It was the Spring of 1991 and I was in first grade. In the after-school daycare program I was in, an older man (a whole four years older) had a boom box with him and wanted his friends to hear a song on this new tape his parents bought him. I leaned in through the group of kids and listened along with them. It was the best song I had ever heard before! Significantly more powerful than “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and so much better than “Frère Jacques”. It was “Black and White” by Michael Jackson.

I know, i know. But you have to remember this was before the numerous child molestation claims and marriages and he was still respected as an artist. Plus, I was six so give me a break.

I went home and told my mom all about it and how I had to have this tape. My mother, never holding me back, said “Okay” and we went to a Record and Tape Traders. She gave me a few dollars and let me approach the clerk behind the desk to ask for the album.

This tape opened doors to a world I didn’t know existed. I listened to it over and over and when I wanted something new, I listened to the radio and was exposed to Madonna and Vanilla Ice and a bunch of other weird band names that I didn’t understand. It was the start of a life-long love affair with music.

What was the first album you ever bought and why?

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