The following is a sampling of mail received here in the 8-Track Heaven mail room. Thought you might enjoy reading some of it. We'll continue to add new mail to the page as time and space allows.
bartFrom: Lenniebone**NOSPAMaol.com
Date: Sun, 28 May 2000
Subject: I LOVE your site!!!!
I recently stopped by a vintage store that was going out of business and howled when I saw
a Sears, bright-blue, portable, mono 8-track player still in working order. I mean, how
70's can you get? I bought the player and 50 tapes for 50 bucks. While listening to my
Ambrosia tape, I was filled with the joy and innocence of my days in junior high. I can't
believe some losers take your site so seriously. It's clearly meant to be fun, informative
and nostalgic. I am a Senior Music Director for a large music company and have access to
any format of music and songs in the universe, and just like spandex bicycle shorts on fat
men, the 8-track was clearly a low point in history. But anyone who thinks I bought it for
sound quality instead of the fun factor has their head up their ass and probably are awful
in bed!Keep up the great work. The guys at work are going to die when they walk into my
office and hear Aretha playing on my shiny new 8-track.
BONES
John Belt <johnlbelt**NOSPAMearthlink.net>
To: malco**8trackheaven
Subject: You and 8-tracks
I am the owner of a couple of vintage cars that use 8-tracks. I got interested in that and
bought an 8-track player/recorder for my work shop and began buying tapes. As I
encountered problems I developed many questions. By good fortune I came upon your
8trackeaven site. Wow. All of my questions answered and questions I hadn't thought of as
well. And I truly admire your devotion to your friend Abigail - we should all have friends
like that, and like you. Thanks.
John
From: Joe Nechanicky HonestMan**NOSPAMll.net
Glad to see people supporting the 8 track format. Sometimes to make things work right when using the 8 track system, it takes a little patience, a few home made parts few adjustments. The rewards are big when it comes to self satisfaction of knowing you can make it all work. A properly adjusted deck and quality tapes will give excellent sound. If you are a user of the 8 Track format, be proud of the fact. So many uninformed people down talk the tapes and equipment, and others call them selves " Eight Track Nuts" to describe their interest in the format. We are not nuts, we are collectors. I admire anyone who has specialized interests in preserving older technology. There are people who collect and restore old Radios, Organs, Musical instruments, Slot Cars, Model Railroad things, Jukeboxes and endless other items that have a personal interest to them. I am glad to see the interest in 8 track tapes and the preservation of the format. This coming forward and being open of the fact is long over due. We all need to be proud we are here doing what we are doing. I for one appreciate the Eight Track Heaven Web site, it has provided me and countless others with resources and the inspiration to redevelop interests in the format. Informational, helpful, excellent links, many provided by other users of the site. This website is a real asset to those of us relying on a central source of support for the format. The Eight Track format needs to be preserved, it was the original mobile auto sound format. Any one who was the first on their block to install an 8 track system in their car knows what a change that was from relying on the AM radio. Thanks again Malcolm, and all the others who help create the site, and maintain it. I visit the site often.I am happy to see its user numbers growing each and every day. Audio formats will continue to change, thats for certain, but just because the retailers pull old technology off the shelf because there is more money to be made with something new, is no reason we need to stop using the old.
From: Richard Calvert [richardcalvert**NOSPAMyahoo.co.uk]
Subject: What is wrong with some people?
I was reading your hate mail and wondering what was wrong with those people. Can they not just accept that some people want to stick out from the crowd and use such a boring medium as the audio cassette. And the quality is very good for mid 70's, if 8 tracks were given the time to develop then they would probally sound better than cassettes. If they have heard a good recording of an 8 track on a decent deck then they would realise the possibilities of the 8 track.
Thank you for letting me get that off my chest.
Thanks
Richard, Lancashire.
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000
Subject:cds vs. lps and 8 tracks
From: agent juno <agent_2000**NOSPAMjuno.com>
it is amazing how blind the public is how they believe what corporate america sells them. when cds first came up in circa 1987-1988, they sounded terrible they were sounded flat and had no bass and i have an expensive system over $2000. the industry advertised to the public that cds were the greatest thing even sony still says it "nothing beats the sound of a compact didsk" LOL.i hate cds, my records played on a $200 combination unit of the 70`s sounded better than the same compact disks played on my $2000.00+ system of today!!! even purchasing expensive GOLD compact disks sounded allittle better than aluminum but not much.I even proved it.i played a vynl record and then played the equivelent on GOLD cd (mobile fidelity sound lab issue of U2) and i couldnt tell the difference, the $5.99 record sound as good if not better than the $29.99 >gold cd. CD`s might be loud, but the bass and warmth of music just cant be captured on a cd. mobile fidelity is now out of bussiness. and the corporations will do it again any year now with dvd and attempt to get the public to again re buy thier music on a new format.Why did the industry waste our time with cds in the first place,cause vynl is heavy and they didnt want to pay the shipping cost..
From: thirn**NOSPAMbright.net
Subject: Thank you!
Just had to thank you for the trip down nostalgia lane! I have an 8track player in my garage that I listen to while I work on my street rod. My kids just shake their heads but enjoy Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath etc. that boom out from it. I found a couple of tape cases and scrounged up a real nice unit and hooked it into my stereo along with the CD player and cassette deck.( I have no LP's or I'd have a record player, too!) There's a lot of people in car clubs that have 8track players in their rods to add to the effect and it just helps preserve history. Unlike the braindeads that send the hate mail to your site, some people understand the value of this little piece of history.
Keep up the good work and thanks!
Ted Hirn
tmhirn**hotmail.com
From: steiny**NOSPAMihug.co.nz
Subject: ref 8 Track audio..
TO all those "naff chookta`s" out there who still appear to go thru` life
with thier heads jammed up thier arses, think about this,,,
1. early compact cassettes quality was ,at best,rat sh*t.
2. 8track had the majic of 4 sep chan`s.
3. you don`t know what you missed,,,,,
4. I concede that rapid tape wear was a real problem (only real fault)in those days of
early car audio/stereo. I went out to the garage and found my ole 8 track, it is a "
SKANDIA 4ch-8track" car stereo that poss still operates !!! I also have an AKAI 4ch
8tr home system..I think that it still works...
PS -- A "naff chookta " is Scottish fer,,, < a booring wanker> or very similar to that... Gotta go,so chatagain soon.
cheers from Phillip in New Zealand..
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000
Subject: Thank you
As a 8-track collector from Holland I just want to thank you for being out there. Your website is great. I own a Ford Mustang fastback 1968 and it was very hard to get some old music in the original 8track player inside the car. Thanks to you it's only period tunes in this baby right now. It gives the right atmosphere. I also own a Hitachi D135 8 track deck which is integrated in my stereoset at home. I play more 8track tapes than CD's. My wife and collegaes think I'm crazy, but looking at your side.....I'm not the only one.
Keep up the good work
Peter Boekweg
Westerbroek The Netherlands
boekweg**NOSPAMfreeler.nl
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 22:28:58 -0500 (EST)
Subject: AMPEX and GRT 8-Track Tapes
Dear 8-Track Heaven: It was back in 1983 that 8-Track Tapes were completely gone from most record stores around that time. I live in Sanford, Michigan not too far from Midland, Michigan. I am 34 years old. I can remember having my Sears 8-Track tape machine. Who can ever forget those GRT Tapes in light blue color. Not to mention the AMPEX Stereo Tapes from the early 70's. When I played David Cassidy's "Rock Me Baby" on an AMPEX Tape from 1972, it sounded like someone cut the cheese because it had these farting noises on the 8-Track. My older brother had those tapes from way back. He also bought Isaac Hayes "Shaft" Soundtrack on a AMPEX tape that also had those noises as well. It was 17:10 minutes in length on all 4 channels. Not to mention about the warning: Due to time limitations there is some minutes that are silence. Well, I have to go! Matt
Feb. 15, 2000
From: Baybeegrl**NOSPAMaol.com
Subject: 8 tracks
......I have some old 8 tracks, but not because of their music quality <which sucked, by the way>, I keep them because of their emotional value. I keep them because it brings me back to the days of listening to KISS, and KISS ALIVE. it's a sentimental thing, that's all. BTW, my 8 track player still works, too!
Amber
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