My first album

[LewisStonehouse]

I think the first album I had as a kid was a cassette of Elvis Presley’s greatest hits. The first one I can remember buying myself is

[endo]

@mclaincausey Oh man, I love 'One Night in Bangkok', what a great first buy. I also bought 'Appetite for Destruction' when it came out, with the first cover, but later sold it for that reason. I didn't like seeing that picture on it.

@LewisStonehouse 'Blood Sugar Sex Magic' is hot pepper!

[Filthy2123ozjunkie]

My first "album" were two Depeche Mode mix tapes my cousin made for me.

Interesting side note: my first punk cassette tape was this gem.

(Not mine stock eBay image)

[endo]

@Filthy  mix tapes, those were the times! Now we have spotify playlists, hmmm …

[Tago Mago]

That was also my brother's first album.

@Dmart:

I believe it was 1987, I received Michael Jackson Bad album as a gift 

This is what I got:

Still love it

[endo]

@Tago Mago EAV - sehr geil !!!

[Dmart]

EAV ist wirklich geil 

[SKT]

This is such a great thread Endo!  I was really into the Beatles and Wings from my dad’s record collection in the 70’s. So the first album I picked up was Wings-Back to the Egg in 1979 when I was 8. It was…not a great Wings album.

Then I distinctly remember buying these 2 cassettes around 10…

Quarterflash-Self-titled
The Rolling Stones-Tattoo You

The latter resulted in an awkward exchange with my mom when I asked her what “Little T&A” meant.  Quarterflash was just bad 80’s music.

[popvulture]

First record I bought with my own money was this gem on cassette, Camelot Music, Atlanta GA c. 1988. Still listen to it fairly regularly

[popvulture]

Wings at the Speed of Sound is also a huge one for me as a kid, but it belonged to my dad (I now have his copy on vinyl). I also had the Thriller 7" (and still do) but my parents picked that up for me earlier as a gift, for spinning on my Fisher Price player

[endo]

@SKT:

when I asked her what “Little T&A” meant.  Quarterflash was just bad 80’s music.

you don‘t want to know what I listened to in the early 80s

@popvulture:

this gem on cassette

INXS, still like ‚Never tear us apart‘ a lot. Sad end for Michael Hutchence, though.

[SKT]

I listened to A LOT of INXS in junior high/high school. Listen Like Thieves was the one I remember most. Throw in some Cure/Depeche Mode/Smiths and I may just teleport back to 1987

[IH-GARY]

Bought from Tony's Records in Redcar - 41 years ago! Back in the days when Record Tokens ruled!

[popvulture]

TOO MUCH PRESSHA!

So good.

@endo:

INXS, still like ‚Never tear us apart‘ a lot. Sad end for Michael Hutchence, though.

Yeah for real. That documentary on him is great — such a sad story. F'n hell what a good lookin' guy and absurdly talented performer! Truly one of those charismatic rock stars.

[neph93]

My first album purchase was a heavy metal double header at the tender age of 14… also with record tokens @IH-GARY 

[scooter]

1981, at the ripe young age of 12. Purchased with money made on my paper route…..

[Filthy2123ozjunkie]

@neph93 fucking awesome! My one friend liked them and I can remember when I was nine listening to Iron Maiden the entire summer.

[Costch]

I believe the first CD I ever owned was a "clean" version of The Eminem Show, via my half brother (ca. 10 years old) :D. The first CD I ever bought was Demon Days by Gorillaz, via K Mart (ca. 12 years old). Other standout formative albums that come to mind:
Heroes, Bowie
Guero, Beck
Elephant, White Stripes
With Teeth, NIN
The Sky's Gone Out, Bauhaus
VU and Nico
Pink Flag, Wire

[popvulture]

Damn, some good ones there! I never get tired of those first three Wire records.

[Matt]

Thriller on vinyl when it came out.  My dad bought it for me.  My brother who was 5 at the time got a Willie Nelson record.  Both solid choices then and now.