Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

It's 1985...


Rich

Recommended Posts

2 hours ago, Barking Spiders said:

Ah the Matsui . I remember getting one for my 14th birthday and having to lug around a shedload of cassettes in my backpack.

That reminds me that I used to keep my Aiwa Walkman in an empty ice cream tub. It had enough space for around half a dozen tapes as well.

 

It would have been a couple of years or so earlier, probably 1982, that I took this on holiday to the south of France and it was quite handy on the beach. The main tape on the go at that time was Men at Work - Business As Usual, which had a bouncy holiday vibe. Great music to run along the beach to early in the morning. Happy Days 😎

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, Velarian said:

If I’m not mistaken, I think the C120s were made from thinner tape so they could fit more on the spool, which is why they frequently got chewed up. 

… which is why they were never allowed to go anywhere near a car radio/cassette player!

 

Cleaning tape heads was a near-religious experience for me. Cotton buds (not too fluffy, so reducing the minute chance of bits of fibre actually finding their way into the inner workings) and isopropyl alcohol. Press play, and then carefully clean each head with one end of the cotton bud, and then lightly clean/finish off with the other. Once done, onto the roller and tiny steel part that came into contact with the actual tape. Use the tape counter to ensure each part of the process was afforded equal time to get the job done properly.

The satisfaction when viewing the dirty cotton bud and seeing all the residue made the whole thing worth it!

 

My dad walked in on me once, and when I excitedly told him what I was doing and showed him the cotton bud evidence I genuinely think he would have preferred that I was out on the town taking drugs… 

  • Haha 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Old Man Riva said:

… which is why they were never allowed to go anywhere near a car radio/cassette player!

 

Cleaning tape heads was a near-religious experience for me. Cotton buds (not too fluffy, so reducing the minute chance of bits of fibre actually finding their way into the inner workings) and isopropyl alcohol. Press play, and then carefully clean each head with one end of the cotton bud, and then lightly clean/finish off with the other. Once done, onto the roller and tiny steel part that came into contact with the actual tape. Use the tape counter to ensure each part of the process was afforded equal time to get the job done properly.

The satisfaction when viewing the dirty cotton bud and seeing all the residue made the whole thing worth it!

 

My dad walked in on me once, and when I excitedly told him what I was doing and showed him the cotton bud evidence I genuinely think he would have preferred that I was out on the town taking drugs… 

Ah yes, a process I was also very familiar with. I remember going into a pharmacy and asking for a litre of isopropyl alcohol. I was questioned about what I was going to use it for. I explained is was for a 8-track, 1/4” Revox and a few cassette decks and they must have believed me because they let me have it in the end. 

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 13th July 1985 I had heard Queen for the very first time so on this day in 1985 I would have been getting on the bus with my mum and heading to the record shop to buy the next Queen album on my list.

 

My first album was Greatest Hits which I bought for £7.01 from Woolworths on my 10th birthday in 1985 before heading to the cinema. I can't remember what it was. I'm sure it was A View To A Kill but I could be wrong. Then after that I worked my way through their back catalogue from Queen all the way up to The Works which was the newest release at the time. They were £3.95 each if I remember rightly. At the time I was getting £11 a week doing a paper round so I bought an album and a copy of the Beano every week.

 

I still have them all but didn't look after them so I ended up having to buy the whole lot again a few years ago

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 08/09/2023 at 12:45, Paul S said:

Tears for Fears 'Songs From The Big Chair' and Dire Straits 'Brothers in Arms' for me.

That was me as well especially the Dire Straits, Oh and i had another tape that i  played to death  ,,, Phil Collins...No Jacket  Required in my MK2 VW Golf GTi.

Edited by Mickyk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 17/09/2023 at 11:37, snorkie635 said:

VW Golf Mk2 GTi - lubbly-jubbly! 🚗

Ah yes, the thinking man's 80s ride...

Unlike the boy racers in their escorts who used to scream through puddles trying to soak me as I strolled along listening to Ghostbusters on my Walkman (I was only 12 btw!)

I remember some tit trying it in a mini and the engine cut out, as they did 😂

Edited by miles'tone
12
  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very nice bassy tape system in a Mk1 Scirrocco (beautiful stubby little thing, shifted too) and at the time doing hotel lounge/club residency stuff. Twas all Al Jarreau, George Benson, Sting (Set Them Free...loved doing that one) and Quincy Jones....and playin a flippin grt heavy Mk1 Stingray which I eventually grew to loathe.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...