Happy Birthday to the 45′ Record

Happy Birthday goes  out to RCA Records in 1949  released a new smaller record with a bigger hole in the middle, called the 45 RPM. Record store owners weren’t all that impressed. Customers who had grown used to 78s were now confused by 33 1/3 LPs and 45 RPM singles.

The 45's took a little bit to catch on but when they did sales increased 260%. Not bad for a new type of format! Throughout the years and changes in music, kids were the driving force in sales. Just imagine when Elvis hit the scene... "That's Alright," in 1954 started Elvis on his way to stardom.

Before that lot of country artists enjoyed their time with the 45 records. The first 45 rpm disc, Texarkana Baby by country & western singer Eddy Arnold, was issued by RCA in the US on 31 March 1949.

I have my collection and it all started when I was a young boy. I remember Chubby Checker, Dee Dee Sharp, and a lot of Elvis 45's. In my collection, I would guess I have close to 1,000 45's. It also helped in my job as a roller rink DJ for many years as well; working the bars like The Main Act, New York NY, and The Ritz. Anyway, since I loved collecting 45's there is something that goes hand in hand with records... the Jukebox!

The Jukebox has always been a love of mine for many years and I currently own three that I have on display at home. What's fun about having my jukeboxes at home is that I like changing the music for the seasons. Christmas is always fun filling my Rock-Ola with all different Christmas tunes you don't normally hear. Valentine's Day I fill the Jukebox with love songs that remind me of the Detroit radio show they called, "Pillow Talk." Summer is filled with party songs as well as scary favorites around Halloween.

Seventy-Five years later can you believe I am still buying 45's? I typically search for rare discs from England or a cleaner copy of a song that is getting worn out in the jukebox. There is a website I go to that is amazing called Discgogs.com; this site is amazing if you are looking for a certain album from the past or a special version of a 45' that was not available in the United States. For example, something as simple as the Knack's "My Sharona." The US version is shorter than the Canadian release and doesn't cut the guitar solo off.

So take some time and remember an old friend -- the 45' -- today. Album sales have returned in 2023 so maybe there's still a chance for the 45' to make a return!

There are some truly special albums that turn 45 in 2024. It's pretty amazing to see just how many incredible titles were released in 1979.

When it comes to hard rock, there was no shortage of outstanding albums. AC/DC released their classic LP Highway to Hell in 1979. In addition to the killer title track, the album also features "Touch Too Much" and "Shot Down in Flames." Sadly, it was the last album to feature singer Bon Scott, who died on February 19, 1980.

Another unexpected goodbye came via Led Zeppelin. They released In Through the Out Door in August. The album ended up being the band's final studio LP. Zeppelin would disband in December 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham.

A far less depressing goodbye came via The Eagles. The band released their sixth studio album, The Long Run, in September. In addition to the title track, The Long Run also features "Heartache Tonight" and "I Can't Tell You Why." The famously volatile band broke up shortly after its release and wouldn't reform until 1994.

Make a pivot to something more upbeat: Van Halen brought the party with the release of Van Halen II in 1979, a mere 13 months after their smash self-titled debut. Van Halen II, of course, features "Dance the Night Away," "Beautiful Girls" and "Somebody Get Me a Doctor."

Two of the most influential rock albums of all time came out in 1979. The Clash released London Calling in December, and it remains one of the greatest albums ever, regardless of genre. Not to be outdone, Pink Floyd released their rock opera The Wall in November. It's become one of the biggest albums of all time selling 30 million copies worldwide.

Keep scrolling to see the other albums that turn 45 in 2024!

The Clash's classic third album, London Calling, was released on December 14, 1979. In addition to the title track, the album also features "Clampdown" and "Train in Vain."

Pink Floyd's The Wall was released on November 30, 1979. The classic rock opera is one of the best-selling albums of all time selling 30 million copies worldwide.

Off the Wall was Michael Jackson's fifth studio album. It was the first time he worked with producer Quincy Jones. The album features "Rock with You," "She's Out of My Life" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough."

Tusk was released on October 12, 1979. The album was the follow-up to Fleetwood Mac's massive hit album, 1977's Rumours.

Supertramp released Breakfast in America on March 16, 1979. The album features "The Logical Song," "Goodbye Stranger" and "Take the Long Way Home."

Joy Division's classic debut album, Unknown Pleasures, came out on June 15, 1979. It's the only Joy Division album released when singer Ian Curtis was still alive. Curtis died by suicide on May 18, 1980 at age 23.

In Through the Out Door, Led Zeppelin's final studio album, was released on August 22, 1979. The album features "Fool in the Rain" and "All My Love."

Electric Light Orchestra's eighth studio album, Discovery, was released on June 1, 1979. The album features "Last Train to London," "Shine a Little Love" and "Don't Bring Me Down."

Blondie released their fourth studio album, Eat to the Beat, on September 28, 1979. The album features "Atomic," "Union City Blue" and "Dreaming."

Van Halen II, Van Halen's second studio album was released on March 23, 1979. The album features the classic tracks "Dance the Night Away," "Beautiful Girls" and "Somebody Get Me a Doctor."

The dual studio/live album Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young with Crazy was released on June 22, 1979. The album features the top-ten hit "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)."

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released their third studio album, Damn the Torpedoes, on October 19, 1979. The album features "Don't Do Me Like That," "Even the Losers," "Here Comes My Girl" and "Refugee."

Reggatta de Blanc, the second studio album from The Police, was released on October 5, 1979. The album features "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon."

AC/DC released their sixth studio album, Highway to Hell, on July 27, 1979. It was the last album to feature singer Bon Scott, who died on February 19, 1980. In addition to the title track, the album features "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames" and "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)."

Donna Summer's Bad Girls was released on April 25, 1979. The album topped the Billboard 200 album chart for six weeks and features the classic title track, "Hot Stuff" and "Dim All the Lights."

The Cars released Candy-O on June 13, 1979. The follow-up to their hit self-titled debut, Candy-O featured "Let's Go" and "Double Life."

Cheap Trick released their fourth studio album, Dream Police , on September 21, 1979. In addition to the title track, the album also features "Way of the World" and "Voices."

Get The Knack, the debut album of The Knack, was released on June 11, 1979. It features "Good Girls Don't" and the hit "My Sharona."

Pat Benatar released her debut album, In the Heat of the Night, on August 27, 1979. The album features Benatar's breakthrough single, "Heartbreaker."

The Long Run was the Eagles' sixth studio album. Released on September 24, 1979, the album features "Heartache Tonight," "I Can't Tell You Why" and the title track. The album would be the band's last for over a decade. The Eagles disbanded in 1980 and reformed in 1994.

Diana Ross's tenth studio album, The Boss, was released on May 23, 1979. In addition to the title track, the album features "No One Gets The Prize" and "It's My House."

KISS released their seventh studio album, Dynasty, on May 23, 1979. The disco-influenced album features "Sure Know Something" and "I Was Made for Loving You."

The self-titled debut album from the B-52's was released on July 6, 1979. The album notable includes "Rock Lobster," "Dance This Mess Around" and "Planet Claire."

Desolation Angels was Bad Company's fifth studio album. Released on March 7, 1979, the album features "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" and "Gone, Gone, Gone."

John Cougar was released on July 27, 1979. (At this point in his career, John Mellencamp was going by John Cougar.) The album features his first top 40 hit, "I Need a Lover."