Sunday, March 18, 2012

When Did They Stop Making 45s?

I don't have a turntable anymore, but I still have many, many, many...


....many record albums. 

We are contemplating selling them to a vintage record shop.  The collection is quite diverse as it includes albums from my childhood (Johnny Appleseed, The Sound of Music) my teen years, my college years, Mr. Tennis' high school and college collection (you can see the one on top is a bootleg Jackson Browne album he bought while we were in college) and then our post-marriage collection.  Also there are some old ones from my brothers. The Beatles mainly.

But I'm not here to talk about these today, I want to know, when did they stop making 45s?

I have a pretty eclectic collection of those as well from many eras.


I used to listen to them in our basement in Toronto on a turntable that had a lid and speakers attached- mainly my brother's 45s at that time.  


Then I started collecting some of my own as I grew into pre-teen and teenage years.
I wish I still had some of those yellow inserts that would go in the middle - you know.


I must have still been buying them after I moved to Florida
 because I can see by some of the dates on them that I did.



I would hear a song I liked on the radio. Head down to "the" store where they had the 45s displayed in order of where they were on the pop charts that week.


I don't remember how much they cost, but you always took a chance that the flipside wouldn't be as good.


I guess the singles came out before the albums, otherwise, why didn't I just buy the album?


Today it's so easy to just pick a few songs off a CD via itunes and not have to invest in the whole album.  But sometimes I feel like I'm letting the artist down. Thinking about it though makes me realize that it is quite similar to buying 45s.

What do you all remember about this?  Did you buy them?  Do you still have them? (I know Mr. Connor doesn't because I have his :-) !)

The Boston Lady wants to know!  Last dated one I have is 1977.
And don't get me started on 8-tracks please.

15 comments:

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Oh my ...I have no idea when they went out of production.
But boy I had some.
My dad worked for the US Postal service and one year I won a whole box loaded with 45's at the company picnic---MY record player had a sleeve adapter so you could play the 45's and you didn't need the disk.
A Lot of the songs on 45's either made it or didn't...if they didn't, they were 'ONE HIT WONDERS'.

I had The Jackson Five
The Monkees, Melanie (Brand New Key)...remember that one?
heck girl... I had me some roller skates that required a key too!

thanks for THAT walk down memory lane~
Pat

Unknown said...

I don't remember either. But I don't remember much. I do enjoy reading about them...
Great post!

Chatty Crone said...

I have no idea - sometime when my kids were growing up suddenly they were not there any more but i do believe you can buy a record player still. Sandie

Razmataz said...

I wish I still ha mine....

Turntables are back in style...the kids are buying them. My nephew has his dad;s entire collection and bought a turntable. All his friends love them. I personally love the sound of vinyl..that little crackle...nothing like it.

Olive said...

I have my daughter's grandmother's record player and it works. You need to find a record player Ann and keep them.

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Wow...a blast from the past...my sister and I spent so much time listening to our 45s. I had a lot from the 50's as well as the 60's...a huge part of my growing up!

Orlando Grandma said...

Did they stop making them ?.......

Dexter said...

I sure do remember. Used to stack them a mile high on the automatic turn table to create my own mixes.

I'm still not feeling the iPod love. I buy CDs.

Mango Momma

centerofgravity said...

I mostly bought albums, but I do remember the 45's. a year ago for Christmas my hubby even fixed one of our old turntables so I could listen to my albums again. I'm with Mango Momma in that I'm now a CD buyer.

Claudia said...

I used to love my 45's - where they disappeared to, I don't know. I would especially like to have my 45 of I Want to Hold Your Hand with the great black and white photo of the Beatles! We played them endlessly.

One of those things I wish they hadn't stopped making and I think they were under a dollar or not much more than a dollar.

xo
Claudia

The Thuglets said...

OMD....45's! We still have them here. But not sure even where! lol

OK.. got first 45 for Dansette record player in 1965! Ha ha ha 1ST 45 Do Wah Diddy Diddy..Manfred Mann! ROFLMAO

Think they seemed to disappear around 1982 ish when compact disc players made their appearance. Think they were still about up to 2005? Had to look it up cos you got going..you really got me going! LOL

Now where are they? Hmmm

Have a great week
Big Nose Pokes
The Thugletsx

Mr. Connor said...

I think most of the " records" belong to brother Mark. 45's ~ around $1.00 to $1.50. Depends where you got them. Remember just about everything we got in Canada cost 20 /30 % more. Bootlegging them off radio / Tv to a reel to reel tape recorder was something that was done. Yes I have a truntable that will even play 45's. Hope the little center piece is still around. Were worth there weight in gold. 8 tracks are gone ~ what about cassettes ?

Decor To Adore said...

The other thing is the realization of my taste in music. Like was it really necessary to spend $3.00 on Pebbles "Girlfriend"?

I still have a few of the plastic yellow inserts. The Fashionista has the turntable.
She's DYING to go through your collection. :)

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

We still have our old 45s...some of the same ones that you have! I just hate to get rid of them! What great memories of listening to them over and over...both sides! ♥

RURAL said...

So are we to acknowledge that yes, we
are ummm getting older?

Wonder when they did stop making them...

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams