Author: Mike Seay

Cassette Store Week [UK] Is Coming!

Mike Seay 1 Comment


Just after my moaning during Record Store Day about there being no day for cassette nerds comes Cassette Store Week [UK].

It will be from the 14th through to the 20th of October. If you want more info and if you’re a band or a label that wants to be featured or take part, they have a signup form on their page, look at it here.

While it is in the UK, I haven’t seen anything saying they won’t feature American labels or bands.

We gotta remember this in October because it looks cool. Hopefully one of us in North America can pull off a Cassette Store Week or day of some sort too. Happy to pump up UK’s though.

Of interest. the people helping this happen, Disc Phalanx, also produces tapes you may want to have a look at.

Tape Finds: Larkin Poe “Blood Harmony” On Cassette

Mike Seay

The almighty Instagram algorithm found a new-to-me (even though they are Grammy winners) folk rock band, Larkin Poe. Very nice stuff, enjoying it. So of course things get around to me asking “Does Larkin Poe have any cassette tapes?”

Turns out they have two. Two of the same album, Blood Harmony:

Two because the band (also sisters Rebecca & Megan) made a cassette tape for each sister. Very funny and rad. There is a Rebecca J-card and a Megan J-card.


I only feel bad for the sister that has the lesser-selling tape.

Cassette Releases for Record Store Day – April 20th 2024

Mike Seay 2 Comments

It is a long list this time out for Record Store Day. I went through and pulled out all the tapes you might be able to find if you are out looking on Saturday. Have a seat and brace yourself…

End of list.

Yep, one cassette that is buried inside a box set. One. You can look for yourself, good luck finding something.

At least that is all that I saw as I went through the list. If you are an indie cassette label or band releasing a tape for Record Store Day, please let me know.

And yes, I know it’s RECORD Store Day and not Cassette Store Day. But there is no such thing as Cassette Store Day, even though there should be (maybe you and I should start it). So we need to glam-onto RSD.

Really though, the term Record Store, in this kind of context means a store that sells music. So it doesn’t have to be vinyl. It’s all music formats. Why are the cassette releases so weak?

I am probably missing something. Somebody has gotta be doing something for RSD in the cassette community that I am not aware of. If so, please clue me in.

thetapeplayerblog[@]gmail.com or leave a comment and let me/us know.

Anway, enjoy some Black Breath at least:

-Mike The Tape Player

Ambient and Electronic Tapes: Temporal Waves

Mike Seay


I was pleasantly surprised to receive new music from People Places Records in the mail the other day. They gave me the tape of Shawn Mativelsky’s new album, Temporal Waves.

Shawn is known for playing the tabla and is at the forefront of bringing the tabla into the electronic music world. Read more about it here.

I can attest it is nice (and sometimes intense) to have on while writing and having a good beer. It’s a great addition to any ambient cassette fan’s collection.


You can add the People Places cassette (like mine above) to your collection by going here and finding the Limited Edition Cassette tab and ordering. You heard it right?: Limited. So put the tabla down and go order it!

Everything is beautiful and that goes double for this cassette

Mike Seay

I ran across this Everything’s Beautiful from Hiatus Kaiyote today on Instagram and thought I would share.

Look at how appealing that cassette is. I know nothing of the artist (they sound nice though), but I do know I love the look of that tape.

Seeing as I am broke (or very near it) all the time, I can’t go and knee-jerk-buy a tape from a band I know nothing about, but I would sure like to.

Maybe you can. You can find it on Merch Jungle, along with a Love Heart Cheat Code cassette that looks cool too. Hope you enjoy it if you get to add it to your collection.

This post is unofficially sponsored by this eye-pleasing Pyle 1000 watt receiver

I Am In Love With Physical Copies [Creem Mag edition]

Mike Seay
An issue of the rock magazine "Creem" with their mascot (a bottle of cream) zapping various drawn characters living amongst a map of the United States.

No, it’s not a cassette tape but it’s fucking analog.

I just want to acknowledge receiving my first-ever issue of Creem magazine. I drunk-bought it the other night because I had a little room on a credit card and now it’s here, in glorious rock mag detail.

I am sadly broke AF and can’t afford to be subscribing to things right now, but I am happy with my one-time purchase.

One day I hope to be so financially stable that I have tons of magazines, tapes, books, newspapers, and stuff coming to the house on a daily basis. #goals

Others dream of Lambos in the driveway, I dream of a new issue of something in my mailbox.

Willie Nelson Cassette Tapes

Mike Seay
A Willie Nelson tape lot on eBay

Some of the tapes and things I link to are affiliates of The Tape Player and I might get a little commission if you buy something.

What Are Some Good Willie Nelson Cassette Tapes to Buy?

The other night on CBS they aired the 90th birthday of Willie Nelson tribute concert at Hollywood Bowl. It was a great show. The concert reminded me how much I heard Willie’s music growing up.

It was inspiring and when music does that, it makes me want to post something to this blog.

Willie’s 90th was so good that I, of course, started thinking about what kind of Willie Nelson cassette tapes I could buy. Here is a list of good Willie Nelson tapes for me and you to buy:

More Willie Nelson tape lots.

That ought to get you on the right road. Other places to buy a Willie cassette:

  • Tape lots on eBay – At the moment there is this lot of five tapes, and this Willie lot too with nine tapes in it (pictured above), looks damn ass tempting. You’ll quickly get your tape collection Nelson’d with a lot.
  • TapeHead City. He always has something, changes from time to time.

The man has 74 (and counting) studio albums. That means there is a Texas-sized mountain of cassettes out there to find. Good luck hunting.

Check out some video from Willie’s Birthday party at the Hollywood Bowl for inspiration:

And we are not done yet. Even in his 90s, Willie Nelson is still touring. You can look on his site for a schedule. You can also look for tickets through the links below. Even if the show you want to go to is sold out, those sites still might have tickets.

While we are on the subject of Willie Nelson, my affiliate partner (Backstage Merch) has some nice Willie Nelson shirts.

Okay, that is enough Willie today. You might also be into a rare Dolly Parton tape.

-Mike The Tape Player