Nothing says the 1970’s like 8-track tapes.
I mean really. Not that they were the best sounding medium but in the 1970’s 8-tracks were everywhere.
At the time I thought they were pretty cool, you could bring your favorite albums with you in the car! Ahhh the days before CDs and streaming.
So why all this talk of 8-tracks? Well, you see. I happen to have just come into my possession a super groovy 8-track tape form 1971 and thought I’d share it here. The tape in question, “Up to Date” by The Partridge Family, is one of my all-time favorite albums from the 1970s so what better way to remember it than to acquire the 8-track version.
I have one other Partridge cartridge (8-track lol) but it doesn’t come in the cool blue old-style Bell Records logo cardboard case that’s on this tape. Small thing I know but that’s what’s fun about collecting. (Err, trust me, you have to be a collector).
Most of The Partridge Family records and tapes I own have the then current style Bell Records loco but I’ve been seeing quite a few Partridge Family records online with this old style ’60’s Bell logo so I was quite surprised and delighted to find it on this tape.
Now of course I no longer have an 8-track player (yet!) but the allure of the past bit me so voila here it is.
I have to say that of all The Partridge Family recordings this particular album, along with “Sound Magazine”, is probably my favorite by the group.
The wistfulness of songs like “Morning Rider on the Road” and “I’ll Leave Myself a Little Time” plus the pop perfection of “I’ll Meet You Halfway”, “There’s No Doubt in My Mind”, “You Are Always on My Mind”, “She’d Rather Have the Rain” and “Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted” make this album one of the best collections put out under the Partridge banner.
Even though Cassidy’s silken voice was still being sped up a tad on this album, the last album producer Wes Farrell applied this technique to to make Cassidy sound younger, the songs are so strong that it remains a true pop gem from the early seventies that still holds up to this day.
I also thought I’d share the various CD pressings of this fine album as well – see above.
The first CD issue from 1992 on the Razor & Tie label is by far the best digital sounding version of this album. Mastered by Bill Inglot, this “Up to Date” CD stays very true ot the vinyl version of the album and is very easy on the ears.
I’ve also included the later Buddha Records/Sony reissue CD which sounds okay but is mastered a tad bit loud for my tastes. And even more recent reissue of the album, coupled with the first Partridge platter “The Partridge Family Album”, is even louder still which is a shame as it’s nice to have it on one CD with along with the first album.
It doesn’t take much looking to find the Razor & Tie CD of “Up to Date” but if you’re a fan of this album then it’s worth the hunt as the CD sounds pretty darn good. Maybe not quite as good as the best vinyl pressing but close enough to be one of the best options out there for this collection.
As usual check out my photos above so you can get a glimpse of the groovy 8-track a well as the CDs.
Well that’s all for now. Pardon me as I take a stroll back in time to my plush shag carpet and rest a while on my curved orange cough while I sip a Fresca.
Until next time be well and … Have a nice day!!!
Records, CDs and Music: 