and go back to one gateway record that changed music for you - and listened to it fresh now - would it be the same?

I'd say the record that had the biggest impact on me was Dead Kennedys - In God We Trust (E.P.) - today it's not my favourite record by them (it's close) and they're not my favourite band (again close). I'd heard Punk stuff before but never material of this speed, style and sardonic brilliance. I reckon if I had no recollection of this E.P. and heard it today for the first time, despite hearing many faster, crazier records in the interim, that I'd be pretty much equally gobsmacked.