Blast from the past. Ktel was famous for the phrase, “As seen on TV” in their mail order business. They released compilation after compilation of the day’s top, and not so top, music. There was an audio store on every corner and every mall in the 1970s, but Radio Shack was a constant right up until their recent closures.
© 2010 Ktel Classics, Standard YouTube License
© 2007 oscartripe, Standard YouTube License
When I last posted the Weltron PS-804 portable player, it wasn’t in very good shape. Tape player wasn’t working, radio dial string was broken and it hadn’t been cleaned. I had to order the cord to restring the radio, find a belt for the tape player and put some elbow grease to the case during cleaning. I’m glad to announce, IT’S FIXED! Here’s a video showing the different modes of operation. AM/FM and 8 track tape player powered from either an AC outlet, a cigarette lighter adapter for use in a car or boat or 8 D cell batteries. I simulated the last two using a 12 VDC power supply. The audio is there, hit unmute, if necessary.
Prior to 1972 sound recordings were not subject to copyright laws. The Sound Recording Amendment of 1971 extended copyright laws to sound recordings, effective February 15, 1972. All recordings created on or after that date were protected, but any recordings prior to that date were only covered by local statutes. Audiotape, Inc flaunted these laws in New Jersey and in 1972 released a 4 album collection of Beatles songs. They advertised these recordings on ABC and sold them through mail order. The response was so successful that another 4 album collection was released as Volume II. Of course they also made the sets available as 8 track tapes.
Eventually Allen Klein, Beatles manager, filed a lawsuit on behalf of George Harrison, Apple Records and Capitol Records against Audiotapes, Inc, ABC and other affiliates that were airing the commercials. The affiliates were dropped from the lawsuit when they agreed to stop airing the commercials. The monetary results of the case are unknown, but they were successful in stopping the production of these pirated editions. As such, these volumes are not extremely rare, but they are rare. An interesting aside to this case is that it made the Beatles realize there was a demand for a compilation of their material and led to the release of their red and blue albums, 1962-1966 and 1967-1970. You will see in these sets that they are “the only authorized collection of the group’s music.”
Here are my Red and Blue sets, as well as my complete Alpha Omega sets:
8 Track Tapes Blog 