How $3.99 Followed Me Through Life

Most of us will have some memory of the first 45 rpm record or album we bought. Others will have a favourite song from a specific period of their life. I got my first record player when I was 15. Up to that point, music was heard on a small transistor radio or if I had an extra quarter, to drop into the jukebox at the Riverside restaurant in Bronte.

The same Christmas which gave me the record player included a few albums. The Rolling Stones, High Tide and Green Grass, Beach Boys Shut Down, Best of the Loving Spoonful and Yesterday and Today, The Beatles.

With my first part time job and working full time during the summers, I had enough cash to buy albums. To purchase music in Oakville there were only a few places; the best of which was Loftquists Record Bar. The Holy Grail, if somehow you could get into Toronto, would be a stop at Sam's or A & A Records on Yonge Street.

I had a variety of tastes, everything from the Beach Boys to the Rascals through to Vanilla Fudge. Some of the farther out stuff included Brian Auger/Julie Driscoll and the Trinity; a jazz rock fusion. I did not buy that many 45s with one exception. I would always search out any releases on the Yorkville label. This label would release songs by the various Toronto groups, many whom passed through high school dances or those in the Pine Room at the Oakville Arena. My favourites included Gaslight by the Ugly Ducklings, Got to Get You Into My Life, "Stitch in Time" or Keep on Running, Grant Smith and the Power.

Closer to home, for a few years, Pop Allan (likely Mrs Allan) had a record stand in their store. I suspect they provided a space and a "Jobber" would bring in records, kept the inventory up and the Allan's would take a commission.

In the Summer of 1969, I worked in the evenings at Lakeside, and during the day, I managed to pick up work at the Xerox Plant on North Service Road across from the Ford Plant. Sometime during that Summer, I stopped by Allan's, likely to use the free testers of cologne (remember Jade East or Hai Karate) before heading out to a dance either at Kinoak or the Pine Room.

I would regularly go through the small rack of albums to see if there was anything new or interesting. There were a few new releases, one of which caught my eye. The band, Crosby Stills and Nash. Looking back, I likely had heard Suite Judy Blue Eyes on the radio, and maybe learned the origins of the members, but not much more.

I did comeback a few day's later and bought the album for $3.99; the going price back in 1969. With the album in hand, not only did I get to listen to the "Suite" but I could go through the other songs on the album. The time spent with their music that year turned into a life long love of the band.

With that album in the collection, I purchased Deja Vu, their next release and most importantly found Steven Still's first solo album. Back tracking, in time, I began to search out and purchase all the Buffalo Springfield's and early Byrd's releases.

In 1974, CSN played Varsity Stadium and I was there. In 2000, Wendy and I saw Crosby Stills, Nash and Young at the ACC.

Over the years, I repurchased the first CSN album on 8 track, Cassette, CD and with the release of boxsets and remastered versions they are on my streaming lists. I have search out almost everything released by the band. In terms of the individual members, I have almost all of Steven's solo work, Buffalo Springfield and some of the newer releases by David Crosby. Sadly, I have not ever really connected with Nash's material.

Still's release with Judy Collins "Everybody Knows" is simply a joy. Their version, of Sandy Denny's (Fairport Convention) "Who Knows Where the Time Goes is superb and worth a listen.

I have spent some time searching You Tube for CSN concerts. The one song where there are a number of versions is the "Suite" and the best of which is a solo version by Stills at the Bridge School Benefit.

I have never tired of the album or the "Suite", sometimes it is a go to song for a Summer's day or I will put on a play list of their music while doing work on the computer, editing photos and catching up with friends.

While my first investment in Crosby Stills and Nash was $3.99, I have spent well beyond that and I have traced their origins in other groups, solo work, live concerts and more. But with out the decision to stop into Allan's that Summer's evening, who knows, I might be posting a story about my first Osmonds Album. NOT.