8-Track Memories

Walls: Okay, this came up in my office at lunch and wanted to throw it out to you all. This probably won't apply to those under the age of 30, but I'll give it a shot anyway. Did you ever own an 8-track player? If so, what 8-tracks did you own? My answer: Yes, my first stereo had an 8-track. I owned the Doobie Brothers, Boston, and Christopher Cross 8-tracks.

Brown: The first device I ever owned for playing music was a clock radio with an 8-track player. Take a gander at this eclectic list of artists whose work I owned on that glorious format: The Oak Ridge Boys, Earth Wind and Fire, Steve Miller, Chuck Mangione, the Grease and Rocky III soundtracks, and a couple of K-Tel compilations. Curtice: I never owned one, but my my dad had one installed in his piece of shit Chevy Monza after my parents divorced. I remember he had a few 8-tracks, The Commodores, Bob Seger, and Diana Ross. I'll never forget buying KISS Dynasty just to play in his car and the very first time I put it in, it was eaten. My dad said his player had good taste. Orcutt: Guilty – I had the Grease soundtrack on 8-track too. I also had a copy of Yessongs that I found by the side of the road. Webb: Yup. Proud owner of Aerosmith, Foreigner, Journey and more. Worst of all, I used to tape stuff from the radio on mine. I've got a great "bootleg" performance of Aerosmith live at veterans memorial in Columbus, OH. From their drugged out period. Think it's worth anything? Brendon: I did have an 8-track player and my brother even had one in his car. I know that we numerous tapes around the house (my mother had a collection that included Nat "King" Cole (good) and Englebert Humperdink (bad) but the ones that I remember having were Boston, April Wine, and a compilation that had The Baby's "Isn't It Time" and Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear The Reaper" on it. Spinney: I'm happy to report that I never owned one. I think we had an 8-track player that didn't work that was part of a 2nd (or 3rd) hand stereo turntable combo, and a few tapes in the house (probably Kenny Rogers), but I never owned one personally. I will admit, however, that I was extremely envious of the folks I knew who had one. There were times on the track bus going to and from a meet when someone would pop Lynyrd Skynyrd into the portable 8-track deck and everyone would start rocking out to 'Freebird,' or 'Gimme three steps' and I'd wish I were so cool as to have the equipment. But I grew to loathe LS after hearing them an nauseam on school buses.