For this week's #cassunday we have an unusual compilation which features an underappreciated Strawberry Switchblade track.
One of the advantages of cassettes was that they were cheap to mass produce, and their light weight and small size made them cheap to post, too. In the 1980s New Musical Express occasionally made various artists compilation albums on cassette to sell at a knockdown price to readers. 🧵
For this #cassunday we've got a 1980s Strawberry Switchblade bootleg cassette, 'Right Between the Eyes'. Bootlegs were a brief illicit cassette industry from the early 1980s to the mid 1990s.
There had long been bootleg albums of live performances and unreleased material, but these were rare and expensive - the maker had to front a lot of money to get a load pressed, find a pressing plant that wouldn't report them to the authorities, and then find enough outlets without getting caught. 🧵
It's #cassunday, and this week we're not having to delve far into the past, instead we show that cassettes are alive and well in the modern era.
San Francisco indie outfit The Umbrellas released their five-song Maritime EP on cassette in 2019. It featured a cover of Dance, the very early Strawberry Switchblade song that evolved into Since Yesterday. This is a pretty niche choice, given that Dance has never been released anywhere, only recorded for a BBC radio session.
It's #cassunday! Here's The 12" Album, released in Japan in November 1985. As with the main album we posted last cassunday this is a Japanese release so came with packaging that looks lavish to the rest of the world. Despite the diminutive size of the format it has a foldout sheet of lyrics & info.
By 1985 it was common for singles to be released in both 7 & 12 inch formats, with the latter usually having an extended mix. A number of artists then made compilation albums of the extended mixes 🧵
It's #cassunday, & as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Strawberry Switchblade's album this week, here's the Japanese cassette.
Japanese releases were so lavish - the vinyl came with an OBI strip, booklet & poster. This cassette, despite the size restrictions, had a fold out leaflet of info & lyrics, & even a micro poster!
Loving the #cassunday hashtag on other platforms, hoping it catches on here too. Great to see celebration of the dinky plastic format.
Once tiny players with headphones came out in the early 1980s, the medium came into its own. You could take music with you anywhere you went.
Here's the UK cassette of Strawberry Switchblade's album from 1985.
#cassette #strawberryswitchblade #MusicCassette #compactcassette
Been thoroughly enjoying the Led Zep chat & general blues vibes with @cerysmatthews.bsky.social this morning - BB King track reminded me of summer ‘90, driving around in my mum’s Ford Fiesta, blasting these great comps from @acerecords.bsky.social. Thought they’d make good #cassunday selections!
#NowPlaying #TheSundayStarter #Cassunday What happens when you put water into your synthesizer? All proceeds from “Imagine a Dolphin…” by #TonyRolando go to #LamplightAVL to support Asheville area artists who were affected by Hurricane Helene. https://tonyrolando.bandcamp.com/album/imagine-a-dolphin
Sea Lemon - Stop at Nothing EP // Sharing as it's #cassunday today. Before collaborating with Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie on Crystals, Seattle's Natalie Lew released this short and sweet EP showcasing 5 phenomenal tracks.
last fm tags: #indiepop #dreampop #bedroompop
#NowPlaying For #TheSundayStarter and #Cassunday, “What for You Scream” by #PostSpring is a brand spanking new tape of poppy and upbeat chunes to greet today and hopefully many other days. https://worriedsongs.bandcamp.com/album/what-for-you-scream
#NowPlaying #TheSundayStarter Just in time for #Cassunday, it’s a new tape of ethereal and folded electronics from #Vertonen via #Grisaille in Germany. https://grisaille.bandcamp.com/album/recovery-and-return
#NowPlaying For #TheSundayStarter, #Cassunday, and the last day of summer, morning worship with this #Skyminds album from 2020.✌️https://skyminds.bandcamp.com/album/shapes-traces
#NowPlaying #TheSundayStarter The stereo is downstairs, but if I were able, for #Cassunday I’d be listening to this ethereal tape by #CalidoniaCounty from another time. https://barorecords.bandcamp.com/album/telegraph-canyon
#NowPlaying #TheSundayStarter The stereo is downstairs, but if I were able, for #Cassunday I’d be listening to this remixed and remastered 10th anniversary edition of “Ishi” by #MGeddesGengras from earlier this year. https://mgeddesgengras1.bandcamp.com/album/ishi-10th-anniversary-edition
#NowPlaying #Cassunday Unlike his contributions to #Incapacitants, #Hijokaidan, and #CCCC, “The Warm Garden” (1993) by #FumioKosakai (小堺文雄) is plaintive music for electronics, Casiotone, violin, and metal plate. Hand dubbed cassettes with professionally made J-card. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy_SE4U-uok
#NowPlaying For #Cassunday here’s a little something I got as a birthday present in high school, and despite being played incessantly, it has held up pretty well all these years. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4sfVCWR8nGJ0iZTaheuqSoZ2JC16JEBp
Where’s your #Cassunday picks, you cowards.
#NowPlaying It’s still #Cassunday here on the best coast and I’m enjoying this new #Skyminds album. https://innerislands.bandcamp.com/album/echoes-on-the-shore
