NATIONAL EIGHT TRACK TAPE DAY

[OldEvilleCat]

Short explanation for the young folk...National Eight Track Tape Day on April 11th recognizes an era that was here and gone in a short 20 years. Nevertheless, it is a day to remember listening to great music of the sixties and seventies on eight-track tapes.

Any favorites or memories? Most of you that had 8 Tracks probably can't remember that far back. I was at the tail end of 8 tracks, I think at one time I had an 8 track under the seat and a cassette player in the dash. I just remember the loud ka-chunk when it changed programs, usually in the middle of the song. 8 track cartridges was my introduction into Columbia House....12 for 1 cent!

Can't really think of any favorites though...off the top of my bald head, REO Speedwagon, Edgar Winter Group, Doobie Brothers and Styx.

 

[GnarlsBarkley]

8-Track collection I inherited from my older brother included KISS, Rock and Rollover, Destroyer, Alive, an Eagles record...The Long Run maybe? and a Bay City Rollers record i can't remember.

 

[UK82]

I probably owned about 40 in total. My first was a Foghat tape. Can't even remember the name of the album.

Just a note, Record Store Day 2025 is tomorrow.

 

[rick64]

I remember 8 tracks. Had some back in the day. Didn't you just love when it would change tracks right in the middle of the song. 😉

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

I still have a bunch somewhere. The case is like a piece of luggage. Off the top of my head, Blue Oyster Cult, Aerosmith, Bob Seger, Foghat, Waylon, Hank Jr, Willie Nelson.

I was stylin' in my 1974 Dodge Dart and Radio Shack 8 track player and speakers.

 

[812scottj]

Johnny Paycheck!! Wore that thing out!

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

Steppenwolf and Grass Roots only two I remember.

 

[*CatinIL*]

First one I remember having

 

[HymanKaplan]

I had a job, between my junior and senior year in HS, travelling around the south and up into Ohio and Indiana, working for Olan Mills. I took individual and team cheerleader photos at cheer camps which were hosted by various universities.(UK, Purdue, Bowling Green, Columbia, SC, Ole Miss, UF etc.) Anyway, the company car they let me use had an 8 track player in it. The radio didn't work, just the 8 track deck (sort of) It had Boston's first album stuck in it, and so that is ALL I got to listen to for THOUSANDS OF MILES THAT SUMMER. To this day, it's hard for me to listen to that album. LOL

I actually lost money on that job, but I didn't care, for obvious reasons. LOL

 

[John_Locke_]

Waylon Jennings Are You Ready For The Country was my first 8 Track Tape growing up.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

In the spring of 1976, my junior year of HS, and I had recently gotten a weekend job. After a few paychecks I took the cash and went to a nearby Radio Shack. I bought a small 8-track player that had the tiniest little speakers. But it was inexpensive. And I bought 3 tapes.

Robin Trower - "Bridge of Sighs"
ZZ Top - "Fandango"
Jimi Hendrix - "Smash Hits"

Loved my choices then, and love them now. I have all 3 on CD and still listen to them.

 

[parrott]

Had Led Zeppelin II, Steppenwolf, Boston and many others. Was right in my HS & College time period. Loved/hated those things.

 

[BlueTick2]

Had a nice collection I kept in a case that held around 25 or so. Kept a small amount of weed in one of the tapes that was broken. Great hiding place.

 

[CAT Scratch FVR]

Had a very poor array of 8 tracks, as handed down by my sisters. Supertramp and ELO. But, summer of 85, at a flea market, on Cape Cod, bought 4 for a dollar. Jeff Beck, Blow by Blow. I wore Freeway Jam out. Other big one was Cheap Trick Live at Budokan. What made that one special was “Ain’t that a Shame” cut out as it went from 3rd leg to 4th. The classic interruption of a song that only the 8 track could bring you.

To add, first stereo was all I one, phonograph/cassette/8 track player.