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.

See also: 8-track tape cartridge repair tutorial (fully illustrated)

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.

More: 8-track tape/cassette vintage adapters

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.

More: Quadraphonic 8-track tapes: A vintage 4-channel experience

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.

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 top 3,799 offers from eBay sellers. 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. Offers are updated and refreshed every day.

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Star Wars,​ Superman 8 Track Tapes (10) Lot of 70s Artists With Soundtracks

Seller: kodakmemories ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (171 ratings)
Location: United States

$26.99 or best offer

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VERY RARE VINTAGE The Jock Strapp Ensemble Rugby Songs Volume Three 1964 8 Track

Seller: johnmni_0 ★★★★★★★★★★ 96.9% (127 ratings)
Location: United States

$60.00 or best offer

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Here Comes Bobby Rare Vintage 8-Track Cartridge G.R.T (8090-1028)

Seller: oddsnends2020shop ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.5% (619 ratings)
Location: United States

$39.99 or best offer

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8 Track Tape MARC BOLAN & T.REX Zinc Alloy & The Hidden Riders of Tomorrow NEW!!

Seller: slicz ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (4,808 ratings)
Location: United States

$49.99

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1981 Van Halen Fair Warning 8-Track Tape Warner Bros W8 3540

Seller: chadrcretro87 ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (246 ratings)
Location: United States

$29.95

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Lot of 12 Country Music 8-Track Stereo Tapes John Denver Conrad Twitter in Case

Seller: appleraft ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.6% (6,196 ratings)
Location: United States

$29.95 or best offer

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Lot Of 3 Albums CHICAGO I II And IX 8 Track Tape Cartridge UNTESTED VTG

Seller: clarcr_2827 ★★★★★★★★★★ 99% (1,112 ratings)
Location: United States

$28.67 or best offer

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Rhythm Heritage Last Night On Earth 1977 8-Track ABC Records

Seller: wisteriarefoundry ★★★★★★★★★★ 99.9% (2,742 ratings)
Location: United States

$24.00

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St. Vincent Daddy's Home Black Colored 8-Track Cartridge

Seller: whiteholerec ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (724 ratings)
Location: United States

$84.99 or best offer

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The Beatles A Hard Days Night Sound Track 8 Track Tape..TESTED

Seller: karkirchne-1 ★★★★★★★★★★ 100% (571 ratings)
Location: United States

$48.00 or best offer

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