Once CDs came along, it seemed that they quickly took over the music market and suddenly cassette tapes went to the wayside just like vinyl records and 8 tracks had years before. Strangely enough, vinyl records have already begun to make a huge comeback. While we are not seeing the return of 8 track and cassette tapes at the same speed that vinyl records have, lots of people still have collections of them that they just never wanted to let go of.
Country music was a huge seller when cassette tapes were the most popular. Even though many of the old country cassette tapes are not worth much more than what you paid for them at the time, they are still collector’s items in a market that is slowly beginning to grow again. If you’ve got a few of these old country cassettes, you should hang on to them or be on the lookout for them when you are out and about.
Shania Twain, “The Woman in Me Needs the Man in You”
Released on a single cassette in August 1995, following the success of her previous single “Any Man of Mine”, this single was the third in the lineup of her hit album, The Woman in Me. Recently a copy of the single sold for $29.99. It has only been in the last few years that Shania has made a comeback in her music career.
Dixie Chicks, Home
Released on August 8, 2002, Home was The Dixie Chicks’ sixth studio album. It was also the album that was released around the time that the group’s lead singer Natalie Maine made controversial statements about the president at the time, George W. Bush about the Iraq invasion. The album did sell well, but the comments that were made changed the Dixie Chicks’ popularity overall. It can sell for as much as $30.00 dollars.
Willie Nelson, Who’ll Buy My Memories
Though originally this album was sold by phone only, it was eventually released by Sony in 1992 as a way to help Willie pay his IRS tax debt. It was the thirty-ninth studio album by the famous country legend. It is said that the album made over 3 million for the IRS, who then wanted another 9 million! It recently sold for about $20.00 dollars.
Loretta Lynn, Making More Memories
This cassette tape was Loretta’s thirty-ninth solo studio album. It was released by Nashville Sound on February 8, 1994. Unlike her past albums, this cassette was only sold at Ernest Tubb Record Stores, Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, by mail order through Loretta’s fan club and at live appearances by Loretta. The album is no longer in print and recently sold for about $20.00 dollars.
Brooks and Dunn, The Greatest Hits Collection
Released in 1997, this was the country duo’s first greatest hits album. It was a compilation of their previous four albums. Some of the featured songs are “Brand New Man”, “Borderline”, “Waitin’ on Sundown”, and “Hard Workin’ Man”. It is currently selling for about $15.00 dollars.
Other older country cassettes you might want to watch out for are listed below:
Johnny Cash, Super 10
Kenny Rogers, The Gambler
Randy Travis, Storms of Life
Marty Robbins, The Best of Marty Robbins
The Judds, Heart Land
Garth Brooks, The Hits
Lyle Lovett, Pontiac