Now that we’re up to 1981 on the OED entries and it hasn’t been included, I’m going to ask if anyone can dig up the original use of the term “ghetto blaster” or “ghetto box”.  These are the big portable stereos popular in urban settings in the late 70’s and into the 80’s (think of Radio Raheem in Do the Right Thing).  The devices were called “boom boxes” by electronics retailers and law enforcement types but co-workers of mine from Newark, NJ used the term “ghetto blaster” in about 1980.

HDAS has April 1981 for ghetto blaster, citing the L. A. Times. August 1981 for boom box on WINS radio. The OED has July 1981 for boom box in the N. Y. Times and a 1978 Time magazine cite for box in the same sense, but which also says they cost “a mere £55,” which leads me to think that usage is British..

Thanks Dave.  Now that I think about it, it was probably summer of 1981 when I heard “ghetto blaster”.