When I go home to Clare, I often find myself taking a trip down memory lane in some way.
Today I was poking around looking for something when I stumbled upon the first musical purchase I ever made. It’s Mariah Carey‘s album Daydream on cassette. A bit scratched and dusty but still playable. Released in 1995, I remember buying it just before Christmas and playing it to death on the giant stereo in the living room to the point where my sister wanted to unravel it.
The musical snob in me is disgusted and disappointed that it’s not something awesome and hip but after listening back to it, I forgive myself – it’s seriously catchy stuff and it is so typical of the era. I’m slightly shocked that I remember nearly all the words and every Mariahesque lilt but then again I’ve always had a weirdly accurate memory for musical things.
Here’s my favourite song from the album (for shame!). I challenge you not to start chair-dancing to it with me. If you’d rather the roller-blade, crop top, 90s-fest video, here you go.
So come on, spill, what was your first album/single you bought? Could it be any more cheesey or embarassing than Mariah Carey?
Mine was either “The Exploited – Troops of tomorrow”. Or a compliation with a free poster called “Breakdance you can do it”. I just looked it up and the first thing I found is something that could have been written by me:
http://mattvinyl.blogspot.com/2007/09/breakdance-podcast-youve-been-waiting.html
“Code Red” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince! Still have it somewhere at home, although i’d be surprised if the cassette wasn’t clogged with dirt at this stage.
It’s a great memory. I was about 9, and after some polite and succinct discussion (waaahhhh) my mother caved in the now defunct “Music City” in Tuam to buy me a Philips walkman and this album. Thinking back, it must have broken the bank a little, in those times. But that was my parents!
I remember well bringing it into school on “the last day”, which my Will Smith album and some random cassette of singles/b-sides you used to find on the covers of Smash Hits and whatever. I also remember having it on the seemingly endless Sunday drives around the Galway/Mayo countryside. It’s only now I appreciate them, even if a little flavoured by nostalgia!
I think mine was Sash! or Faithless… Though first one to rock my world completely was Green Day’s Dookie, bought on cassette for £8 and played it ’til it burnt out. Somewhere in between I also got caught up in Oasismania in between *shudders*
I think mine is probably the worst – ‘Westlife’ by none other than Westlife. I was born into the golden era of Louis Walsh… I remember that Mam had refused to shell out an extra 2 quid for the CD version!!!
Please don’t judge me…
Billy Ray Cyrus “Some Gave All” 1992, his debut album. I got it for my 7th birthday, still have today.
Meat Loaf – Welcome to the Neighborhood.