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Cassette Tapes

May 4th, 2009 - Uncategorized - 12 Comments »

cassette-tapeTripp’s 2005 4Runner has a tape deck. I don’t get it. What was Toyota’s thought process when making that decision? Can you even buy tapes anymore? Putting a tape deck in a new car is the equivalent of installing a home theater system with a laser disc player. It makes no sense.

After we laughed about it (and decided we’d both post about it), I sank into a mild depression at the thought that my sons will never get to experience cassette tapes. Here are some of my favorite memories that, unfortunately, they’ll never know.

Fast-Forward Roulette – No one knew where they would end up after pressing the fast-forward button. If you held it down for 3 seconds, you could either be at the next stanza, or 8 songs down the road.

Maintenance Ease – If I have trouble with my iPod, I have to reset it or plug it into my computer or take it to the Apple Store. If I had trouble with my tapes, I could just grab a number 2 pencil and twist.

High-Speed Dubbing – I never knew what this phrase actually meant. All I knew was, if I pressed it at the right time, a sweet mixed tape was in my future. This was music pirating in its earliest form, and yet no one said a word about it. I’m glad too, because I would have never gotten that copy of Do the Bartman, my favorite song from 1990-1993.

The Walkman – I miss the days of strapping on my library book-sized Walkman, grabbing my additional bag of tapes, going up to my room, and plugging in those standard-issue earphones with the two big foam puffs on the ends. I also miss taking the tape out, flipping it over, fast-forwarding it a little, taking it back out, and flipping it back over to hear my jam again because there was no rewind button (on purpose). Now I have to carry around this stupid iPod. It’s embarrassing.

What do you miss most about tapes? AND, what was your first tape?

  • Dr. Awesome

    My first tape was a mix tape that I stole from my brother. Side A was Petra’s “This Means War!” and side B was a combination of Michael W. Smith’s “The Big Picture” (with such hits as “Lamu,” and “Rocketown”), and some assorted songs from White Heart. Does it get any better? I submit that it does not.

    Best of all, my walkman at the time was also stolen from my brother. The door which held the tape had broken off, so I had to use electrical tape to hold the tape in place. Every time I wanted to flip the tape or change the batteries, I had to un- then re-tape the whole thing up. Let’s see you that with your precious “click-wheel”!

  • nate

    I literally lol-ed at the bartman reference. I think that a new car with a tape deck would be more like a new theatre system with a vhs player, with a similar FF roulette function. I believe the short lived, sony mini-disc, would be the audio equivalent to our lazer disc player.

    i love you tyler.

  • http://chrishull.wordpress.com Chris

    Wow, first tape? I didn’t buy one until I was nearing 20 because of growing up in a strict, no rock music family. I think the first cassette that I rebelliously bought was Foreigner 4.

    Before that, I got by on bootleg dubs from friends: Styx – Paradise Theater and REO Speedwagon – You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish are two that immediately come to mind.

    Ah, the heady days of high school.

  • http://www.nolangottlieb.com Nolan

    I’ve got two firsts for ya…My first cassette I can remember getting was “La Bamba” I begged my mom to get it for me after I saw the movie…

    I also remember the first time I got a CLEAR cassette tape…La Bamba was an old black plastic one. MC Hammer’s “Too Legit to Quit” was my first clear tape. I think the first “christian song” I’d ever heard was on that too…you remember “Pray”??

    I didn’t think it got much better than my clear cassette tapes…

  • Bryan

    I actually use my tape deck to play my ipod. The tape with the cord is 20 bucks and works much better than the 90 dollar FM radio adapter.

    And I think the only reason no one said anything about mixing tapes being illegal is that if you took the 5 hours to mix the tape, you deserved it.

  • Lacey

    First cassette single . . . Fine Young Cannibals – “She Drives Me Crazy” or Roxette or maybe it was Sinead O’Connor. (This reveals the fact that I am older than all of your other commenters. Ouch.)

    • http://tylerstanton.com admin

      I can’t believe you have the same first tape as me. Incredible.

  • http://amleveille.blogspot.com Ann Marie

    My first tape was Michael W Smith’s Change Your World. yeah. baby. I loved him!
    when we take our college students on road trips in the church van we have to use the tape deck adapter for the ipod. classy!
    BTW I found you thru Jon’s SCL blog.

  • amy

    beach boys. kokomo was the hit. i listened to it while roller skating in our basement/garage. i loved the beach boys. it makes me laugh just thinking about how much i loved them.

  • http://www.tylerthigpen.com Tyler

    Milli Vanilli was the first tape I bought with my own money (turtle coins, actually).

    I miss the yellow, water-proof tape player that I bought from Service Merchandise. I say I miss it, but I still have it. Just couldn’t let go of that baby.

  • http://robertfrusso.com Rob Russo

    Sweet. It didn’t get any better than a mixed tape. I’m pretty sure my first one was The Monkees.

  • http://www.delightfullycliche.com Jenn

    My very first tape was a Gaither Kids tape. The first one I used allowance money to purchase — Carman. I’ve lost the tape, but I downloaded the entire album on iTunes. Sweet!