1982 Maxell UL 90 Audio Cassette

These were a common sight in the latter part of 1982 – particularly around the record fairs, where the live gig bootleggers would sit at stalls behind boxes of Type 1 audio tapes. The tapes would feature performances from popular bands of the day, recorded on the sly at various venues, on a pocket tape recorder – typically a Sony Walkman. Names such as The Jam, Echo and The Bunnymen, UB40, Duran Duran, Madness, Bauhaus, Altered Images and Mari Wilson were among those well known from the UK pop charts at the time.

1993 That’s VX60 Audio Cassette

It’s been no secret on this blog that That’s tapes were among my very favourites. From the early 1990s, I used them more than any other brand, and I can’t remember a single instance in which they let me down in any serious way.

Radio Shack Electronic Tape Head Demagnetizer

Why do I have the urge to write LOL when I see this?… Actually, there’s nothing inherently laughable about this Radio Shack Tape Head Demagnetizer. I think it’s just the design, and the size of the word DEMAGNETIZER. Makes me want to hear a fanfare when insert it into the tape machine. It’s hard to tell from the photo, but the label has a shiny foil type finish, and also appears to be covered with a thin plastic film.