National 8 Track Day – a day for those now antique cassette cartridges from the 1960’s to 1980’s. #EightTrackDay #8TrackDay
National 8 Track Day
8 Tracks (Stereo 8) came out around the 1960’s to the 1980’s time period. Then the compact cassette came out to take its place. This old way of listening to music day is held each year on April 11. I cannot find who started or created this day.
Other Names these cassette cartridges known as
- eight-track cartridge
- eight-track tape
- eight-track
- Quad-8
- Q8
- Stereo 8
The tape used was a magnetic tape. It used a form of reel to reel device for recording and playing. These 8 Tracks were created in 1964 by a consortium led by Bill Lear of Lear Jet Corporation. Plus the help of many other businesses including Ampex, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Motorola, and RCA Victor Records (RCA – Radio Corporation of America).
8 Track Facts
- First Karaoke Machine was an 8 Track Player
- In 1965, Ford first introduced players in its Mustang, Thunderbird and Lincoln models
- Each cassette held 4 programs (songs)
- Developed by a jet airplane manufacturer.
- Quarter of an inch thick magnetic tape
- Continuous Looped Feed
- Had Stereo Sound
- The first Stereo 8 cartridge was released in 1965, the same year the Beatles released “Help!” and “Rubber Soul.”
- A museum of 8-tracks in Dallas, TX
What are some other facts I can add?
Feel free to share in the comments!
First published April 11, 2018. Last updated or republished April 10, 2020.
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