Music Cassettes
Music cassettes, like vinyl, are one of the formats in which music is released. All sorts of media can be found on a cassette from movie soundtracks to inspirational speeches. Cassettes are a well-known music format, and you can find an array of tapes to listen to whenever you want.
What are the various genres of cassette tapes?Music tapes are generally distinguished by genre, including:
- Pop
- Metal
- R&B/Soul
- Country
- Rock
There may be various things included with the tape itself. In many instances, you will get the case as well as the cassette. The tape might come directly from the label or may be a homemade tape that someone was able to record with a blank tape. Some of the cases will have the album artwork, which includes the cover as well as other details, such as:
- List of songs and sometimes lyrics
- Information about the musician or musicians
- Production notes
- Photos of the artist or artists
Cassettes only come in one size. However, that doesn't mean that all music tapes are the same. They might have a few different features, such as:
- Set: There might be more than one cassette tape included in the set either from a large playlist or because of multiple hits from one artist.
- Style of cassette: Different labels created unique looks for artists by using clear, white, and coloured cassettes. Some are even identified as being a special addition.
- Cover artwork: Some releases included posters, lyric books, and other items with the music itself.
Cassettes are two-sided. The most common format on a cassette tape is C-90, which is a total of 90 minutes, or 45 minutes per side. The number of songs will vary based on the length of the song as well as the amount of music that is released. Often, an album will be between 12 and 15 songs. Some cassette tapes are a C-120, which is 120 minutes total or an hour of music on each side. Music tapes will identify how many songs are on the tape. Further, some will list how long each song is so that you know the length ahead of time.
What can be bonus material on an audio tape?Some artists include high quality bonus material on music tapes. This information varies based on what the band wants to release:
- Discussions
- Interviews
- Bonus songs
- Outtakes