Those Old 45's

45's were a real important part of my growing up. Albums (by definition, 33's, 12" vinyl records) were expensive and we just didn't have that kind of money as kids. When new songs came out and we wanted them, it was a quick trip to the record store to pick it up.

While it was possible to get them at the local Fred Meyer, Sears or even J.C. Pennys, it was always best to got to the Tower Records store. Going there was so cool. You felt like you were a part of the real music world when you were there. We would end up looking through the store for what seemed like hours, dreaming about all the cool albums that we might get some day. I'd usually end up making a mental list of these hopeful future purchases, too.


There was nothing cooler than being able to get home and play the 45 on the hi-fi and listen to it over and over again. And - if you were the first kid in the neighborhood to get it, your house was the place to be! You also had to be sure to have plenty of the little yellow thingies that went in the center of the 45. I think I remember one time when we didn't have any of them that weren't broken and we tried to center the 45 on the spindle... and we probably shouldn't have done it. I think it worked, but it couldn't have been good for the record.

I still have a box of 45's in my closet. I don't even own a turntable anymore, but I've got my old box of 45's. I don't know - maybe someday I'll sell them all and get rich - well, probably not. They're good memories, though.