The Cassettes

Listen to Life Mixtape
Before their were Spotify playlists, before we could skip tracks, we had the highly portable, durable cassette tape.  (8-track's little brother.)  That's right kids, we used to listen to entire albums and wait patiently for our favorite songs, while getting to know the others through repeated listens.  Often after

many listens, we learned to like the rest of the album, too.  The "singles" drew you in.  This is why there are multiple songs from each of these albums in my perfect "Life Mixtape".  Here are the cassettes that I remember my brother and I owned when I was in Elementary school and Jr. High:


Billy Joel, An Innocent Man 1983

• Possibly our first cassette, and I think it was my brothers.  "Uptown Girl"

Wham!,  Make it Big 1984

A-ha,  Hunting High and Low, 1985

• I loved this album and played it over and over.  I distinctly remember my cousins: Doug and Chris talking about how this was amazing.  Then I decided I must have it.  "The Sun Always Shines on TV".

A-ha, Scoundrel Days, 1986

• I must've really liked A-ha because I also bought (acquired) their follow up.  When I was researching the date, I saw on their wikipedia page that they have come out with several albums over the years.  One as recently as two years ago.  I guess I have some catching up to do. "The Swing of Things"
• Really they have a ton of albums, check it out:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-ha#Discography

Genesis, Invisible Touch 1986

• I remember discovering this album on the radio and falling in love with the song "Land of Confusion".  Remembering the socially conscious message now makes me think this might have been my perfect 80's song.  But I am glad I bought the album.  So many great songs.  "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight."

Peter Gabriel,  So 1986

• "Peter Gabriel, why can't I listen to my favorite cassette of all times on Spotify, Why?!!"  "Sledgehammer" gives me a great joyful feeling every single time I hear it.  Definitely, one of my favorite songs.

Sting Nothing Like the Sun, 1987

• I have really enjoyed re-listening to this album.  As a kid, I never realized how little it had in common with almost all the other pop music I was listening to.  I just knew I liked it.  But now I am amazed at how much jazz and world music is interwoven throughout the album.  I think I put almost every song on my "Life Mixtape".