Remember Cassettes?

Remember cassettes?...Or more specifically remember mix-tapes? I didn't have much music as a young child...not that I didn't listen to it, Mom and Dad of course had cassettes and eventually CD's but I was pretty much stuck with whatever was in the house...I must add we didn't have cable so I wasn't exposed to "popular" music almost at all until age 11. 

My first introduction to music other than that of the inherited variety was through a great childhood friend Chris Brasfield. He had an impressive set-up in his bedroom...a portable black and white television AND a Hi-Fi. Boy was I envious. Any who back to the crux of my story: Chris copied for me two albums when I was around 9. Ace of Base's "Happy Nation" and The Animaniac's soundtrack. But Chris's aforementioned Hi-Fi also had....drum role please.....a microphone! 

So I'm given these tapes, run home pop 'em into the cassette player with giddy anticipation that night and who's voice do I hear? Chris's of course...Introducing the first song...saying he thinks i'll like it, Young and Proud in particular was one of his favorites too I seem to recall.  Lying there in the dark I was surprised and impressed in equal measure! I used to love listening to those. The running commentary made it all the more special....back then of course music piracy meant some kid in a pirate costume had stolen your Walkman! 

BTW the cassette above is the original mentioned in the post, dating back to 1993, I stumbled across it the last day in the studio.