I was obsessed with my mom's box of 45 records when I was a kid and would play them non-stop on the turntable, although many of them were full of scratches and skips. That's when I discovered “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes and when my love of music from the '60s was born, especially girl groups.  

 

When I was a tween in the '70s, vinyl records and turntables were simply a given to be found at any friend or family member's house, and almost always playing in the background - or at full volume.  Sunday chores at our house were always accompanied by the vinyl soundtrack of Al Green, Manhattan Transfer, Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, etc. It's a quaint memory and probably seen through Rose Colored Glasses, but I guarantee that the records were there. 

 

My own personal record collection kicked off in 1977 with my first two 45's bought with my allowance.  Da Doo Run Run by Shaun Cassidy (which coincidentally I did not know was initially a hit record by Ronettes label-mates, The Crystals) and “Looks Like We Made It” by Barry Manilow. And the first LP I bought was “Linda Ronstadt's Greatest Hits” because I really loved the song “Different Drum”. My fascination with vinyl and pop music was off and running!