Long before the mp3, before the CD, before the cassette tape, there were 8-Tracks. It was meant to be a more portable version of reel-to-reel tape, which was popular with audiophiles of the era. I fondly remember my portable Panasonic 8-Track player and many of the 8-Track tapes I intentionally and, frequently accidentally, acquired through the Columbia Record and Tape Club. Accidentally, of course, when I forgot to mail back those damned cards. But that was just another way to discover new music, right? That’s my excuse and I’m owning it (only because I forgot to send back the card for the Weak Excuse of the Month Club).
Enjoy 8Track by Jim Boggia.
My older sister used to spend all of her time listening to 8Tracks.
She had a plastic Panasonic that she carried in her backpack.
Fresh as a Daisy was her favorite song.
She taught me the words and we’d sing along.
We always had a lot of fun listening to records on the 8Track.
Sometimes the way the music played it came out different on the 8Track.
They did a lot of crazy things to make the record fit the format.
They’d move the songs around to do the math.
Sometimes they’d even cut the songs in half.
But even so, the way my sister always listened was on 8Track.
And we’d sing: “Ooh la la la. Ooh la la la. Ooh la la la. Ooh la la la.”
We’d start it off on Program 1, then Program 2, then Program 3, then Program 4, and then it STOPPED!
PRESS FAST FORWARD!!!
I made this whole thing up, I was too young.
But still, it seems like it was lots of fun.
I know I missed out on a lot because I never had an 8Track.
(I don’t even have a sister.)
If you have a favorite song that features entertaining lyrics which you’d like to see featured as a Lyric of the Week, drop me a line in the comments (or email me at ed@suitcasefullofdimes.com) and tell me what you find special about the song.
