A Classic Throwback : 8 Tracks

The 8 Track

Do you remember those thick, rectangular, plastic things that played music called 8 tracks?  Or the horn shaped phonograph? If not, here’s a look at the gadgets that were used to play tunes before CDs, MP3s (and maybe you) were born.

Believe it or not, the first recorded sound was captured as early as the 9^th century. It’s safe to say that a lot of practice has been put in for you to have the iPod that you listen to today. The first recordable devices were programmed music instruments, like those cool automatic piano players still seen today.

Then, along came the phonautograph, and the phonograph cylinder of the late 19^thcentury, which you might recognize from history class. The phonograph, which recorded music on wax cylinders, was invented by Thomas Edison and became the first recording device to sell millions worldwide.  Think of Edison’s viral sales success as a precursor to Michael Jackson’s success as the first artist to sell over one million downloads in a week.

Speaking of downloads, what was life like before being able to instantly save a song to a computer? Enter the LP, or vinyl microgroove album of the 1950s and ‘60s. Earlier versions of this album were made of plastics or shellac, but the vinyl was made up of—well, vinyl. Vinyl albums proved to be less fragile and had a better sound quality.

To spare you from the Music Composition 101 lesson, let’s just say that an album was recorded or “stamped” with tiny groves that would produce rhythmic sound when played back. Playback is created when a needle is placed on the rotating album’s surface. A needle scratching across the surface might make a cool sound, but it is about as damaging as a scratched CD or broken cassette tape.

The compact cassette premiered in the 1940, but didn’t become popular until a few decades later. Instead, 8-track tapes of the ‘70s dominated Trans Ams and El Dorados across the nation. Though portable and cheap, the 8-track was short-lived in comparison to most audio devices because of the low-quality sound and the mechanics of the tape, which caused it to easily overheat and get stuck inside the player.

Ten years later, cassette tapes became the standard device for listening music. Cassettes conveniently allowed for recording, and could also be erased and re-recorded. It was during this time that mixtapes became a popular way to create a personal playlist of songs. The double spools of metallic tape encased in a plastic cover were tough enough to endure dust, shocks and heat. The tape itself, however, wasn’t sturdy enough to withstand the emergence of digital recording.

MiniDiscs, and later compact discs, offered higher digital storage­. For the first time, music owners could adjust the sound quality to their own personal tastes. Compared to Edison’s million, CD sales peaked in the hundreds of billions during the millennium, over one hundred years later. The plastic, aluminum-lined discs operate similar to vinyl albums, but with a faster rotation and with a laser instead of a needle. CD rot, or deterioration that causes the dreaded skip or an unreadable disc , made music listeners anxious for a more durable format.

Currently, digital audio players–better known as MP3 players–have eliminated the need to insert an outside playback device. Instead, music is downloaded directly from one device (usually a computer) into the player’s memory. The low price and ease of access of MP3s has caused such milestones for artists like Eminem, who was the first artist to sell over one-million digital copies of an album earlier this year.

Despite the ever-changing format of audio playback, one thing remains the same; it will always be referenced as an “album”. For years, artists and fans alike have called new music releases “albums”.  Album will always be the globally-known word for music. If you have never seen a 8 track ask your pops or your cool uncle im sure they still have a couple.  by Ghost Dogg