Deutsche Grammophon Audio Cassette 1980s

I was very pleased to find this excellent example of a Deutsche Grammophon audio cassette tape recently. It’s a 1987 release featuring Schubert’s Quintet for Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass in A major (D.667 “The Trout”) on Side 1, and on Side 2, Beethoven’s Sonata for Piano and Violin in F major (Op.24 “Spring). The Schubert is performed by Jorg Demus (piano) and the Schubert Quartett; the Beethoven by Carl Seemann (piano) and Wolfgang Schneiderhan (violin). Both sides are remastered from original recordings made in 1960, by Polydor International GmbH.

Yehudi Menuhin – Bruch/Mendelssohn Violin Concertos

As pre-recorded audio cassette tapes go, this one’s a real ‘looker’. It packages two violin concertos, the lead of which is performed in both cases by the legendary Yehudi Menuhin. On Side 1, there’s Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64. On Side 2, Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op.26. For Side 1, the Philharmonia Orchestra was conducted by Efrem Kurtz, and for Side 2, Walter Susskind conducted the same orchestra. The Mendelssohn concerto is 26 minutes 35 seconds long, and the Bruch is 23 minutes 58. Both seem to pass more quickly – particularly the Bruch.

Gary Moore – After Hours Audio Cassette (1992)

I thought I’d do something a bit different with the illustration for this post. The eventual composition wasn’t really so much an idea as an inevitability. What with the late Gary Moore being so well known for using ‘flametop’ Gibson Les Paul guitars, I opted to use the front face of my own Les Paul ‘flametop’ as a makeshift ‘table’ for the tape, then open up the cassette cover for use as a backdrop. It’s made for quite a colourful and eyecatching image.