I may have started something. Stranger things have happened.
At any rate, in his gracious post welcoming your favorite critic back to the blogosphere (or, as he spells it, błøǧösphère), Alex Ross (you know who he is) remembers his first record purchase, and, as it happens, it was a Bruckner symphony as well. Great minds, and all that.
He also still has the recording. See for yourself.
Related post: First record
photo: emory bruckner, library of congress. I don’t know who he is but I liked the photo. His name might actually be emory buckner, not bruckner, since that’s what’s printed on the photo. (the catalog listing has him as “bruckner.”) click on for larger view.
Classical Life 
This should be the new Bruckner. He gets my vote.
I did some Googling and learned that Emory Buckner (1888-1941), in your nice image, was a famous and highly influential trial lawyer from New York.
First, a confession: I believe I do not have any Bruckner records (or CDs). I should, I know.
Second, at least one of my earliest record purchases was a Horenstein recording, of Mahler’s 1st, on Nonesuch.
What, no Bruckner choral CD’s, Lisa? I’m kinda surprised.
Nope, no Bruckner choral music.
Well, Lisa, I recommend Giulini’s recording of the Second with the Vienna Symphony and his recording of the Ninth with Chicago. Also, Karajan’s of the Fourth, of course, but the DG recording, not the one on EMI. There are many others, too, but maybe someone else would like to make a plea for their favorite Bruckners …
Can’t go wrong with Giulini and Bruckner. Aside from the 9th Tim mentions above (haven’t heard his 2nd), I’d also throw in the 7th with Vienna as a good starter. The Giulini/Vienna Bruckner 8th is also extraordinary. Both on DG.
For Bruckner choral I’d recommend the Mass in E minor and motets conducted by Stephen Layton, with his choir Polyphony and the Britten Sinfonia. http://www.stephenlayton.com/recordings/bruckner-mass-e-minor-motets/
For recordings of the Bruckner symphonies, i would also strongly recommend Eugen Jochum’s recording of the 7th with the Bavarian Radio Symphony and the 8th with the Dresden Staatskapelle. For older sound (and editions), but amazing conducting, Furtwangler’s 9th (1944), 8th (1948) and 5th (1942), all with the Berlin Philharmonic. I also love the Furtwangler 4th, but you have to be careful; the DG release includes a horrific horn clam in the opening bars. I think that this concert (recorded in Stuttgart) was recorded on the same tour in Munich, without horn issues.