Oh, Yez!
I amassed quite a number of cassettes in the 1980's. WCBS-FM (NY) the oldies station used to have a "top 20 countdown" from a specific 1950s/1960s year every Sunday. When I was at home I used to tape it, the commercials were spaced every 15 minutes so it was easy to edit them out. Sometimes they would do different months in the same year. Plus I made tapes from my oldies 45s to keep in the car. Great for long trips. In 1992 my '89 VW was stolen. It was found and refurbished like new. When I went to pick it up I saw my tapes were still there by some miracle! Popped one in: The
b@$tards had re-recorded RAP music on all of them!!! I cursed words I didn't even know I knew. Back to the stereo system and do the job all over again. It takes hours because you have to balance the sound on each one (some play louder or softer, some are mono or stereo, or some might be off an LP). What a chore. When my refurbished car was stolen AGAIN six months later, it didn't come back. Damn, recording all this stuff all over again for the third time. This project I was smart and duped them all on the dual-deck so I have backup copies. Also comes in handy when an oldies friend asks for a copy. Did the same with some disco tunes as well. I had a Kenwood tuner and deck, and a Gemini turntable (amazing that it was made here in NJ!). The Kenwood deck eventually died, so I replaced it immediately with a new JVC that I bought on Amazon, while they are still being MADE.
When I bought my new 2012 Ford Fusion I asked to have a cassette player in it. The salesman looked at me as if I had uttered a four-letter word. I told him "No cassette player=no sale". He found a Pioneer one that works a little awkward but sounds great. For whatever reason, the manufacturer specifically states that 120-min. tapes should NOT be played. No reason given, but it's a small inconvenience.
FWIW, I have a BIG library of 45s since my OM was a jukebox repairman for 40+ years. LPs not so much. I have a total of about a dozen CDs (mostly received as gifts from clueless friends). When I have my DVD player hooked up I'll listen to one or two, otherwise I'll play them on my GE clock radio if I'm housecleaning or ironing.
Contrary to popular belief, vinyl isn't final!