Cassette Tapes?

[Soul Salad]

Dear All,

Any pointers or comments would be greatly appreciated.

My car is from 1982 and so is my car audio ie pioneer tape deck ("with" auto reverse!!) My question is in 2 parts and i will keep it concise (ish).

1. Does anybody sell cassette tapes anymore? ie I'm talking really about the ubiquitous rare northern modern soul compilations which were around, a guy in Camden market had millions of the things for a fiver each but i am going back 25 years or so, is this something that nowadays you just simply can't buy because there is no market for it, or am i looking in the wrong places and tape selling and swapping still exist?

2. I know a friend of mine had Sam Dees "The show must go on" and Luther "this close to you" both on cassette and I am certain from memory they were legit releases but can't find any evidence of their existence anywhere. I remember cassette tapes being around all over the place, but where have they gone? did people chuck them, tape over them, were they destroyed? or simply did a huge amount of great soul albums throughout the 70s 80s only get a vinyl release?

As requested, any help with this would be appreciated as I'm getting a little bored of Olivia Newton Johns Greatest hits and Boogie Tunes Volume 1 both on a loop. Before you ask no i am NOT prepared to dump my pioneer cassette "with" auto reverse

Big Thankyou

 

 

[Douglaschip]

I'm intrigued - what's the car - never mind the cassettes. Although I may have a few of my own compilations I can send you!!

[Solidsoul]

1 hour ago, Soul Salad said:

Any pointers or comments would be greatly appreciated.

1. Does anybody sell cassette tapes anymore? ie I'm talking really about the ubiquitous rare northern modern soul compilation is this something that nowadays you just simply can't buy because there is no market for it, or am i looking in the wrong places and tape selling and swapping still exist?

2. I know a friend of mine had Sam Dees "The show must go on" and Luther "this close to you" both on cassette and I am certain from memory they were legit releases but can't find any evidence of their existence anywhere. I remember cassette tapes being around all over the place, but where have they gone? did people chuck them, tape over them, were they destroyed? or simply did a huge amount of great soul albums throughout the 70s 80s only get a vinyl release?

 

 

 

I sold a lot of tapes in batches on here in the sales section. There was a lot of great records recorded on them.  I am sure people on here will have draws full of tapes that they would maybe let go! Put a request in the wants section.

Edited November 9, 2023 by Solidsoul

[Happy Feet]

A quick look on eBay ,Edwin Starr, Ben E King , The Motor City ( Ian Levine's versions ) from 98 ? Still for sale , as Solidsoul says , put a request in the wants section , I bet there's members on here with a few willing to let go free to good home , I may still have a few ,Edwin Starr Soulmaster & the cascade various artists one with Sweet Temptation on somewhere , I'll have a search .

The problem being is the tapes tend to stick and damage easily if left for years unplayed still it's worth a try 

[Soul Salad]

Yes think i will post on "wanted"- I'm not looking for anything in particular however what I've managed to find so far is not what I'm after. Yes agreed the longevity of cassettes was/is poor probably the main reason they're just not out there in abundance.

Thankyou both.

[Soul Salad]

35 minutes ago, Douglaschip said:

I'm intrigued - what's the car - never mind the cassettes. Although I may have a few of my own compilations I can send you!!

Ha ha - It's a Golf and NOT a GTI

[Roburt]

Lots of record labels put out pre-recorded cassette & 8 track versions of their top albums in the 70's ...

Luther Van Dross on backing vocals on this un ...  

[Happy Feet]

I've found a box , neither of the 2 that I mentioned have survived , but The Hits of Edwin Starr has and Casino Classics Chapter Two , have a few more will pm you with the rest , yours if you want them , I don't even own a cassette player any more , a couple still in the celophane wrap lol .

Edited November 9, 2023 by Happy Feet

[Soul Salad]

Thanks Roburt<

Looks great, however its tracking them down - Yep, Luther was an absolute Legend.

[Soul Salad]

3 minutes ago, Happy Feet said:

I've found a box , neither of the 2 that I mentioned have survived , but The Hits of Edwin Starr has and Casino Classics Chapter Two , have a few more will pm you with the rest , yours if you want them , I don't even own a cassette player any more , a couple still in the cellophane wrap lol .

Well Happy Feet that would be fantastic - There was a Fisher price cassette deck for sale on here somewhere a few days ago

[Chalky]

Luther Cassette

https://www.discogs.com/release/12448829-Luther-This-Close-To-You

 

 

[Soul Salad]

2 minutes ago, Chalky said:

Luther Cassette

https://www.discogs.com/release/12448829-Luther-This-Close-To-You

 

 

Thanks Chalky

i knew it existed!, i couldnt find it? - yes that would be a great start - none for sale though

[Happy Feet]

And just in case you need one in the future , have just found a tape splicer , unfortunately no tape repair strips , but yours if you want it .

[davidwapples]

If your car has a radio you can buy transmitters to plug into an ipod / mp3 player and maybe a phone to listen through your speakers.

 

That may be an option to still listen to the music you like if you cant get tapes

[Daved]

Tapes? Even in the mid 90s I used to plug a CD Walkman into the cigarette lighter.

I did go through a phase in the late 80s when I first started driving buying tapes for the car. I still them all now - some really good ones from Bobby Womack, Perri, Stephanie Mills, Jean carne, etc.

 

[Billy Jo Jim Bob]

Tapes are a “thing” again. Bumped into a guy at a local record fair from London and all he wanted was tapes. The local record shop owner gets the same two visitors come from Japan to buy tapes every year.
Apparently the old Walkman is a thing with the Yoof also.

Who knew ?

[Chalky]

5 minutes ago, Billy Jo Jim Bob said:

Tapes are a “thing” again. Bumped into a guy at a local record fair from London and all he wanted was tapes. The local record shop owner gets the same two visitors come from Japan to buy tapes every year.
Apparently the old Walkman is a thing with the Yoof also.

Who knew ?

Some acts have been using and releasing material; on cassettes for some years now.  The manufacturers who stopped making them now make them again. 

[Soul Salad]

20 hours ago, Happy Feet said:

And just in case you need one in the future , have just found a tape splicer , unfortunately no tape repair strips , but yours if you want it .

Thanks Happyfeet 

That would be great, i didn't even know a tape splice existed? - I'm pretty sure i won't ever use it as i have sellotape and scissors - but its a super cool object to have anyway.

[Soul Salad]

1 hour ago, Chalky said:

Some acts have been using and releasing material; on cassettes for some years now.  The manufacturers who stopped making them now make them again. 

But who? because i really can't find anything.

PS while you're here thanks for introduction to me of Oscar Perry He sent me you, im sure it was your good self who played it on one of your podcasts? - been in my top 10 for a good while now - great record! .

[Happy Feet]

2 hours ago, Soul Salad said:

Thanks Happyfeet 

That would be great, i didn't even know a tape splice existed? - I'm pretty sure i won't ever use it as i have sellotape and scissors - but its a super cool object to have anyway.

Definitely a must have , especially when the tape gets stuck in the machine , you retrieve it as carefully as possible, a slightly crinkled bit , cut it out carefully then transfer it to a blank tape , listen carefully, rewind and again record button ready hey presto , a completely new remix of Benny Troy with new chorus and slightly longer instrumental break , at the time I thought I was Tom Moulton , played it to a few in the know they loved it , still have it funny enough .

[Twoshoes]

I was in a charity shop just last week, one with quite a bit of room, just by the door two guys were knelt going through to large bags of cassettes,, they were selling at 10 for a quid or a fiver per bag. Doubt they will be there next time i go in but if any remain I'll see if there's anything soul related. Got rid of mine ages ago but found a Luther Vandross Busy Body if you want it,pm me your address if so.

[Soul Salad]

21 hours ago, Happy Feet said:

Definitely a must have , especially when the tape gets stuck in the machine , you retrieve it as carefully as possible, a slightly crinkled bit , cut it out carefully then transfer it to a blank tape , listen carefully, rewind and again record button ready hey presto , a completely new remix of Benny Troy with new chorus and slightly longer instrumental break , at the time I thought I was Tom Moulton , played it to a few in the know they loved it , still have it funny enough .

[Chalky]

On 10/11/2023 at 18:23, Soul Salad said:

But who? because i really can't find anything.

PS while you're here thanks for introduction to me of Oscar Perry He sent me you, im sure it was your good self who played it on one of your podcasts? - been in my top 10 for a good while now - great record! .

It could have been, I can’t remember. 
 

Quick look at one store….

https://hmv.com/store/music/cassettes

[Kesalocasoul]

As my job took me to live in various places in Africa, Asia, Australia and beyond, I transferred much of my record collection onto TDK tapes, which weighed considerably less than vinyl, so less expensive to ship. 

If anybody in the Chester area is interested in collecting about 200 tapes of every type of soul music, but mainly 70s, do send me a PM.  They are yours for a donation to our local homeless charity.  https://shareaid.co.uk/

I have an Excel spreadsheet detailing their contents, which I would be glad to send to anyone who is prepared to give the tapes a good home.  Can't vouch for their quality; some are 40 plus years old and have travelled 70,000 miles.

[Soul Salad]

23 hours ago, Chalky said:

It could have been, I can’t remember. 
 

Quick look at one store….

https://hmv.com/store/music/cassettes

If you are Karl, it was you - don't be embarrassed! - it was a great podcast and a fantastic new to me record! 

Thanks for that any help much appreciated, anyway I've asked hmv to send me an email stating I'm after Lou Courtney, some early impressions stuff Sam Dees etc on cassette - but they haven't got back to me as yet? 

[Geeselad]

On 10/11/2023 at 18:23, Soul Salad said:

But who? because i really can't find anything.

PS while you're here thanks for introduction to me of Oscar Perry He sent me you, im sure it was your good self who played it on one of your podcasts? - been in my top 10 for a good while now - great record! .

Quite a few artists it seems, but they are all abismall

 

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-best-selling-cassette-albums-of-2022__38206/

Edited November 12, 2023 by Geeselad

[Vadnochka]

Tapes - just discovered my stash of C90 / C60 tapes - from @ '88 thru to the late 90's dozens of purchased items - Ted Massey vol.1 + 2 etc and loads of my own play-list items - Some serious sounds on some of them - Some 45's never seen since those days and many real rarities and I mean rarities not just expensive one's. Found them stashed in the loft above the good lady's sewing room.

[Chalky]

1 hour ago, Soul Salad said:

If you are Karl, it was you - don't be embarrassed! - it was a great podcast and a fantastic new to me record! 

Thanks for that any help much appreciated, anyway I've asked hmv to send me an email stating I'm after Lou Courtney, some early impressions stuff Sam Dees etc on cassette - but they haven't got back to me as yet? 

Thats me mate and thanks

[Missing Link]

Plenty of new (old) stock blank cassettes on Ebay and some newly manufactured ones (such as Maxell UR) on Amazon plus a few specialist websites. The new ones are only Type 1 (Ferric) but I doubt whether car stereos play types 2,3 and 4.
New releases are coming out in small numbers though it's unlikely there are any soul releases. A lot of artists sell via Bandcamp as youngsters are coming round to having physical copies rather than streaming.
If cassettes have been stored properly then they should play OK. I have a number that are 40+ years old and they still play OK.

[Rick Scott]

Strange how things come round again decades later what with old School Games consoles too making a come back (Would Make a Great thread i think)

Any way looked on my shelves and checked my old tapes out and a lot were John Manship Sales Tapes and some were from Glossy Mags Tapes (given away with) back to the 70s and even the New Musical Express (NME) were giving Cassette Tapes away right across the music spectrum and i came across the one soul cassette they did 'HIT THE ROAD STAX' (SPRING 1982) NME 003 (3rd Cassette in the series) 

nothing rare on it but nice to have for nothing.

Side One.

1. Booker T & The MGs -Green Onions 

2. Booker T & The MGs - Red Beans & Rice

3. Carla Thomas - B-A-B-Y

4. Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music

5. Eddie Floyd - Raise Your Hand

6. Eddie Floyd - Knock On Wood

Side Two.

1. The Mar-keys - Last Night

2. The Mar - Keys Philly Dog

3. Sam & Dave - You Don't Know Like I Know

4. Sam & Dave - Hold On I'm Coming

5. Otis Redding - Respect

6. Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness

 

 

 

 

[Chalky]

further evidence of a resurgence in cassette tapes, we now have a bluetooth tape player, bit expensive but still....

https://www.wearerewind.com/en-gb

[Rick Scott]

Wasn't aware of that Chalky,

I Still have a Sony Walkman WM-EX 170 (With Mega Bass (AWLS) In An Un Opened Pack i won in a competition back in the day from one of the music mags (1997)

I had already bought a Panasonic Stereo Cassette Player RQ-P45 (1997)with

XBS (Extra Bass System) & 3D Equalizer which looked like a Sony Walkman which is probably why i never opened the Walkman,

[Middleman]

1 hour ago, Rick Scott said:

Wasn't aware of that Chalky,

I Still have a Sony Walkman WM-EX 170 (With Mega Bass (AWLS) In An Un Opened Pack i won in a competition back in the day from one of the music mags (1997)

I had already bought a Panasonic Stereo Cassette Player RQ-P45 (1997)with

XBS (Extra Bass System) & 3D Equalizer which looked like a Sony Walkman which is probably why i never opened the Walkman,

Hi Rick,

I assume you've done a search on Ebay........

Cheers

S

 

[Chalky]

1 hour ago, Rick Scott said:

Wasn't aware of that Chalky,

I Still have a Sony Walkman WM-EX 170 (With Mega Bass (AWLS) In An Un Opened Pack i won in a competition back in the day from one of the music mags (1997)

I had already bought a Panasonic Stereo Cassette Player RQ-P45 (1997)with

XBS (Extra Bass System) & 3D Equalizer which looked like a Sony Walkman which is probably why i never opened the Walkman,

I still have a technics cassette deck in the room with Project turntable on top.  I have an ION USB tapemplayer to transfer tapes to PC.

[Soul Salad]

7 hours ago, Chalky said:

further evidence of a resurgence in cassette tapes, we now have a bluetooth tape player, bit expensive but still....

https://www.wearerewind.com/en-gb

That does look quite cool to me and "appears" well designed/made - i think that's a reasonable asking price, especially as i can't see them flying off the shelves but you never know?

[Soul Salad]

I've been hunting what i consider "good" albums on cassette from the usual suspects and cant find that many but happy to have found Khemistry (imo a good album) on Discogs but after p/p/tax etc it's going to be a £60 cassette tape? - Thats about vinyl value isnt it? and as I'm sure there are very few cassette "collectors" and far less so soul wise, that's steep i think, who will ever buy that except me?

The bitter sweet!.

[Middleman]

Hi,

Loved tapes/taping and related playing machines.

Hated CD’s, still irritates me that that format was foisted upon us.

Can someone tell me though what is the draw of the current tape trend?

Not sure if I get it TBH.

Just curious.

Cheers

ATB

S

[Soul Salad]

1 hour ago, Middleman said:

Hi,

Loved tapes/taping and related playing machines.

Hated CD’s, still irritates me that that format was foisted upon us.

Can someone tell me though what is the draw of the current tape trend?

Not sure if I get it TBH.

Just curious.

Cheers

ATB

S

I purely and simply want them to play in the car as i really don't want to part with the stereo as it's a top end one from about 1982. For me personally it's the nostalgia, just like driving the car, it just for me feels more authentic/the cars history.

I can't personally say what the current tape trend is, I'm guessing like myself nostalgic value for others? I can't really think of anything else either.

Tapes/broken tapes/recording tapes/rewinding/the hiss etc are all part of it and it was a huge part of my life for well over a decade when i was in the prime of my youth.

I can't honestly say they are a "pleasure"? - They were and still are highly irritating in every single way possible, but it doesn't bother me for those times while I'm driving.

I hated CDs too but had plenty let's face it the only real and pure form of collecting music has always been and will always be vinyl and unless i am mistaken the vinyl produced since inception surely must far outweigh every other musical format. 

So to answer your question, I'm not sure i get it either?

[Happy Feet]

36 minutes ago, Soul Salad said:

I purely and simply want them to play in the car as i really don't want to part with the stereo as it's a top end one from about 1982. For me personally it's the nostalgia, just like driving the car, it just for me feels more authentic/the cars history.

I can't personally say what the current tape trend is, I'm guessing like myself nostalgic value for others? I can't really think of anything else either.

Tapes/broken tapes/recording tapes/rewinding/the hiss etc are all part of it and it was a huge part of my life for well over a decade when i was in the prime of my youth.

I can't honestly say they are a "pleasure"? - They were and still are highly irritating in every single way possible, but it doesn't bother me for those times while I'm driving.

I hated CDs too but had plenty let's face it the only real and pure form of collecting music has always been and will always be vinyl and unless i am mistaken the vinyl produced since inception surely must far outweigh every other musical format. 

So to answer your question, I'm not sure i get it either?

Nostalgia that's what it's all about and we all have our own favourite thing.

Regarding CDs from the early days I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole , then after a very informative chat at an Alnighter with a very popular DJ , who at the time was working for a famous household name in popular music, told me how they used to use VHS recorders to record the masters , because it automatically digitally recorded the sound making it the perfect listen , I dipped my toe into the water as they say and couldn't believe the sound quality . I know own about 3k of the buggers but still continue to purchase vinyl mostly for nostalgic reasons, unless new releases but the sound quality on a few of the new releases does vary in depth and volume and find the need to adjust both volume and gain on my Citronic mixer at times annoying. It may be my set up but there doesn't seem to be a problem on the older vinyl and definitely not all of the new releases .

So for the perfect sound with a boom , I'd say CDs , Vinyl , then Cassettes, but I'll never stop buying vinyl , and only listen to CDs in my VW when out and about ( radio packed up ) . 

 

[Steviehay]

On 09/11/2023 at 18:50, Soul Salad said:

Dear All,

Any pointers or comments would be greatly appreciated.

My car is from 1982 and so is my car audio ie pioneer tape deck ("with" auto reverse!!) My question is in 2 parts and i will keep it concise (ish).

1. Does anybody sell cassette tapes anymore? ie I'm talking really about the ubiquitous rare northern modern soul compilations which were around, a guy in Camden market had millions of the things for a fiver each but i am going back 25 years or so, is this something that nowadays you just simply can't buy because there is no market for it, or am i looking in the wrong places and tape selling and swapping still exist?

2. I know a friend of mine had Sam Dees "The show must go on" and Luther "this close to you" both on cassette and I am certain from memory they were legit releases but can't find any evidence of their existence anywhere. I remember cassette tapes being around all over the place, but where have they gone? did people chuck them, tape over them, were they destroyed? or simply did a huge amount of great soul albums throughout the 70s 80s only get a vinyl release?

As requested, any help with this would be appreciated as I'm getting a little bored of Olivia Newton Johns Greatest hits and Boogie Tunes Volume 1 both on a loop. Before you ask no i am NOT prepared to dump my pioneer cassette "with" auto reverse

Big Thankyou

 

 

WHAT A SHAME YOU DIDNT HAVE AN 8 TRACK TOO ,BUT I HAVE LOADS OF PRE RECORDED TAPES AND WIGAN AND WHEREVER ELSE TAPES I NEVER PLAY MOST OF THEM AND STILL HAVE SEALED BLANKS 

[Soul Salad]

35 minutes ago, Steviehay said:

WHAT A SHAME YOU DIDNT HAVE AN 8 TRACK TOO ,BUT I HAVE LOADS OF PRE RECORDED TAPES AND WIGAN AND WHEREVER ELSE TAPES I NEVER PLAY MOST OF THEM AND STILL HAVE SEALED BLANKS 

Funnily enough a couple of years ago i had a chat with a guy in a beautiful1960s Porsche 911 - i asked him what on earth the set up was in his car. He said oh they're 8 track cassettes, He said it was dreadful but the "stereo" was original to his car, so he scoured the internet for them, he had about 20. Before that I'd never heard of them.

This is way off track now - I'm talking about cars.............................................sorry.

[Frankie Crocker]

Current new vinyl and cassette tapes are on the increase. Both formats are deemed to be cool by youngsters. CD’s are almost extinct as are new players.

I always taped compilations of USA finds and mix-tapes of various genres and found them to be long-lasting and therefore ideal.

CD’s I’ve made have deteriorated to the point they are unplayable, some within a shirt space of time.

For what it’s worth, I’m sticking with home made C90 tapes that feature about 20 Northern tracks on each side.

[Soul Salad]

Both Happy feet and Two shoes (not your real names) a big THANKYOU for those bits, they will keep me well and truly occupied for a good while and were truly much appreciated - "SAVE THE CASSETTE!!" 

[Owd Codger]

Soul Salad

 

I have a number of  compilation tapes , Northern, 60s/70s rare etc which I am happy to give to you.

Just require postage 

If you are interested, please send me a PM.

 

 

[Steviehay]

On 15/11/2023 at 21:43, Soul Salad said:

Funnily enough a couple of years ago i had a chat with a guy in a beautiful1960s Porsche 911 - i asked him what on earth the set up was in his car. He said oh they're 8 track cassettes, He said it was dreadful but the "stereo" was original to his car, so he scoured the internet for them, he had about 20. Before that I'd never heard of them.

This is way off track now - I'm talking about cars.............................................sorry.

p.s i can also supply a pack of pencils too lol

[Soul Salad]

16 minutes ago, Steviehay said:

p.s i can also supply a pack of pencils too lol

I just use my finger!

[Soul Salad]

I Just wanted to share my amazingly good news in that i found Ace Spectrum Album on cassette for my car! - Incredibly happy 

Dax

[Owd Codger]

Soul Salad

I take it you do not want the cassette tapes I offered to you?

I asked you to pay postage....you clearly think that is out of order.

[Steviehay]

15 minutes ago, Owd Codger said:

Soul Salad

I take it you do not want the cassette tapes I offered to you?

I asked you to pay postage....you clearly think that is out of order.

Send em here kidda 

[Owd Codger]

Stevie

Are you happy to pay some postage for a bundle of tapes given to you for nothing?

I'm sure you are...