This is tricky! The first album I ever bought was Southside by Texas on the strength of the single I Don't Want A Lover... I haven't listened to it in years. But the album that I saved for and bought and just kept playing and playing was Diesel and Dust by the criminally under-rated Midnight Oil. Fantastic band. They were my stepping stone to REM and more.

Being buying albums since I was 10... first was Abba Arival ( I was so ironic I didn't know it). However those that influenced me 1)If you want blood.... AC/DC (Age 13, the metal years). 2)After the Goldrush - Neil Young. (First post metal album, wider world out there). 3)The Orginals - Various Artists (Released around the time of classis levi's ad's mid 80's tie in/rip off, R&B/soul collection. Opened up the whole world of Stax, Mowtown, Altanic, rare groove, funk, Northern Soul etc. which forms largest single genre of my music collection) 4)Spirit of Eden - Talk Talk (Opened up the world of non linear, non vocal, freeform music, electonica, jazz, classical.) Sure there are others.... Peter

First one that really springs to mind is Hunky Dory from Bowie. Was busying listeniny to crap before that and it was the first really different sounding tape that i picked up. Bought it for "Life on Mars" but the rest of it just blew me away and i got much more than i bargained for. Went rifling through the rest of his back-catalogue after that and went contemporary afterwards with The Stone Roses' debut which is also a corker. As mentioned by other posters different albums introduced me to different genres and soundscapes.

From 12 to 14 i was on a steady diet of metal from Kreator to Paradise Lost (still listen to Gothic every now and then) but it was when i heard Minor Threat - Out Of Step that i first realised people with short hair can make cool music too, this album blew me away and opened up a door that has never closed. Soon after i found the Butthole Surfers- Locust Abortion Technician and i was set up for life ready to take what ever the world could throw at me, happy times

thank u all for an insight to your lives. cheers.