8-track tapes: Vintage cartridge format for music lovers

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8-track tapes
Vintage cartridge format for music lovers

FIND 8-TRACK TAPES FOR SALE

Quarter-inch magnetic tape, as used in 8-track tapes, is the optimum medium for those who love music, appreciate vintage style, and have poetry in their soul.

And what makes 1/4″ so special? It is the size tape that was used in 8-track tapes in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, as well as the shorter-lived 4-track tape cartridges of the 60s and the higher-end reel-to-reel tapes that rose to prominence as a way of enjoying recordings at home in the 70s.

Eight-track tapes, especially, deserve their place in history as a good idea that was crushed by other consumer demands. From their earliest form in the mid 60s, to their 1970s dominance, to their subsequent ignoble demise (mostly complete by 1982), to their complete disappearance around 1989, 8-track tapes were at turns efficient, frustrating, easy to use, hard to find, fun to look at, and curiously inspiring of devotion.

More: Sealed 8-track tapes: New vintage tapes never opened

Who buys 8-track tapes now?

Devotion, these days, comes from hard-core music fans and sympathetic completist collectors. Cassette tapes won the 1970s-1980s battle with 8-track tapes in the marketplace, and CDs beat everyone by the 1990s.

A rare 8-track tape, Around the World in a Day by Prince and the Revolution

But 8-track tapes were produced for several major 1980s albums. Yes, it’s possible to find Culture Club‘s Waking Up With The House On Fire (1985), George Harrison‘s Cloud Nine (1987), GenesisInvisible Touch (1986), AC/DC‘s Who Made Who (1986), Prince’s Sign O’ The Times (1987) if you’re extremely lucky, and many other albums from the 1980s on actual, official 8-track tapes. This is thanks to mail-order companies like Columbia House that catered, for whatever reason, to the otherwise left-for-dead 8-track community.

8-track tape cartridge repair tutorial (fully illustrated)

Aside from that, though, most people who buy 8-tracks now are, to some degree, fans of 1970s rock. When you see a box of 8-tracks at a thrift store or a relative’s attic or in a bulk 8-track tape online sale, odds are that you will see Eagles, BTO, Kansas, Nazareth, and artists of that ilk. Frank Zappa, The Beatles, Pink Floyd and David Bowie if you’re lucky. Elvis Costello, the Damned, Blue Cheer and Strawberry Alarm Clock if you’re particularly blessed that day.

The latter-day Culture Club album Waking Up With The House On Fire, a mail order-only 8-track tape.

The latter-day Culture Club album Waking Up With The House On Fire, a mail order-only 8-track tape.

Browse 3,743 current 8-track tapes for sale offers here

Whatever you find, an album always seems to sound better on 8-track tape. And, by definition, you do find new music to listen to when getting into 8-track tapes. You kind of have to, as the selection available to you is based on luck rather than desire.

8-tracks that need repair

Fixing 8-track tapes is nearly always a requirement — if not for one tape, then for the next one you get. Fixing them is part of the fun, and easy anyway (see our fully illustrated 8-track tape repair tutorial).

When buying 8-track tapes online, you can look for specific artists or just scroll through the many listings. You can find some excellent titles, sometimes still sealed, as well as 8-track tape players and even recorders to play them on for your home or car.

See also: 4-track tapes: Vintage cartridges from the 1960s

The 8-track world is a big one — have fun exploring! 

8-track tapes for sale

Currently showing our favorite 3,743 listings from eBay vendors. Click for shipping details and money-back guarantee info. 8-track tapes listings are chosen using MegaMinistore's original custom technology. We show you only the latest and best listings from safe, trusted vendors. Listings are updated and refreshed every day.

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Super Rare George K. Band Let's Move Together 8-track Tape Sealed GRT POP

Seller: josjo-96 ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.3% (2,826 ratings)
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NEW The Jimmy Castor Bunch Butt Of Course 8 Track Tape Pink 1974 Atlantic Funk

Seller: acciuno ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.1% (2,800 ratings)
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Lot Of 16 Elvis Presley 8 Track Tapes RCA Camden Rare Songs,​ Untested

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8 Track Tapes Lot 17 Waylon Jennings Willie Nelson Slim Whitman Charley Pride

Seller: island_6008 ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.5% (1,641 ratings)
Location: United States

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8 Track Tapes 38 Waylon Jennings Mel Tillis Willie Nelson Charley Pride & More

Seller: island_6008 ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.5% (1,641 ratings)
Location: United States

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Hank Thompson 8 TRACK Kindly Keep It Country 1973 DOT Records 8-track NEW 🇺🇸

Seller: captainretro74 ★★★★★★★★★★ 98.2% (3,012 ratings)
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Jethro Tull Stand Up 8 Track Yellow 6360 Reprise Records

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Location: United States

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8 TRACK TAPE by BOBBI HUMPHREY "BLACKS AND BLUES" (1974) JAZZ,​ FUNK / BLUE NOTE

Seller: markh7658 ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (4,632 ratings)
Location: United States

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Grateful Dead 8 Track Lot Of 2 Working Mans Dead and Wake of the Flood

Seller: markmagnuson10 ★★★★★★★★★★ 98.4% (3,492 ratings)
Location: United States

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The Beatles A Hard Day's Night 8 Track Tape United Artists Black TESTED WORKS!~2

Seller: recordsbyb ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.2% (10,703 ratings)
Location: United States

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