Reader EW recently mentioned his old mix tapes t'other day and it reminded me of making my own tapes back in the early Seventies on my rectangular cassette recorder, the ultimate tech of the day.
I taped from the radio using a mic set up in front of it. This way I recorded the Charts on a Sunday. I think they played the top 40 but I probably only taped the top twenty. Would that have fitted on a C60? I seem to recall having to turn the tape over at some point! How awkward and I bet you could hear it on the recording!
Did you record the pop charts onto cassettes readers? Anyone still got any?
Yes I did Woodsy, my index finger sore from keeping it ready on the Pause button, trying to cut the host out. Never quite succeeding, there was always an annoying millisec of eager dj babble at the end of every song. Until we had a female dj who was so funny that you could record the whole show, intros and all!
ReplyDeleteha ha, I like that Arto, eager dj babble! They didn't half prattle on!
DeleteRarely, but, yes
ReplyDeleteI used my Sony 3 in one which looks like a brief case. The top is twin speakers. Record player, twin tape deck and radio. It works off mains and batteries. I still have it, bought in 1976 in Colchester when I was in the 3RRF
ReplyDeleteThat Sony 3 sounds brilliant Khusru! Durable!
DeleteI missed out on the recording-the-top-40 rite of passage but I did record John Peel's shows. I'd then dub the best bits onto another cassette - some of the tracks he played weren't very easy to get hold of! I kept this up for over twenty years and I still have every one of those Best-Of compilations. Don't know whether I should be proud of that or embarrassed by it...
ReplyDeleteWow, JP eh Paul! Do you have by any chance any Sinister Cleaners or The Ukrainians sessions on your tapes if you can recall? A pal of mine was in those bands. Classic tapes you have there!
DeleteI seem to recall The Ukrainians covering The Smiths' 'Bigmouth Strikes Again' in their signature Eastern European style. Weren't they an off-shoot of The Wedding Present? And The Sinister Cleaners... I know the name but I'm not sure I ever heard them. Just googled them, though, and I think I need to check them out!
Deletedone of course,with embarrassing results like cut songs and DJ chatter :)) ew
ReplyDeletePersonal souvenirs from another epoch EW!
DeleteReligiously recorded everything on radio and TV when I got my first portable recorder in the 70's from Doctor Who to Tomorrow People and all the music shows. Last remaining tape I have is the Queen concert from the Rainbow in 74 which was on OGWT but nowadays its just hissing at me. Cheap tapes I guess lol. Good job it's all on Youtube now.
ReplyDeleteAmazing Mike! I wonder of you taped any Dr. Who audio's that the BBC got rid of?
DeleteIt was all Pertwee material as far as I can recall but the tapes are long gone now.
DeleteHi Woodsy,
ReplyDeleteI recorded on my cassette recorder, much like Arto, with my finger on the pause button. I recorded many of the top 40 shows on Armed Forces Radio, with Charlie Tuna the DJ. I was stationed in the interior of Alaska at the time, in the military. This was between late 78 and early 1981. Still have the cassettes, listened to them abut a year ago or so. Many of the songs have the first several seconds cut off as the recorder "booted up" after turning the pause off!
Jim David
Henderson NV
Jim they sound like classics! The late Seventies stuff will be great. You should offer copies to the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise people! they play mix tapes all the time in those movies! Great that you still have them!
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