Best of Chum, Vol.1 (2009) Chum are from Cleveland, OH. The music is pretty heavy, kind of a 90’s noise/slacker style. They self-released a limited edition 8-Track (10 hand numbered) on their own label, a compilation of unreleased & live material.
Dan Witkoske – Munn Key (2004) An 8-track-only release of original electronic music by 8-track collector and musician Dan Witkoske, Munn Key features music that is melodic and at times repetitive, yet spiked with multi-layering effects and other assorted sounds. Very sophisticated electro-rock, with lots of cools sounds and tunes. It was produced using (and relied heavily on) analogue Open Reel tape decks with minimum digital editing. Read the entire press release for Munn KeyTo obtain a copy email Dan at: teac35@yahoo.com
The BosweLLs – Planet Nine Hum Radio Records (2002) Delightful R.E.M./dBs-derived chiming guitar pop from Little Rock. Well crafted and catchy, and just plain good! They produced this 8-track to coincide with the release of their CD on Hum Radio. They did a great job on the 8-track: nice label, and the songs are perfectly fitted to the tracks so there’s no fade-out in the middle of a song. There’s actually a bonus song on the tape that you don’t get on the CD, too!
Sister Someone – s/t Sister Someone – Pure Hit Zingers Notes from Eric, former band member: “We did 50-100 of each of these and they completely sold out. On the second album (officially called “Luvsilly” but we thought “Pure Hit Zingers” was more trackworthy (real word?), the lengths of tape I used were so radically different, that some people who bought them received unfinished demos of some songs that I had on hand at the time, just to make the track lengths even out, although the labels were all the same, and didn’t indicate as such.
IfIHadAHiFi – Ones and Zeroes – No Karma Recordings (2001) A dance/noise band from Neo-Tokyo, WI that attempts to embrace both outmoded and futuristic uses of technology and such (they’ve got a bunch of analog keyboards, new-type samplers, et cetera) so, when the album was ready (June 1, 2001), they hand-crafted an extremely limited edition 8-track, chucking on up to 45 minutes of extra material, depending on the length of the tapes they had lying around (the first few were on pristine, never-used tapes).
Simply Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad about the Loser’s Lounge Recorded live in NYC (2001) The Loser’s Lounge features a series of rock tribute acts, including some recent ones such as Todd Rundgren and Roxy Music. This was recorded live at Fez Under Time Cafe in New York City, and features highlights from the popular tribute series. www.loserslounge.com
The Melvins – Live at Slim’s – Inactive 8 Entertainment (2000) This one was sent to 8-Track Heaven by Matt Parrillo of Life is Abuse Records and is an official live 8-track by the world’s heaviest band, THE MELVINS. It was recorded live at Slims in San Francisco in 1999, and was released in a limited numbered edition of 100 copies. The band sold the first 50 on their 2000 “2 x 4” Tour. The tape became an instant collector’s item, selling on eBay and the like. The songs are mainly from the late 90’s MELVINS releases, with lots of great tunes from The Maggot, Stag, and Bootlicker. The 8-tracks vary in length, and depending how lucky you are, there are “bonus tracks” available on some tapes.
The Volares – The Night We Taught Ourselves to Sing Inactive 8 Entertainment (1998)
This band is headed by the infamous James “Big Bucks” Burnett of Dallas, TX. For the uninitiated, Mr. Bucks is one of the original movers and shakers of the pre-Internet 8-track scene. His store, 14 Records in Dallas, TX was immortalized in Russ Forster’s documentary So Wrong They’re Right. The album was put out in 1997; 20 custom 8 tracks were printed up, with labels put on various bulk-erased pink cart tapes. If the cover seems a little familiar in a nagging way, it isdue to the fact that the artist, Martin Sharp, also did the work on a 60’s number entitled Wheels of Fire, by a halfway decent power trio by the name of Cream. It is no gesture of mere empty flattery to my friend Bucks to say that this is one hell of a solid record. (Jimmy Page thinks so too, and has passed the compliment personally to Bucks).
Overdrive Date Master – Overdrive Date Master (1998)
Help Wanted Productions, Philadelphia, PA
This is a hoppin’ brew of guitars, synths, tape loops, theremins, drum machines, sax and even a monkey. Tracks 3 & 4 on each tape are live, and the selections vary from tape to tape: collect ’em all!
Andy Schneider – XX (1998) Journey West Records, Austin, TX
Andy Schneider is a solo performer from Austin, TX, whose instrument is a baritone guitar, or six-string bass. Andy invented the contraption while living in Boston. Like a guitar on steroids, the baritone shares most of the range of a standard guitar, with the added range of a bass guitar. In the truest DIY spirit, Andy has recorded, mixed and reproduced his own material. He’s released an 8-track version of his most recent album XX. Why? “My heroes were on 8-Track and I want to hear my music on 8-Track. Simple as that,” says Andy.
Surfin
‘ The Spillway Happy Hour Records HH-1964 (1996)
The four Ann Arbor, Michigan surf bands on this cart – The Prodigals, the Silencers, the Volcanos and Mondo Mod – are practitioners of the modern, clean-but-dramatic surf sound that still rings through California’s beach towns. The producer Jim Rees “produced the CD and insisted on a limited 8-track run so he could play it in his ’72 Buick.
Fudge – Supercalifudge-a-listic (1997)
VOID Records V8T-036 This release is a wildly inspired tape of cover songs done by the drummer for the Canadian group FUDGE. All the instruments are played by Lee Rosevere who does everything from a full-blown punk version of “Don’t Bring Me Down” to a late 70’s synth-pop take on the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 theme “Take Me Away (Ha Ha).”
The Evaporators – s/t (1996)
Tosk Recordings The amazing Tosk label out of Canada had this and 10 other titles available exclusively on 8-track back in the 90’s. The Evaporators are no-nonsense punk demons, and the packaging on their tape is swell.
The Savage Boys and Girls Club (1997?)
Savagetone 00197 This homebrew cart features two programs of hot suburban punk, reminiscent of late ’70s L.A. hardcore, mixed with a little inner city angst. They even do a tune by The Angry Samoans! Cool. Programs three and four on my copy are the ABBA tape that this was recorded over…they even give them credit! (P.S. the “Savage” stands for Savage, Md., the band’s home town, about 15 miles from Washington, DC).
The Wildbunch – An Evening With the Many Moods of The Wildbunch’s Greatest Hits . . .Tonight! (1996)
Uchu Cult Records Taking their cues from Outrageous-era Kim Fowley, Roky Erickson, the Frogs, and a gaggle of unmentionable 1980’s new-wave bands, this inaugural release from The Wildbunch is the first of Uchu Cult’s “Only-Available-On-8-Track” series. Opening the tape is The Panhandle Band, who contribute 3 ethereal numbers to the overall gig. Next up is a sprawling live set from The Wildbunch (on their second night of public existence, no less), capped off by five haunting acoustic numbers from Jackson Pounder. In all, 60 minutes of unique and dangerous rock’n’roll.
Malcolm Riviera – Rage Against the Malcolm (1996)
Loud Thud Records #17
This could also be titled “Malcolm Riviera’s Greatest Hits” — it’s a 60 minute compilation of tunes starting with Malcolm’s 1973 high school band playing “Inna-Gadda-da-Vida” and continuing through various 80s and 90s Washington, DC area bands (Gumball, Elevator, Wurm Baby, Grand Mal) along with some fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants solo projects.
Estrojet – She Played With Matches (1996)
Hip*Hug*Her Records, Baltimore, MD
This is one of two releases that Estrojet (formerly Womyn of Destruction) have on 8-track. She Played With Matches is seven songs “that rock, grind, and shake like a heady hell-bound trip in a plummeting, doorless elevator” according to the Baltimore City Paper. These tapes are recorded over “old” carts so that the original music pops up like a crusty old corpse when the Estrojet tunes run out at the end. A different surprise in every box!
Surface Noise – Copy Cat Suicide(1993)
Surface Noise, Taylor, MI
Not just a tape, but an “Exclusive Franchise Opportunity,” this wild patchwork of noise, samples and general confusion is spearheaded by a fellow known only as “235.” This release utilizes a new, unique and improbable approach to getting the band’s music heard – one that didn’t have to involve lawyers and record labels. The idea of marketing Surface Noise as a “Sonic Franchise” was hatched. The recording itself was for sale for $10 (cash only), featured astounding vinyl packaging gimmickry, and you were asked to listen to the tape once before destroying. Any further listening mandated the FURTHER commitment of starting your own Surface Noise franchise wherever you were.
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