Because the tape is divided into four programs, songs were often faded out in the middle, followed by a loud as the playhead moved. Then, the song would fade back in.

The (usually black or cream) feels utilitarian.

The 8-Track tape (Stereo 8) release of David Bowie’s Lodger in 1979 is a fascinating relic of a music industry in transition. It represents the final gasp of a dying format carrying the sounds of a man who was already living in the future. 🎛️ The Setting: 1979

The foam pads inside the cartridge have likely turned to dust.