Otis Rush – Ain’t Enough Comin’ In audio cassette (1994)

Ohhhh yeaaahhhh…. This. Is. The stuff. In 1994, an Otis Rush studio album release was a completely new experience to an entire generation. Not since the 1970s had Rush bestowed a non-live album upon the world, and whilst I’d heard his name before, it was the UK publicity which went with this release, in spring ’94, that alerted me to his capabilities. The early 1990s had seen an explosion of traditional American blues, and whilst this product from Otis Rush could have done with being recorded and released two or three years earlier (for its own commercial sake more than anything), it was most welcome, and it’s remained a very important release within the blues genre.

Dr John – In a Sentimental Mood audio cassette (1989)

Here’s someone who’s lived a life. One time rogue, prolific session musician, immensely respected figure in American roots music… Mac Rebennack, much better known as Dr. John, is a genuine New Orleans pianist, vocalist and musician, most associated with the classic New Orleans blues/jazz style of piano. Whilst he’s also played guitar for a good proportion of his career, it’s the influence of Professor Longhair and a number of other cool and unorthodox American pianists which defines what he’s about.

The Type I Normal Bias Audio Cassette

The Type I normal bias audio cassette was the standard and most widely compatible tape format – the direct descendant of the original compact cassette. The tape preserved sound by means of a ferric-oxide coating, and first appeared on the consumer market in the mid 1960s. Heading the post you can see a fairly early Type I musicassette demonstrator, which was used to help drive the cassette format into wider use in 1970.