Editor's note: Over the course of Greg's 25-year career as a music journalist, he interviewed hundreds of musicians for previews of upcoming shows, and there was one question he always asked: "What was the first record you ever bought?"

He was fascinated by the diverse and sometimes startling answers and in 1999 he put together a book proposal, along with his dad Charlie's illustrations. He didn't find a publisher, however, and eventually moved on to other projects.

On this page, you'll find the master list of answers he received. I hope you enjoy it as much as Greg did.

What was the first record album that you ever bought?

I can remember it vividly - more vividly, in fact, than such other adolescent landmarks as my first kiss or my high school graduation.

It was a cold, rainy spring morning when I got on the bus and headed for the old Twin Fair store on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo. Once there, I made a beeline for the record department, where I spent the next two or three hours examining each and every record album in the store.

Finally, after seemingly endless internal debate, I walked up to the checkout counter and set down my money along with my selections -- "The Return of Roger Miller" (the one with "King of the Road") and the Righteous Brothers' first album (featuring "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling"). They were $2.99 each in mono, a dollar cheaper than the stereo versions.

Those were the very first record albums that I ever bought, and I was immediately hooked. Now, nearly 30 years later, nestled next to thousands of other slabs of 12-inch vinyl that I've added to my ever-growing collection, I still have those first two albums.

I guess you could say that those two albums were my personal musical "roots," although, of course, I didn't consider those implications at the time, and those well-worn grooves still sound exciting and somehow comforting to me, despite the scratches and pops that have developed over the years.

It got me to wondering what record albums might have initially influenced today's recording artists. Here's a sampling of what I discovered. Click one of the links to the right to browse the collection.

Charles H. Haymes and G. C. Haymes
(drawing by Charles H. Haymes)

Click one of the links on the right to browse the collection.