Standing among piles of music CDs, I marvel at the evolution of music and the players that bring those sweet sounds to our ears.
In 1877, the first phonograph was invented by Thomas Edison. This was the first method of recording and playing back sound. The Phonograph was great at the time but it was only good for a one time only playback and the sound quality was terrible. Ten years after the phonograph, the gramophone was invented and then the victrola.
Fast-forward to 1948 when the LP was born and then in 1968, cassette tapes were invented. Cassettes were the most popular form of music media which took off in the 70s with the invention of portable cassette players.
Billy Joel's "52nd Street" was the first CD to be released in 1982. It took three years for CDs to out-sell cassettes as the most popular form of music media.
Now, they all seem obsolete. I have thousands of songs I carry with me everywhere I go. They fit in my phone.
But in my shed I still have unopened boxes of cassette tapes and CDs.
Because I haven't opened these boxes in three years, obviously I have no need to keep them. But what do I do with them?
Pinterest.
Those crafty Pinterest people are always thinking up ways to turn something into something tacky.
This is no exception. There are hundreds of ways on Pinterest to turn CDs and cassette tapes into other things from disco balls to cassette wallets to Christmas trees and uncomfortable looking chairs. None of which I really want nor do I have the desire to do.
The one thing I found, I may be able to use my Hanson CD (I don't even know where that one came from) for is scraping my windshield in the winter.
There are even instructions on how to turn your old cassette tapes into a CD holder. Or if you're feeling especially crafty, pull all the tape out of your cassettes and grab a crochet hook and get to work making doilies for everyone you know!
I do miss the excitement I felt over waiting for the release of my favourite band's CD. I couldn't wait to rush to the music store to pick it up.
For now, I think I'll keep the dust on the boxes and pull them out to listen to when I'm feeling nostalgic.
