Every thing by Henry Cow the first time I heard each example, and I'm counting unreleased tapes as well.
Venus In Furs - The Velvet Underground. I took a chance to listen to it after I found the Psychedelic Furs took their name from the song. It felt revelatory.
"Shakin' Shakin' Shakes" by Los Lobos...and the entire How Will The Wolf Survive LP...blown away by the idea that these were the La Bamba guys...and this was SOOOO much better...been a fan for the better part of 35 years now...
Bob Lind - Elusive Butterfly The funny thing is, the first time I heard the song I thought it was OK, but it went in one ear and out the other. The second time was when it clicked. I literally used to leave the radio on hoping to hear that song again, and because of that I heard lots of other great songs in 1966.
The first time I heard Beat It, my life kind of fell off axis. It was foundational. I must have been 9 or so, and at someone's roller skating birthday party. I can't roller skate and to this day, not a huge fan of socializing. So I was miserable. Just holding onto the hand rail, hoping not to fall, waiting for my parents to pick me up. Then, through that huge sound system, on came Michael Jackson. At that very moment I began the process of no longer caring about the things that had meant so much to me (Indiana Jones, Bewitched reruns) and became devoted to music. It was so intense and immediate.
two items 1976.....niagara falls, new york....at the bank...waiting in my car to deposit my check......over the radio comes the Flamin'Groovies.....dj playing the whole album.....went back to work and called the radio station to find out who the artist was!!!!! first time i heard "that thing you do" by the wonders/fountains of wayne....been waiting for the perfect pop song and got it!!!
Probably not the first time, but a time I remember. Was visiting friends at Michigan State in the mid eighties. In a party store in East Lansing, and Androgynous by The Replacements came on. Remember literally stopping in the aisle, just listening. Never heard anything like it. Bought Let It Be from Flat, Black & Circular later that weekend.
As far as the Moodies went, my own headturner was "Higher and Higher" from their third LP (I think, from memory). My mate was a fan and stuck it on and the juxtaposition of Graeme Edge against the band giving it some was quite striking for me.
Salt n Pepa Shoop. Showstopper. Just kidding. Riders on the Storm - Doors. I was a little kid. My dad used to sing the song around the house. Just the chorus. One day I was playing around with our radio and heard the real song come on. It was my first time hearing it not sung by my Dad. My brain melted and my heart stopped. I ran upstairs to tell all the adults that I just heard Riders on the Storm on the radio! EVERYONE COME LISTEN! IT WAS AMAZING! I got a lot of weird uh huhs and confused eye nods. I realized then I was going to be a music loving weirdo that no one really understands.
Voodoo Chile Slight Return. Totally blew my mind. Got the Electric Ladyland album the day it came out, smoked a little weed, put it on the turntable, and WOW!
I am not sure that it was the first time but "You ought to know" Alanis Morissette. We had the TV on in the next office tuned to Much Music (Canada's MTV) and the song to the video started playing. I was on the phone, heard the song, told the person on the other line that I had to call them back and rushed in to find out who the artist was. Blown away that it was a young girl from Ottawa who, up to that time, was performing at shopping malls.
1980? - I walked into my local record store, and they were playing the Pretenders first album. Needless to say, I grabbed a copy of that, and still have the original vinyl that I bought that day. Still packs a punch, and I consider it one of the best "power pop" albums ever made.
I’m generally a grower type, i.e., most of the records I love became favorites over the course of years. The one exception I can think of is the Rites of Spring LP. I ordered it because I ordered every new release from Dischord at that point. I knew nothing about the band and had zero expectations. With the first song (“Spring”) on the first spin, I was completely blown away. I got chills through most of the album. When it was over, I was honestly a little dazed by the experience. I immediately called my uncle (who is only 10 years older than me and was my brother in arms musically at that point) and breathlessly enthused about how amazing it was. ROS immediately became my favorite band and remained so for a few years.
...of the new Beatles songs coming out of the radio in their debut! always stopped cold and listened to the latest gem... I tell ya you can't buy these great memories. : )
I had been listening to records in my bedroom when a friend brought over his mother’s copy of Meet the Beatles! I was hooked as soon as I heard the intro!
