TBT: Ode to the 8-Track Player

In the 60's and 70's, just about every household had one.

8-track players boomed in popularity in the 60's when auto makers started putting them in cars. People were now able to listen to their favorite albums while driving.

Unlike record albums, you didn't have to get up and change sides, as 8-tracks played continuosly. But that had it's drawbacks.

Unlike records, you couldn't just drop the needle to hear your favorite song. The 8-track would also start at the same place you stopped playing it the first time, so it was a bit difficult to listen to a particular song.

That's why when the cassette tape came along, it signaled the immediate end of the popularityof the 8-track.

But for many of us, it was our introduction into the world of playing our favorite music, when and where we wanted.

It's still hard to fathom that these days, that is what our phones are for.