Exploring the enduring influence of the compact cassette in popular culture.

Of course there will always be a special relationship between musicians and the humble compact cassette; the mix-tapes for friends, the demo tapes, four-track tape home recording, the first demo on cassette etc etc. Plus there’s always the nostalgia (from the older bands) and retro-cool fascination (from the younger) that these special little things bring out in all of us.

Anyway, that silly little paragraph is an introduction to a special post on cassette tape album art!

Yo La Tengo – Popular Songs (2009)

Ryan Adams – Demolition (2002)

Dashboard Confessional – A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar (2003)

American Hi Fi – American Hi Fi (2001)

The American Hi Fi album seems to be the earliest – or at least the earliest I’ve found so far – there’s got to be more out there! Hey if you know of any others . . . write a comment and let me know

I find it interesting that the covers are all so similar; the image of the compact cassette fairly central to the page and the in various stages of decay . . . that Dashboard Confessional album is completely unplayable, but I reckon I’ve fixed tapes in worse condition than Ryan Adams’ . . .

I don’t know all the music of all the bands, but if they’ve got a cassette tape on the front, well at least I’d give it a listen!

Bonus!

Bow Wow Wow – Your Cassette Pet (1980)

And this isn’t some retro schtuff – tapes were hot stuff back when they released this!

And you know what? Bow Wow Wow deserve their own post . . . more later.