Back in 1956, an eager 11-year-old boy entered the record department at Woodward’s in downtown Vancouver. He asked the clerk for My Prayer by the Platters.

“I clutched my dollar in hand to get this record,” remembers Brian Tarling. “She told me they were sold out. I was absolutely devastated.”

It was the era of the 78 revolution-per-minute record, a dinner-plate-sized platter of black shellac. The lad wondered if there were any copies in that newfangled format, the 45 rpm single.

(More from Tom Hawthorn in the Globe and Mail)