Author: Tape Cassettes

Tape Cassettes Zine Vol 2

Releases a couple days late today. I had some trouble with my laptop breaking. I accidentally dropped it when my dog jumped on me. Oops. It’s been a long run now I am using a desktop which makes it harder to do remotely. Glad I was able to salvage the hard drive because at one point it stopped booting. Here is the latest Zine.

If you are in a city that you would like to co-host a tape cassette swap let us know! We can send you a swap party starter kit. If you are in the US we can help plan something out and possibly show up. Who knows! The possibilities are endless.

You can find all the Zine on DropBox or try to download it here.

Tape Cassettes Zine Vol 1

Yesterday was the first issue release of the Tape Cassettes Zine. You can find a bunch of releases found recently on Bandcamp available on tape. This is the first of a semi-monthly project. Hopefully on around the middle and end of the month with the dates being 1-15 and 16-31 (depending on the month)

I’ve created a Dropbox file that will contain all the Zines and also will attempt to include them on this website.

You can see how to fold and cut in this quick TikTok time-lapse.

If you have any recommendations on upcoming tapes or cassette projects please feel free to email or DM your suggestions.

CSD 2019

We will be participating in CSD 2019. Mainly as a label with Jacquelin’s Alice Adventures in Wonderland release. We are listed as a tape store however it’s mostly for people who are unable to visit a participating record / tape store in person. Last year we did a convention this year that is not happening we are strictly only helping international tape collector or people living in remote parts of the United States who can’t get to a in person store. Our purpose is never to compete with local stores and will continue to help make the tapes accessible to people who are unable to access them.

We will update with the stores carrying the tape and encourage people to buy it from their local shop.

Space Cadette First Tape Label Release

We are happy to announce that tapecassettes.com has it’s first original cassette tape release available on preorder here: Jacquelin Releases The artist is the creator tapecassettes.com, who produced this concept album, based on NASA sounds and recordings from a galaxy near you. In addition to the cassette, physical copies receive a mini colored one page comic book. There is a limited number to 60 cassettes available galaxy wide.

The image above is a mock of final product which is in mass production from a professional duplication plant.

 

Reception:

“It reminds me of Funkadelic’s Maggot Brains and has a super cool vibe to it.” – Demo Release Listener

“Album sounds super good. Great job!” – Vintage Vinyl Record Shop Owner

“Space Cadette has some nice flow.” – Musician

Cassette Store Day North American Release 2018

TapeCassettes.com will be participating in Cassette Store Day for 2018 at the San Antonio Record Convention. We do encourage shopping local however if you are in an area that does not have a participating store we would love to help you out. We will be in person on CSD at the convention with a table full of cassettes. Please visit Cassette Store Day for more information. Here are a list of releases as posted today:

Nick Lowe
Jesus of Cool
(40th Anniversary Edition)
Yep Roc Records

Cold Fronts
Fantasy DuJour
Sire Records

Various Artists
Golden Road To The Grateful Dead
Business Records

The Go! Team
Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Memphis Industries

Soft People
I Saw The Moon!
Sandwich Kingdom

Caleb Nichols
Double Mantasy
Sandwich Kingdom

Soft People
American Men
Sandwich Kingdom

Various Artists
The Great Krell Machine, Vol. 1
Flag Day Recordings

Jonny 8 Track
Mix Tape
Chicken Ranch Records

The Royal Arctic Institute
Russian Twists
Rhyme & Reason Records

Lily Konigsberg
4 Picture Tear
Ramp Local

Nada Surf
Let Go
Barsuk Records

Gertie Fox
Lost in Time (A Retrospective)
Maplewood Records
​
Papa Dagon
Papa Dagon
Cultural Magnetics

Chuck Strangers
Consumers Park
Nature Sounds

J Dilla
Motor City
Vintage Vibez

Blu & Shafiq Husayn
The Blueprint
Nature Sounds

J Dilla
Jay Love Japan
Vintage Vibez

Spill Gold
Spill Gold
Beacon Sound

Neon Fauna
Deadlining
Neon Fauna

Don DiLego
Magnificent Ram A
Velvet Elk Records

The Bobby Lees
Beauty Pageant
Tapehead City

Various Artists
I Saved Latin!: A Tribute to Wes Anderson
Tapehead City

Various Artists
Tapes Not Dead : “A Tapehead City mixtape”
Tapehead City

MICROPANiK
Early Days… & Demos
Independent

Various Banana Tapes Artists
BT Mixtape Vol. 1
Banana Tapes

B|_ank
Lone Dot Home Recordings
Banana Tapes

Z
Debut s/t EP
Banana Tapes

Kurt and Derek
The Derek Tape
Nomad Eel Records

​LIZARDWAVE
LIZARDWAVEZ
LIZARDWAVE

Cyrus Tha Great
CCC Vol.1:Beats Inspired by the film “Straight Outta Compton”
Cy Global

The Fuss
Ourselves
Jump Up Records

Kingston All Stars
Rise Up (Bonus Mix)
Jump Up / Roots & Wire
Sleep
The Sciences
Third Man Records
​
Public Access TV
Street Safari
Cinematic Music Group

Dean Paradise
Volume One
Wiener Records

United Power Soul
Moving Fast 4 U
Zaftig Records

slowcoach
wired & tired
Pacific Rock Records

slowcoach
sandpaper
Pacific Rock Records

The Pietasters
OoLooLoo
Jump Up Records
​
The Pietasters
Self Titled (1993)
Jump Up Records / Slugtone

Mephiskapheles
Maximum Perversion
Jump Up Records

Dave Hillyard & Rocksteady 7
Playtime
Jump Up Records

Rude Boy George
Play Anything
Jump Up Records

The Slackers
Better Late Than Never
Jump Up Records / Special Potato

Various Artists
Drink The Ska
Jump Up Records / Ska Brewing
​
Andy Bassford
The Harder They Strum
Jump Up Records / Registered Alien

Brad Hoshaw
Invisible Man
Brad Hoshaw Music

Trip
Break the Cycle
Self Release

Strawberry Tapes
Volume 1
Howler Hills Farm

Lung
All the King’s Horses
SofaBurn

Polyester the Saint
Desiré
HELLAGOOD Productions, Pick-Six Music

The Lungs + Total Massacre
Church + State
unsigned

S~candles
Gardens Grow
Crystacular

Drooms
Cleaning
Jack Follansbee Records (Self Released)

​Brownout
Fear Of A Brown Planet
Fat Beats

Ohbliv
Retrospective
Paxico Records

J Dilla
Dillatronic
Vintage Vibez

J Dilla
Jay Stay Paid
Nature Sounds

R.A. The Rugged Man
Legends Never Die
Nature Sounds

Dungeon Run
#1
Self Released

Various Artists
Canticos Nocturnos
45 Revoluciones Mexico

Los Acidos
Los Acidos
Dynamo Tapes

HURT
Salt
THE HORSE WE WANT TO HANG

David R. Cornejo
13
THE HORSE WE WANT TO HANG

The Mightabins
Épée
Mark’s Mom’s Garage
​
Slightly Stoopid
Everyday Life, Everyday People
Stoopid Records/Business Records
Tomorrows Tulips
Harnessed To Flesh
Burger Records

Groovie Ghoulies
1980s Collection
Burger Records​​

Livingmore
Ok To Land
Nomad Eel Records

Atlantis Aquarius
Nibirian Sun
Nomad Eel Records

Imaad Wasif
Great Eastern Sun
Nomad Eel Records

Young Creatures
The Future Is Finally Now
Nomad Eel Records

Black Moon Tape
The Salvation Of Morgane
Nomad Eel Records
​
Dream Phases
Clear Skies // Maybe Tomorrow
Nomad Eel Records

The Skeletones
The Skeletones
Nomad Eel Records

The Skeletones
Bump
Nomad Eel Records
​
Secret Circuit
Cosmic Papers Complete 2xCS
Beats In Space

Various Artists
Godless America Mixtape Vol. 5
Godless America

Complainer
Pure Vanilla
Already Dead Tapes & Records

wingclipper
新緑 [Fresh Green]
Inhaling Brain Waves

Juiceboxxx
Never Surrender Forever
Dangerbird

Lily Konigsberg
4 Picture Tear
Ramp Local

Adventure Violence
Adventure Violence
Imaginator Records

ensemble, et al.
patterns & improvisations vol. 1
Imaginator Records

Jarvis Probes
Something About Hands
Wolves

White Denim
Performance
City Slang

Honey Hahs
Dear Someone, Happy Something
Burger Records / Rough Trade Records

Death From Above
Heads Up
Burger Records / Ancient Fashion

The Brat
Pledge Of Allegiance
Burger Records

Le Mans
Disco Related Injury Taped-Up
Rogun

Mythical Motors
Elevated Levels
self released

Hatchie
Sugar & Spice
Double Double Whammy

Frankie Cosmos
Zentrophy
Double Double Whammy

Disasterpeace
It Follows (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Milan Records

Celsius
C.01
Grotesque Requords

Traumascape
Viscera
Grotesque Requords

FEASTofFETUS
Meconium
Grotesque Requords

Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett & Freddy Boy Paraz
Native Grooves “Groove With The Natives”
Modern Ancient Production / Island Roots On Wax

Sun Ra
THE HELIOCENTRIC WORLDS OF SUN RA, VOL. 2
Personal Affair

MED, BLU & MADLIB
BAD NEIGHBOR
Bang Ya Head
Brian
Greatest Hits
Campers’ Rule Records

DJ BC
The Beastles – Ill Submarine
Beastles / Groove Dis

Amerigo Gazaway
Yasiin Gaye: The Departure
Soulmates / Groove Dis

Amerigo Gazaway
Yasiin Gaye: The Return
Soulmates / Groove Dis

Renard Blanc
Nuit
Sexy Sloth

LOSSES
Wildest Dreams
DIY

Mr. and the Mrs.
Space Trippin Visions/Ultra Violence
Self Release

Tyler Arnott
The Lawn
My Neighbors Hate Me

Metal Disco
Vade Mecum
Detonic Recordings

Mage Guy
Danger
Independent

The Sloppy Boys
Lifelong Vacation
Sludge People

capitle
why (1981-1986)
Cacophone Records

Ritz Carlton
Ritz Carlton
Cacophone Records​​​

The Virgin Tongues
The Virgin Tongues
Santa Rosa Records

Lychnis
Heaven’s Night
Santa Rosa Records

That Dog Was a Band Now
Stings Poetic
Santa Rosa Records

Polyan & The Johnson Sisters
Lonely Bologna
Santa Rosa Records

Jesse Gilmore
Dreamland
Santa Rosa Records

The Flaming Banshees
Satan is a Farmer
Santa Rosa Records

Brother Toaster
Chucky
Santa Rosa Records

Stray Owls
Billing Luna / Gravel Road Castle
Santa Rosa Records

Brandon Luedtke
Morning Light
Santa Rosa Records

Anthrax
For All Kings
Translation Loss Records

J TEMP 13
Cold – Revisited/#Penfield2 (split)
Jib Machine Records

Faux Furrs
Canopy
Dumpster Tapes

Deadly Friend
Bloody Ropes/Craig’s Retail Store – Single
GDR

Lyres
Some Lyres
TAANG

Dickies
Locked n Loaded
TAANG

Poison Idea
Blank Blackout vacant
TAANG

Promweather
For the Birds on Hermit’s Hill
Self Released

​SPILL GOLD
Spill Gold
BEACON SOUND

Acid Tongue
Ordinary People (EP)
Freakout Records

R. STEVIE MOORE
What’s Moore: Robert Steven Mortified
CREAM OVER MISERY

​Dot Hacker
Inhibition
ORG Music

Top 3 Reasons Why TapeCassettes.Com Was Created

If you found us we know, we can trust you. This website is the safe place for tapes!

This website was created to share information as well and provide resources for those who love cassettes on how to obtain,  use and enjoy them. There are three reasons the resurgence of tapes is vital for music history.

1. Preservation

There was a point that vinyl records were not made anymore. It was at the beginning of the time frame that cassettes were created. Of course with history, things are taken over by new products and the old become obsolete only to become relevant again. In some situation artist particularly in the hip-hop and independent rock would record content only available by tape. They may not have had enough funds or a record label signing to have an entire record press or even cd. Believe it or not, there was a time that CDs were unobtainable by some people. It’s essential to make sure we can preserve the tapes from being lost forever. Other people did some similar things like Hi How Are You’s musician Daniel Johnston. He is very well known for the fantastic cassettes he produced in his home. Wu-Tang Clan and Academy day Award-winning hip-hop group three6mafia also generated a ton of mixes which are very rare to find. If we lose these tapes as a music society, we sometimes have pieces of music history that are never heard again. Believe it or not, you can still find bands that create original recordings at their concerts allowing people to relive the moments.

2. Nostalgia

Nostalgia is a perfect reason to do anything. Memories are sometimes a tough thing to tap. You might remember the first time you bought a cassette tape. Perhaps you had your kid version of a tape cassette that you were able to use in

Nostalgia is a perfect reason to do anything. Memories are sometimes a tough thing to tap. You might remember the first time you bought a cassette tape. Perhaps you had your kid version of a tape cassette that you were able to use in

the car to jam to your tunes while your parents listened to that old people music.
It can give you a sense of understanding of people before you as well as something to appreciate for the technology you have now.

3. Quality

There is a rumor that started a while ago that the quality of cassettes is terrible. Before vinyl became cool again, there was a point that people said records were considered horrible. You may not realize this, but the way you listen to your analog (non-digital) music might be contributing to the sound quality you hear. If you are using a weak quality record player or cassette player, the sound you hear may be horrible. Sometimes if you listen to your digital music, you can notice that with dinky headphones the sound might be wrong. It’s not your digital device as all digital quality is some of the standards there is a high likelihood that it’s your headphones. If you have a good set of headphones or speakers with an excellent record player you may notice that the sound quality is excellent. It’s all a matter of the condition of the tape as well as the equipment and player you use.

The tape cassettes are coming back into relevance.


Top 3 Reasons Tape Cassettes Are Back

1. Guardians of the Galaxy

In 2014 the cult classic Marvel movie became the catalyst for the resurgence of tape cassettes. It takes an excellent film to create a pop culture movement. One of the primary objects and part of the storytelling was the central charge Star Lord’s tape cassette with Awesome Mix Tape Volume 1. When you have a fantastic character using something so quirky in outer space which create his only real connection to Earth it says a lot. This movie was one of the few that joined multiple generations from the ones who first heard of Guardians of the Galaxy to those who became exposed to it for the first time. When you try to explain to a kid what a tape cassette is you can now use the example of the movie and how the main character used it. Instantly the kids who saw the movie will ultimately understand as if it was something they grew up among.

2. Justin Bieber

There only seems to be people who hate Justin Bieber or those who love him. Regardless of your perspective on the musician, he has an impact on pop culture. In this instance, his contributions have caused a spark in sales in tape cassettes. Justin Bieber released Purpose on cassette tape.

It’s very hot right now, and in the trendy places around the world, people are buying cassette tapes quicker than ever. Ironically this cassette is super hard to find.

 

 

3. Vinyl Got Too Trendy

For some individuals who have been collecting for years, they are finding it harder and harder to find records at a good deal. Vinyl records are in high demand and there supply at times tends to cause an overabundance easily found items and a sparsity of highly sought items.

In some situations, collectors enjoy the search and hunt for finding good deals and treasure. The term crate digging was stemmed from the first digging for treasure. Sometimes you can find excellent deals however now with the way things are going it’s harder to see a diamond. Cassette tapes allow diggers to find still great music that is tangible and might be overlooked by the untrained eye.



Top 3 Questions To Ask Before Buying a Used Cassette

1. Has the tape cassette been tested?

Asking if a tape cassette was tested is a fundamental question to ask.

Unless you know it has been tested, you may be taking a considerable risk. Though it is very unlikely tapes may be blank after exposure to things that may strip the information off of it. They also might not be able to rewind or play forward. There is another possibility that the sound is distorted or muted.

2. Is the tape stretched?

If a tape is stretched this means that the tape is not going to sound the way it initially did. Sometimes this happens when the cassette is latched onto something and pulled. Other times it can be caused by being stuck in a tape deck then aggressively pulled out. With time the tape may become stretched out on its own from an extensive amount of usage.

3. Is the sponge in the cassette?

When you look at a cassette tape on the part where the tape is exposed, you may see a small sponge under the tape.

If you know this sponge, it is a great thing. Any tape cassette that does not have that sponge is virtually unusable. Even if the tape is tested and is claimed to work unless you see the sponge, it would be recommended to ask on the sponge condition

 

If you’d like to purchase tape cassettes from tapecassettes.com, please see our live eBay listings below. Our products have had the three questions already answered!