The first album I remember buying with my own money was the Chad Mitchell Trio "Singin Our Minds." I was probably in about fourth grade, and it's still just about my favorite album (especially since it's now come out on CD and sounds so much cleaner than the vinyl record did).
    Before that I'd received several albums as Christmas presents: the red vinyl Alvin and the Chipmunks LP, the Best of the Chad Mitchell Trio on Kapp, and the early Bill Cosby album with the bit about "Kindergarten." I never bought many 45s, but the ones I did get were mostly bubblegum bands like the Cowsills. Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" does come to mind, though, as one of my more "daring" purchases.

                                     'Ray