In response to an article, someone commented “I dont understand why anyone would want a cassette.”
After over twenty years in storage, my entire cassette tape collection has been reclaimed. It includes pre-recorded albums, home-made mix-tapes, and recordings of dj sets from long ago.
As I type, I’m on the 4th playing of “Ask Rufus”, which has been on a continuous loop as I’ve lounged in my den/studio sipping a cool beverage, alternately reading comics, writing poetry, surfing the web, and napping on this, lazy, summer evening.
Yes, I could set an MP3 or CD player on repeat, but neither would sound this warm and full. I could also put on the LP, but I don’t have a record player that automatically flips sides.
There are two reasons right there someone might want a cassette. It makes sense that anyone younger than I would not understand or appreciate the cassette.
To my joy, I discovered in my collection a few mix-tapes recorded from a variety of mid to late 70’s Bay Area radio stations: KDIA, KSOL, and KYA get announced a few times. I must have been about 12 years old. I remember pleading with my father, asking him to buy me a portable tape deck.
I carried that thing with me everywhere. I would park myself in front any available radio, the microphone aimed at the speaker, ready to hit RECORD with the first note of my new favourite song. It has been quite fun listening to these old tapes, and using Spotify on those one-hit wonders I’d forgotten I loved (this has led to increased track hunting on Discogs, btw).
There, more reason as to why someone might appreciate cassettes.
I’ve especially enjoyed listening to the old dj sessions, recognizing how my abilities have grown or changed … along with my tastes and interests.
Between paragraphs, I popped my very first “DJ Mix” into the B deck of my cassette player. It is now playing. It’s more a compilation than an actual DJ mix. It includes The Tubes, “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman”, The B-52’s. “Give Me Back My Man”, and Grace Jones “Unlimited Capacity For Love” among others. The cassette was recorded in the sound studios of Lackland Air Force Base, in 1983. This was the first time I’d had access to professional grade recording equipment. I hadn’t yet learned how to use a mixer, so there are breaks between each track: Cue track. Press RECORD. Track ends. Press PAUSE. Cue next track. Repeat.
Cassettes were my primary medium for the majority of 80’s. I preferred them because they were the most compact option of the time. Compact meant I could have and transport more of them. When I realized that I could purchase my own dual-deck cassette recorder, my mix-tape game hit next level.
My medium preference shifted back to vinyl after discovering dj mixers. But I still relied on cassette for recording, even after the introduction of CDs.
The CD was supposed to be ‘perfect’. However, it sounded cold and flat to me. And when they skipped, it was waaay more annoying than vinyl. I hated CDs so much, that all four of my cars from 1983 to 2005 had tape decks.
I recorded mixes on cassette until about 1993. At a popular SF venue, the manager asked me for a demo. I proudly handed him a cassette, to which he replied, “I don’t have anything that can play that. Do you have a CD?”
It was then that my cassettes began going into storage.
Now, years later, I can once again load a couple of 90 minute tapes in deck A & B, and listen without interruption, to music I know I love because I made the recordings, and wax nostalgic to my hearts content … rarely repeating the same song … or even the same artists … with no need touch the equipment for hours.
I hope this helps anyone understand why some of us appreciate cassettes.
jmz
