In the new October issue I've written a piece about how and why I used to keep a diary of all my record purchases between 1980-1991.
If you want to see the diary in full then i put the 1980-1984 book on Flickr a while back.

You'll also find if you like this sort of stuff 1989-1991 here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jemstone/sets/72157624738258203/
Sadly it is of great regret that i think 1984-1989 is completely lost.

And eek the back of the science class made up synthpop heavy chart that i compiled with schoolmates from 1981 http://www.flickr.com/photos/jemstone/sets/72157624784982097/

And finally The One Show clip which i mention at the end where Paul Heaton reveals himself as outdoing even me in the diary stakes can be found on YouTube of course.

Obviously keen on hearing from anyone else or seeing any other evidence of this desire for a more permanent record of then, and their merits or not over and above yer spotifylastfmitunes.