When it Come to Record Collecting, 45's Rule!
by Wayne Mattox

Years from now, I believe the "golden" period of Rock music will be referred to as the 45-RPM age. Forty-fives are 7" diameter two-song discs introduced in 1949 and discontinued in 1990. For you teenagers who have never dropped a needle onto record, an amazing concept to my generation more accustomed to the practice than combing our hair, RPM stands for "rotations per minute." 45's were affordable vinyl discs; beatniks, greasers, hippies, freaks, preppies and Ronald Reagan pre-yuppies bought because we couldn't afford 33 1/3-RPM albums for every favorite hit record we wished to own.

 

The other reason was, while everyone wanted to own 1970's "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes" an entire album of Edison Lighthouse was like having ten teaspoons of sugar in your coffee when one would suffice. Today, 45's are becoming highly collectible. Tomorrow, it will be too late to get involved as a collector unless you look real sexy and can convince one of these music factories that your "look" will sell records on TV-thereby making you sufficiently rich to afford the best examples. For instance, as I write this column, the 1962 Beach Boys hit, "409" with super flipside "Surfin' Safari" (including a highly desirable original color photograph sleeve featuring the boys holding a surfboard) is fetching $50 on eBay, with two days left to bid. Ten years ago you could have found that at a tag sale for 50 cents. Still can if you get lucky.

What records should you look for if you want to start a 45 collection? Singles just like the Beach Boy record here described. Classic, timeless first issue songs in good condition and, hopefully still stored in their original art decorated paper or cardboard sleeve. Happily pay triple the price for a graphic sleeves specific to the records they hold. I asked my music aficionado buddy; Bruce Bunch to help me come up with a list of 100 of the top 45's of all time. For the record, here's our list. Why don't you start collecting your top 100 today? I'll trade you my Monkees, "I'm a Believer" for a clean copy of "Smile a Little Smile for Me, Rosemary" by the Flying Machine.
 

by AntiqueTalk.com