Saturday, October 12, 2013
8-Track Flashback
Those of us of a certain age have fond memories of 8-tracks. For those too young to recall, 8-tracks were clunky plastic things, about 4" wide, 5 1/2" long, and about 1" thick that contained a full length album. They used magnetic tape and you just plugged them in to an 8-track tape player. If memory servers, they were popular in the late '60s and throughout the '70s. They were replaced by cassette players, which were replaced by CD players, which have been replaced by MP3 players. It's almost hard to believe with all the current technology, but prior to 8-tracks, your only listening option was the radio. If you didn't like the song (or commercial), try a different station! Sounds primitive, doesn't it??
So 8-tracks were a huge breakthrough. For the first time, you could play all the songs off your favorite album while cruisin' down the road. Every kid in high school with a car had to have one! So as my wife and I were checking out a rummage sale the other day, I noticed this cool 8-track tape holder, complete with a collection of tapes. For $2, I couldn't pass it up!
The tapes in the holder include Thee Dog Night ("Golden Bisquits"), Boston, Jim Croce, Bread ("The Best of Bread") and the classic "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye. A pretty good collection from the '70s!! I tried photographing what was left of the artwork on the 8-tracks... faded and cracked, but with a vintage feel!
I don't own an 8-track player, but it's been well worth the two bucks for the stroll down memory lane and the photo opp! Hope you enjoyed it, and leave a comment if you had a favorite 8-track tape!!
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Better check ebay then, I remember 8 tracks but never owned one, I stuck with a radio till CD players came out, still not used an MP3 on my car but do at home. Remember all the bands you mentioned
ReplyDeleteGreat trip on memory lane. In Holland 8 tracks never really broke through. We had very early on cassettes as it was a Philips invention and you must had a very big car to fit a player and that was here also not much the case.
ReplyDeleteOh, how I remember traveling in our truck and having an 8-track player to sing along to with my family. My mother loved country music and I can't recall a specific tape we all liked, just the memories of us singing together as we drove down the road. Cool find! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletemy first stereo that i saved and scrounged for had radio, a turntable, 8-track player AND cassette player. i was SET! i loved boston, too. :)
ReplyDeleteAs a teen with his first car I could never afford anything new so when 8 track players came into being I was able to pick up someone's discarded 4 track player real cheap at the flea market. Keeping with the theme, one of my first cassette tapes was a pirated copy of Big Brother and the Holding Company's Cheap Thrills, again purchased from a vendor at the flea market. Those very same cassettes evolved in LP's, then CD's and now reside unseen in an iPOD. Great post, well worth the 2 bucks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteBoy, I have GOT to get up to Yucca Valley next weekend! Yes, I remember those. Hubby had a LOT of them in college...
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, the Living Desert Reserve is open and would be a great spot for folks to visit.
Man what a great find, and a good price. Good memories for me. Three dog night and Boston great stuff. My Hubby has a 8 track player and tapes in his man cave. Just have to love it! Great, fun post. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI remember 8-tracks. They used to get caught in the player and next thing you know you had a mess!
ReplyDeleteI remember listening to Chicago on an 8-track player in the 1970's, cool pics!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post on 8 track tapes. I used to have the machine. When cassettes came out, got rid of it.
ReplyDeleteI barely remember 8 tracks... Cassettes, now, I still use, on occasion!
ReplyDeletehee hee...
ReplyDeleteFantastic find! Who ever would have thought that 8 tracks would become a nostalgia item?