![This March 8, 2017 photo shows a display of 45 RPM records at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, Tenn. The Stax recording studio’s roster of stars included Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes and the Staple Singers. Stax eventually went bankrupt but the museum showcases everything from costumes to cars to walls of hit records. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_17110713703183-1769x1254.jpg)
![FILE - In this May 16, 2007 file photo, a display of 45 rpm records at the Stax Records museum in Memphis, Tenn. is shown. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, file)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_070516059865-1880x1254.jpg)
![RCA Victor's new 45-RPM phonograph & records. Finest Quality reproduction at low cost in history of Industry credited to new system; first single disc size for all pops and classics. Undated photo. (AP Photo)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_90431849667-1684x1254.jpg)
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_343947651500-1738x1254.jpg)
![A selection of 45 rpm records is seen at Full Moon Records on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 19, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Ron Harris)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_697985624192-1880x1208.jpg)
![This 45 rpm record from Skippy White's record shop in Cambridge, Mass., was made by the Louis X, now better known as Louis Farrrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam. The song is titled "A White Man's Heaven is a Black Man's Hell." (AP Photo)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_95102001250-e1553001008465-1387x1254.jpg)
![Television actress Christy McNichol shows her brother Jimmy and heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali her pugilistic style as Ali signs a copy of the 45 RPM record that the McNichols released. The action took place at New York?s Plaza Hotel, May 5, 1978, where both the McNichols and Ali are staying. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_7805050486-865x1254.jpg)
![This March 8, 2017 photo shows a display of 45 RPM records at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, Tenn. The Stax recording studio’s roster of stars included Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes and the Staple Singers. Stax eventually went bankrupt but the museum showcases everything from costumes to cars to walls of hit records. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_17110713703183-260x174.jpg)
![FILE - In this May 16, 2007 file photo, a display of 45 rpm records at the Stax Records museum in Memphis, Tenn. is shown. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, file)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_070516059865-260x174.jpg)
![RCA Victor's new 45-RPM phonograph & records. Finest Quality reproduction at low cost in history of Industry credited to new system; first single disc size for all pops and classics. Undated photo. (AP Photo)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_90431849667-260x174.jpg)
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_343947651500-260x174.jpg)
![A selection of 45 rpm records is seen at Full Moon Records on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 19, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Ron Harris)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_697985624192-260x174.jpg)
![This 45 rpm record from Skippy White's record shop in Cambridge, Mass., was made by the Louis X, now better known as Louis Farrrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam. The song is titled "A White Man's Heaven is a Black Man's Hell." (AP Photo)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_95102001250-e1553001008465-260x174.jpg)
![Television actress Christy McNichol shows her brother Jimmy and heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali her pugilistic style as Ali signs a copy of the 45 RPM record that the McNichols released. The action took place at New York?s Plaza Hotel, May 5, 1978, where both the McNichols and Ali are staying. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AP_7805050486-260x174.jpg)
Before streaming services and digital downloads, millions of people got their music fix from the 45 rpm single.
First rolled out by RCA in 1949, the 7-inch wax disc with its distinctive large central hole became the ideal way to buy the songs you wanted to play over and over.
1974 was considered the 45’s peak year — 200 million of them were sold. And all you needed was a dollar or less.
By 1979, the vinyl single’s glory days were in steep decline. Jukeboxes started to fall out of favor as more music lovers bought LP (long playing) albums and cassette tapes.
About 25 years later, Apple launched iTunes and digital downloads changed the audio landscape once again.
I'm no @ThatEricAlper, but name the first 45rpm single you ever bought. pic.twitter.com/G9H0HVB3GX
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) March 16, 2019
I showed this to co-workers in the WTOP newsroom. Nobody under 40 knew what it is. Got a related story coming up on air and online soon. pic.twitter.com/sDZ9k2LOj5
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) March 19, 2019
Just a small number of my old 45s pic.twitter.com/HfEajX18ZB
— Marlene Koenig 🇺🇸 (@royalmusing) March 19, 2019
45s! 🙃 Bought one at a yard-sale and had to find the little plastic insert thingy to play it! pic.twitter.com/yHbe9Dhx2H
— Mary de Pompa (@dePompaWTOP) March 17, 2019
— Brendon Clark (@TheBrendonClark) March 17, 2019
went to the record shop with my grandmother in North Carolina and picked this out – still has my hot rod model car stickers! pic.twitter.com/pCJnrzk8K8
— Harry Costner (@costnerMedia) March 16, 2019
This one! Goodness Gracious. pic.twitter.com/tXnYE9Jqbx
— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) March 16, 2019
The 45 isn’t completely gone, however.
There are still specialty outlets that release them. In particular, Jack White of the White Stripes and his Third Man label.
WTOP’s Neal Augenstein contributed to this report.