1977’s Book of Dreams was The Steve Miller Band’s 10th studio album, and arguably their most prolific release. 7 of the tracks would appear on the band’s Greatest Hits 1974 – 1978 album, which appeared just a year after Book hit record store shelves. The classic Jet Airliner is the obvious standout (or Jed & Lina, depending on who you ask), but Book also contains the party-favorite Jungle Love. In all, it’s no question, given the outrageous success, that this album would appear on multiple formats. Presented here is a newly acquired 8-track. Same track order as the vinyl release, save for Swingtown which is broken into two parts. No joke, The Steve Miller band hit it huge with Book of Dreams.
Category Archives: 8-track
Elvis Model 8
Another find from the recent online hunt is (yet) another Elvis Costello release. This time, This Year’s Model on 8-track. Now, I know we’d “recently” touched upon the vinyl version of this seminal album, but let’s be honest, is $12 too much to pay for an essential, recent obsession on an obsolete format? Well, clearly, the answer is an astounding no! Happy New Year, kids!
True 8 (Elvis)
So, and I’m sure this comes as no surprise, but when I get into something, say an artist, say, Elvis Costello, I get head over heels into them! This recent acquisition, on 8-track cassette is of Elvis Costello’s debut, 1977 album, My Aim is True. Lucky for us, the 8-track stereo hi-fi is in full, functioning order, so casual reading sessions on the living room couch will now sound even better, thanks to Declan Patrick MacManus and his late 70s classic.
Odessey 8
When this shy and elusive beauty popped up on eBay a few weeks ago, I jumped at the opportunity to welcome this seminal album to the ever-growing 8-track collection. Though the white whale is still the 8-track of The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society (I’ve been searching for close to five years!), The Zombies’ Odessey & Oracle is a very close second, and greatly deserving of this outdated, and warm-sounding format. This now brings the O&O total to 4x records, and 1x 8-track, for those keeping score (all one of me).
Tracked
Finally, and for the first time in our 8-track collecting history, the cartridges are organized. It feels good to know that Kiss, Led Zeppelin and John Lennon are neighbors… it’s, let’s say, comforting. The only trick now is to find an adjustable, and somewhat portable shelving unit to house some 140+ analog tapes.
The Passing of the 40’s, Volume IV
The Passing of the 40’s, the event, not the compilation album, must have been a riveting and ambitious affair. Big bands were still the big deal, and the seeds of rock n’ roll had just been planted. With big bands for the quaint, and jazz for the city folk, The Big Band Era Volume IV (The Passing of the 40’s) covered a lot of ground, and offered much to a wide range of listeners. As seen on TV, and neatly organized in the library.
Mocha Latte, or Zeppelin on 8-track?
No deals were to be had on Johnny Cash albums, but $3 for Led Zeppelin II on (working) 8-track? Don’t mind if I do! Also included in the 8-track haul were George Gershwin, Jim Croce, and The Kinks.
Only the Greatest
It’s a Greatest Hits kind of day over here at The Groove. The 8-track player is fired up and ready to churn some of the best technology 1974 had to offer. Janis, Jim, and Waylon are on display to offer up their Greatest Hits in pure, 8-track glory. The 8-track collection is rapidly growing… more to come on that in the coming days.
Happy National 8-Track Tape Day!
Yes, it’s a real thing. Look it up, fools! Also, happy National 8-track Tape Day!
Love, The Prudent Groove
8-Track Stack, Jack
The eventual overflow of media consumption often yields an entirely new media with which to consume. 8-tracks aren’t new around these parts, we’re just finally starting to get serious about them. With any collection, the bar is set, achieved, then moved. This endless cycle continues without rest or hesitation. The current bar is The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society, an 8-track only two people in the online community own. Both have refused my offers to purchase this holy grail of magnetic tape sound recording technology, so this dimly lit search trudges on.
Special thanks to my folks for nabbing up $0.25 8-tracks on their many thrift store adventures.
GR-8-Tracks
Hunting for elusive and quintessential records while at the same time tracking down (see what I did there) casual listening and essential 8-tracks is a bit of a full time job. Lucky for me, my folks support and encourage this practice, and gobble up each and every much needed 8-track they can find. Perfect example, this double 8-track comp by the Beatles titled, 1967 – 1970 from 1973. They were presented to us just the other day, and by the sounds of it, were nabbed for a cool $0.50. Thanks, M & D for the mounding stash of GR-8-tracks, for the constant support, and for turning me on to The Beatles!
TJ&tS 8-Trk
“Greatest hits albums are for housewives, and little girls.” – Bruce McCulloch
The Stereophonic Sound of Benny Goodman
Interesting slight of hand with this vintage 8-track. I’m curious to find out if Benny Goodman actually appears on this Big Band Series / Collector’s Edition, or if it’s just a collection by those who list him on their resume. Either way, we can’t wait to plug in this beast on our next Throwback Thursday. (Please note that tomorrow’s Throwback Thursday has been postponed due to previous obligations.)
Cards & Analog Entertainment
Tonight’s rendezvous with social abnormality was Gin Rummy and the Beatles’ self-titled release on 8-track. What I lost in strategy, I gained in audio entertainment, and solid company. It’s all about the random Tuesday evenings in front of a lifeless television listening to vintage mediums and playing card games made famous by our grandparents… or, at least, it damn well should be.
Part 2
I was all excited to post about my favorite Beatles album on an obscure and improbable medium… until I test them out. Part 1 works like a champ, but Part 2 done do shit! I contacted the seller and he suggested that the tape may have flipped over… not at all sure what this means. Anyway, White Album party will have to wait for the damn Part 2 to get its shit together.
8-Bites of Jaws
A new addition to this year’s Jaws Day celebration, this bass-heavy, rhythmically comforting 8-track served as both a conversation starter, and an outstanding source for interlude ambience. Bruce at his finest, thanks to John Williams.
8-Tracks of Glorious, Discontinued Sound
I set out to acquire the Jaws soundtrack on 8-Track for the upcoming annual Jaws Day (July 3rd, don’t forget), and I ended up with a dirt cheap, fully functioning set of the following, all on glorious 8-Track: Jaws (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Star Wars (The Original Soundtrack from the 20th Century-Fox Film), and this copy of Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back. All in (just about) perfect working condition. I never thought I’d enjoy the romantic static and bass-heavy warmth of 8-Track sound as much as I do… makes me glad I keep the player in the living room. My SO on the other hand…
The Great Lost Kinks Cartridge
We touched upon the unauthorized “collateral” vinyl version a few years back, but I just got my grubby mitts on an 8-track copy of the 1973 lawsuit-inspiring classic comp, The Great Lost Kinks Album. Featured here are both the cartridge and the original sleeve (which is essentially the same sticker used for the tape, covering a generic black cardboard sleeve). I need to get an 8-track cleaner to fully enjoy this historic little gem, but my 8-track obsessed mind can gleefully cross off yet another Kinks Stereo 8. Next on the coveted list of “must haves” is 1971’s Muswell Hillbillies, arguably my favorite Kinks package. The Prudent Groove… collecting obsolete and sub-par music formats since 2013, and not second guessing a minute of it.
The Prudent Groove 