '65.

Beatles - Yellow Submarine: Still have it, although you can practically see through it. My second record was Santana's third LP - with the man with the outstretched hand. Can see through that one too.

im not positive ,but i think it was either a Beatles or Monkees album,,

First album I ever purchased was The Doors "Soft Parade" when I was in about fifth grade. I wasn't too popular with the Archies set. Of course, I wasn't too popular with my mother, either, when she heard Morrison cry out, "you cannot petition the Lord in prayer!"

At 10 or 11 I bought an album with Beethoven's 5th and 9th symphonies. I distinctly recall travelling to Chicago from the suburbs to go to a museum with some neighbour kids. Somewhere in downtown Chicago was a small record store. I think that it might have been the first real record store that I visited. I might have purchased some 45s before that from a dime store, but I don't recall what.