Can You Guess What Old School Technology is Making a Comeback?

Man holds three cassette tapes, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Volumes 1 and 2, and Joan Jett and the Blackheart's I Love Rock and Roll.

A man holds three cassette tapes, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits Volumes 1 and 2, and Joan Jett and the Blackheart’s I Love Rock and Roll.

Credit: J.Katz

eLL Cool J said, “Don’t call it a comeback, I been here for years.” Where have I heard that before? It’s the Grammy-winning title track from his 1990 album, “Mama Said Knock You Out.” Back then, That album was released and available on cassette. Also originally released on cassette were “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” by Celine Dion, and “If I Could Turn Back Time” by Cher.

What is a Cassette Tape?

If you’re not familiar with what a cassette tape is, allow me to explain the best I can. Most popular in the 1980’s, a cassette is used in audio recording. It’s a small rectangular plastic case with a spool of recordable tape inside. You can record or play music or any type of audio with it. You’ll need a cassette player to do so. Before the introduction of the compact disc, it was the best way to take your music with you. No skips, just like the mp3.

They were much more popular before the invention of the CD. I had hundreds of them because they were the recordable portable music media that was available at the time. There were very few pre-recorded cassettes because I preferred vinyl. I would record my vinyl records onto cassettes to use on the go. This way if something happened to the cassette, then I had the album to re-record and replace it. Blank, recordable cassettes were much less expensive than pre-recorded music copies.

My kids were interested in it and used them for a while. Old technology seems to intrigue younger generations such as cassettes, polaroid cameras, and vinyl records.

Calling it a Comeback

According to the New York Public Library website, “The cassette tape has made a comeback in recent years.” It points out how many musicians are taking advantage of the resurgence and releasing their music on cassette.

The Taylor Effect

Billboard.com recently reported the best-selling cassettes from 2023. You guessed it, Taylor Swift is dominating in that category too. Two of her re-recorded albums, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) are in the top five and sold over 29,000 cassette copies.

However, the other top five spots, including the number one spot, belong to the Guardians Of The Galaxy soundtracks. Volumes 1-3 have sold close to 50,000 copies.

This resurgence has been preceded by a cassette popularity surge in Japan. Three years ago, vice.com reported that “tapes are making their way out of the storage unit and into the spotlight. Packs of 10 are selling for over 158,700 Japanese yen ($1,517).” Many musicians are adopting the format to accommodate the demand.

Ed Sheeran’s 10 Best Lyrics That Warm (Or Break) Your Heart

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran knows how to make some of the saddest lines upbeat. His lyricism is top-tier, accompanied by his acoustic guitar and infectious pop melodies, and the Brit often strikes musical gold. Born Edward Christopher Sheeran on February 17, 1991, in England, he developed an interest in music at a very young age. He sang at a local church choir at the age of four. As we previously reported, Sheeran developed a stutter after undergoing surgery to remove a birthmark in his early years. He was gifted Eminem's The Marshall Mathers album as a kid by his uncle. The album helped him to grow out of it. When he was nine, his uncle told his dad his nephew would be "the next Bob Dylan." After learning the 2000 record and "rapping it back, to back, to back, to back," it cured his stutter.

Sheeran's Rise To Stardom

Gaining more confidence, Sheeran learned how to play the guitar and started writing songs when he was eleven. Two years later, at thirteen, Sheeran began recording music. He independently released his first collection of work, titled Spinning Man. In 2008, he moved to London, playing music in small venues and on the street. That same year, he auditioned for the ITV series Britannia High. Since the show's producers were looking for triple threats, Sheeran's dance skills proved to be highly uncoordinated, so he got cut. He wasn't too torn up about it, able to admit that everyone auditioning really wanted to be cast.

He released another EP in 2009, titled You Need Me. He and fellow English singer Leddra Chapman recorded covers with each other often, including CeeLo Green's "F--- You." In 2010, Sheeran released his critically acclaimed Loose Change EP, which featured his future debut single, "The A-Team."

With seven studio albums below his belt, see which of our favorite Ed Sheeran songs warms (or breaks) our hearts.

10. Drunk

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From Ed's 2011 '+ (Plus)' album, he cleverly sings, "On cold days cold plays out like the band's name. I know I can't heal things with a handshake." The singer-songwriter than admits he knows what he can change, but he's been cut wide open like a landscape. The lines, "Open bottles of beer but never champagne, to applaud you with the sound that my hands make," he chooses beer over champagne, which is used to celebrate something.

9. The A Team

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The worst things in life come free to us / 'Cause we're just under the upper hand / And go mad for a couple grams