question for sewing people

[flea]

I broke the last needle for my vintage Singer sewing machine a couple of weeks ago. I can't tell from online resources if I need to get special needles for it or not - some sites imply yes, and my sense is the shape of the upper part of the needle that goes into the clamp is different from a modern Singer machine needle as I remember it, but other sites say I can just buy modern needles. Singer's own web site is no help. I have a feeling that if I go to my local Jo-Ann fabrics they will say "huh"? Ideas, secret information pages? The armadillo's quilt will never get done at this rate!