Cassette single: Encyclopedia - Cassette single

Cassette single

A cassette single (also known as a "cassingle") is a music single in the form of a compact audio cassette. The format was introduced in the 1980s, when vinyl record album sales were declining in favour of cassette recordings; the cassette single was introduced to replace the 45 record in a similar way.

Originally, cassette singles were released in a cardboard sleeve that slipped over the outside of the release. This was then shrink wrapped in plastic. As the cassette maxi-single was released, more intricate packaging was incorporated that looked similar to the packaging of a regular cassette release. These were placed in regular plastic cassette cases with a paper/cardstock insert. Unlike a full-length cassette album, these were generally only one two-sided flap instead of a fold-out.

Cassette singles never eclipsed vinyl to the same extent as cassette albums had. They were popular mainly in the 1980s, owing to the popularity of mobile devices such as the Walkman or car audio cassette players; likewise they were outmoded by the advent of the compact disc. They have since become a staple merchandise of car boot and garage sales.

Categories: Audio storage | Singles

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Cassette single", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki