The Jam – Snap Audio Cassette

With a classic red Polydor paper label, Snap, by The Jam, is a reminder of the transition period for pre-recorded audio cassettes in the UK. By the time of this tape’s 1983 release, some manufacturers had dumped trad labels and were screening the relevant details directly onto the plastic casing. Good to see that this release had retained the far more attractive red stick-ons.

Why Use Audio Cassettes in the Digital Age?

The answer was once obvious. Decades ago, people used compact cassettes because there was no other media upon which they could conveniently preserve sound at home, and because cassettes allowed pre-recorded matter to be played in places where the delicacy and static requirements of vinyl disc turntables were impractical.

1980s Sony BHF 90 Audio Cassette Dismantled

Firstly, I should mention that this is not the 1983 BHF 90 I photographed previously (or indeed the 1981). This is another variant with a few small detail differences from the ’83.