45 Singles You Just Had to Buy

I still have approximately 500 7" 45's collected during the 60's. I was a soulboy in those days but Aussie radio (Sydney) rarely played any black music other than occasional Supremes hits. First 45 I bought was Chiffons "He's so fine" and second purchase was Exciters "He's Got the Power". I was still at school in those days and always had an after school job to pay for my purchases

I used to spend many glorious hours searching record sales and 2nd hand record stores. Even today I cannot resist a vinyl or CD rack looking for hidden gems (albums or CD's only today).

Ended up with virually all Motown & Stax releases as well as lotsa stuff on Atlantic, Stateside etc labels. Have lots of rare obscure labels and artists as I learnt more from Music magazines, stuff I'd hear at discos and dance clubs. I have quite a few promo and sample 45's and white labels that must have been DJ copies

I sometimes spend an evening going through my collection and reliving some of  those memories but you need to have a clear plate as it's time consuming cleaning, treating and changing 45's whose tracks are usually only 2 to 3 minutes long. 

20th Century Boy - T.Rex

The non-LP B side of The Dwight Twilley Band's "I'm On Fire" 45 is a smoldering hot Rockabilly song named "Did You See What Happened?" If you want a copy there's one listed on Amazon right now, priced at only $193.00. ;-)

I was never big on singles because back then turntables like my Rega and Linn made playing 45s a real pain so I stopped buying 45s by the mid 1980s.

Lifting the platter on the Rega to swap the belt to the 45rpm pulley was bad enough but far far worse on the LP12. Here you had buy a machined adapter and force it over the existing one.

An execrable experience. One guaranteed to strip away any joy of playing music.

However, before all of that crap I did pick up some 100 singles including the following memorable ones.

Holidays in the Sun / Satellite by the Sex Pistols.

For whatever reason neither of those songs have ever sounded as good in any digital version.

I also bought their Silly Thing / Who Killed Bambi 45.

Don't know why, just had to. A no brainer as they later started saying.

Oliver's Army by Elvis Costello and the Attractions

That was a first dip into their music and led to the later discovery of their brilliant Get Happy!! LP.

Atmosphere / Novelty by Joy Division

This was a 12 inch single and the only way back then to hear either of these great songs. 

Going Underground by the Jam

I wasn't yet a fan but that was a great record.
Later I remember buying The Bitterest Pill by them.

Dancing in the Dark by Springsteen must have been one of the last 45s I ever bought.

It's a sobering thought but I can't now remember whether I gave them all away or kept them boxed up somewhere in the attic.

How did these last 30 years go by so fast?

Fond memories from high school days in the 70’s!

Most 45’s i own turned out to be one hit wonders

Here are a couple with naughty and fun lyrics😄:

• Undercover Angel
• Afternoon Delight

Couple of other ones i can think of

• It never rains in Southern California
• Walk away Renee
• Love grows