art through mixtape

I remember the old(en) cassette tape days. Memex 90 Minute, SONY 60 Minute, “J-cards” (J shaped sleeves inside the cassette case), having enough or not enough lines on the J card to list each track put on a cassette, cardboard sleeving, Crystal/plastic cases, faux leather transport cases, hardwood stationary cases. But mostly, crafting the playlist. What would I put on a tape? Would it be a fast/burner, to-be-dubbed-over cassette with tracks I caught from the radio? Jumping up and slamming the Record/Play button when the first guitar riffs started? Would it be an Industrial mixtape? Songs of Classic Rock? 70s/80s Metal? Were there any tracks I always wanted side by side on an Iron Maiden album that I could now freely stack right along side each other? Would I put “Who Made Who” by AC/DC just before “Back in Black”?

Freedom and expression reigned

A good listing is one always considered from a birds eye view on first go. What songs sound good together? A crescendo? A climax? A fade and chill towards the end of Side B? A message or series of messages inferred in the lyrics of each song? A theme? A contrarian approach (Side A this mood/view, Side B, the other)?

And then just downright good music

All in a day and an art for those who love to participate