Happy birthday, one day late:
1949: The 45-rpm record is introduced by RCA. Can rock 'n' roll be far behind?
[ . . .]
More important, though, was the timing. When rock 'n' roll started taking off in the mid-'50s, the 45 proved a perfect format for this music. With one song per side (the "A side" being the projected hit and the "B side" being filler, which often became the actual hit), the 45 had the distinct advantage of being affordable for most young fans.
God, I feel old. You can tell a lot about people today by what they have on their iPods. The version of that when I was young was the stack of 45s we carried around with us from party to party. And what we have lost by not being able to talk about "B sides" anymore. Just think what that would add to the presidential-primary conversations.
Comments
Remember how thrilled you were when they dreamed up the 45 insert that slid down the centerpost on the turntable, so you didn't have to insert the plastic one in the record itself? You could just toss the 45 on the turntable and drop the needle. That made for some faster segues from Paul Revere to Dave Clark 5 at those parties to keep the dance line going!
Holy s&%t I'm old.
I gotta take a nap.
If you're feeling a tad nostalgic, Tim...I have the first LP of Paul Revere and the Raiders (as well as the first NAZZ album).
Feel free to stop by anytime for a listen. That does apply to YOU as well, Leo.
;)
B.G.
(still looking for that elusive DC5 album)