Memories of the A-Side
A boomer remembers
Do you recall pulling out a new 45 RPM record and losing yourself in the sounds of the A-side? Perhaps you became a fan of the B-side as well. In this Boomer From Our Readers entry, Joan Benowitz remembers.
In 1968, the dominant format for individual songs was the 45, a 7-inch vinyl record that spun at 45 revolutions per minute. This 7-inch disc had a large center hole that required a plastic adapter called a “spider.” There was one song on each side: the A-side had the hit song, and the B-side held a lesser-known tune, which sometimes turned out to be just as popular if not more so than the A-side. There was a circular paper sticker on the center of the single, identifying the artist, the song, and the record company. The Beatles’ label had a green apple printed on it. The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Do You Believe in Magic” had a yellow and orange paper sticker covering the entire side. Each 45 came in a sleeve, which was often plain paper but sometimes, if you were lucky, yours might have a brightly colored paper sleeve with a picture of the singer or band, such as the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel or, The Doors. The average time for a song was two to four minutes.
At the age of 17, I was very much into pop, rock, and country music, as were all my friends. Blanche, Susan, and I often strolled to Alexander’s Department Store in Rego Park, Queens, New York, to purchase the latest 45s to add to our collection. These records were affordable at 99 cents a piece, which was manageable with the money I made at my part-time job as a salesgirl in none other than the men’s department of Alexander’s Department Store! How convenient!
I couldn’t wait to get home to uncover the electric turntable sitting on my dresser, slip out the new 45 from the paper bag I carried it home in, and carefully slide out my new record from its paper sleeve. Holding it reverently and carefully so as to not get fingerprints on my latest “fave” recording, I gently set it on the turntable, and carefully placed the needle arm onto the outermost ring of the vinyl.
Turning up the volume, I couldn’t wait to hear the sweet, smooth-flowing sounds, as of “A Beautiful Morning” by the Rascals. The music permeated my being, and I felt a deep emotional and physical connection with the mellifluous tones.
After listening to it about 10 times and eventually singing along with Felix Cavaliere’s easy-to-memorize, optimistic lyrics, I felt indeed that “sunshine caresses each new waking hour…”
My 45s served another purpose for me when the boy who I thought was the love of my life broke up with me. I found myself lamenting along with Kris Kristofferson as he sang “For the Good Times,” tears sliding down my cheeks. I suppose it served as a catharsis, because I definitely felt better after the last notes of the song faded away.
Just holding that 7-inch piece of vinyl, physically holding it, brought about a feeling of connection with the vocalist. Flipping it over and sometimes falling in love with the B-side was an unexpected surprise that certainly made my 99-cent expenditure worth my while.
After playing one of my beloved records, I’d carefully slip it back into its protective covering and find a place for it somewhere within the fifty slots inside my pink MCM Platter Pak Case. I’d flip up the metal clasp to keep my loves protected, until the next time.
Understandably, listening to music on Spotify or Sirius XM doesn’t have quite the same appeal.
Read more like Joan Benowitz’s memories of the A-side of 45 RPMs and other contributions from Boomer readers in our
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