45 Singles You Just Had to Buy

@mksun +1

Dick Vivian at Rooky Ricardo’s Records in San Francisco will blow your mind with his knowledge of ‘60s 45s.  
Between his store and his home he’s got over 100,000 of ‘em.  

He has a CD series of custom compilations (28 songs apiece) of these direct 45 rips packed to the brim with uber-rare ‘60s 45s from artists like Dolly and the Fashions, Maureen Grey, Stormie Winters (a few of his personal faves) and innumerable artists no one’s ever heard of (some of my favorite tracks I’ve not even found on YouTube, let alone iTunes or any streaming services)

Those custom CD compilations (again, direct 45 rips and most of the sides sound terrific - again, most of this stuff you’re literally not going to find anywhere else) run for roughly $10, IIRC, and are worth so much more than that.  
One could always just pick up a few 45s outright.  

"Low Rider" by War (at Kahala Music in 1976...I still play it)

I still have approximately 500 7" 45's collected during the 60's. I was a soulboy in those days but Aussie radio (Sydney) rarely played any black music other than occasional Supremes hits. First 45 I bought was Chiffons "He's so fine" and second purchase was Exciters "He's Got the Power". I was still at school in those days and always had an after school job to pay for my purchases

I used to spend many glorious hours searching record sales and 2nd hand record stores. Even today I cannot resist a vinyl or CD rack looking for hidden gems (albums or CD's only today).

Ended up with virually all Motown & Stax releases as well as lotsa stuff on Atlantic, Stateside etc labels. Have lots of rare obscure labels and artists as I learnt more from Music magazines, stuff I'd hear at discos and dance clubs. I have quite a few promo and sample 45's and white labels that must have been DJ copies

I sometimes spend an evening going through my collection and reliving some of  those memories but you need to have a clear plate as it's time consuming cleaning, treating and changing 45's whose tracks are usually only 2 to 3 minutes long. 

20th Century Boy - T.Rex

The non-LP B side of The Dwight Twilley Band's "I'm On Fire" 45 is a smoldering hot Rockabilly song named "Did You See What Happened?" If you want a copy there's one listed on Amazon right now, priced at only $193.00. ;-)