Polycarbonate 1, Vinyl 0.
25 years ago today, the first Compact Discs rolled off the assembly line, changing the way music has been listened to, forever.
Yes, the stupid hinges on the jewel cases break. Yes, they do scratch (not nearly as often or as easily as the old LPs did, though).
But repeatable, digital-quality music that allowed one to listen to individual tracks without hving to cue up the tape or carefully select a groove was suddenly possible.
I didn't buy my first CD player (it was a used Sony DiscMan) until 1991 or 1992, IIRC. The first disc I bought was The Best Of Van Morrison.
I suddenly feel very old.
Labels: entertainment, History, music
posted by Matt G @ 12:12 PM
13 Comments:
Wow, you were really behind the technology curve! *grin*
Axxtually, I got my first CD player in 2000. My boss sent me to find something on which to play a cassette tape at a cop gathering. I ran into a friendly pawnbroker's shop and told him what I needed. He loaned me an off-brand boom box with radio, two tape drives and CD player. When I returned it later, I asked what he wanted for it and he told me ten bucks, so I bought it.
Wow. Deja Vu. I remember the first CD device I ever saw- a freakin' huge Sony CD player component that was as large as the old Kenwood DC amp I had (and still have). Play, stop, skip, but no shuffle. Weighed about 25 pounds and retailed for $1299. The sales weasel told me if I was interested he could let me have it 'right now' for an even grand.
I passed, as I'd been stung by Betamax already that year.
I find the Brand X portable models at Mart-type stores work every bit as well, have plenty of features, and cost about $15. That old Kenwood can't tell the difference and neither would I.
Besides, if I'm in the den, I just play audio CD's through the DVD player hooked to the surround sound- all of which, plus the big screen, cost less than the ask on that old Sony.
We're due for another format change any day now anyway. I'd just be screwed again if I had a huge CD collection.
Regards,
Rabbit.
YOU feel old? Remember 8-tracks?
I didn't get my first CD player until, like, 1994 when I had a CD head unit installed in my '79 280ZX.
babs,
I actually bought an old Dodge Coronet in the late '80s that came with an 8-track player. It had a glovebox full of cool old 8-tracks, so I left it alone. :)
I bought new cars with factory 8-track players.
Dad bought an RCA-Victor cassette tape recorder when I was born. Of course, the cassettes were the the size of standard letter paper.
http://www.archive.org/details/Revoluti1958
Regards,
Rabbit.
"YOU feel old? Remember 8-tracks?"
Hell, I remember the old 4-track players in cars. We thought it was cool when they came out with 8-tracks.
I had a personal cassette player for a birthday once, it was about as big as a shoe box.
I think the first cd I bought was Billion Dollar Babies. The cd box wasn't near as cool as the full size album cover
I remember an old reel to reel tape recorder my father had. It may have been a wolerine-it came in a hard shell case that resemble a suitcase and only the top cover could be removed.
We used to record family jam sessions, wish I had those recordings now. They could be remastered and burned to a CD or some other electronic format.
My 69 dodge charger came with just a radio. haAbout 15 years ago I upgraded to a cassette player radio. And my 67 dodge polara has a horrible radio...everytime you accelerate the pitch of the hum raises. It sounds like a spaceship.
Ah, the memories. The first cd I bought was Bucky Fellini by the Dead Milkmen in 1987.
Matt,
you aren't old unless you remember the Beatles... Bread. David Bowie and Alice Cooper.
"Matt,
you aren't old unless you remember the Beatles... Bread. David Bowie and Alice Cooper."
I remember when Buddy Holly died, what does that make me? LOL
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