BY JAY ROBERTS

For 2021, life continued to be complicated for the world at large. While there’s no need to rehash what we all know about that, the fifth year brought about some changes for The Cassette Chronicles series as well. Specifically, I had to cut it back to a bi-monthly schedule.

So while there may have been less articles coming out this year, the twenty four albums examined covered the gamut from the heaviest of metal to some of the most successful of 80’s top 40 music. One band was featured in five articles (though I only chose one to represent them), while a look back at the Giant album Time To Burn got me a content warning on Facebook because of the album artwork.

When I started out this series on a lark, I don’t know that I anticipated doing it for five years. But thanks to Limelight Magazine, I’ve been able to write a great number of albums and I look forward to continuing doing that very thing in 2022 as well. It will still be on a bi-monthly schedule but here’s to keeping the flame burning bright for the best in both well known and under the radar album gems.

While I don’t typically rank the albums in any specific numerical order, this year my favorite piece was brought on by quite possibly the saddest news for me personally in regards to the music world. The death of Mike Howe hit me hard and though it took me quite a while to get the words I wanted to say in a coherent fashion, my article on the album Blessing In Disguise balanced not only a look at the album itself but paid tribute to Howe, a vocalist I loved.

So take a look at that one and the other nine albums that you will see below, I think it is worth the trip. I thank everyone for continuing to read the series and I look forward to doing it all again next year. Come along for the ride, won’t you?

Please click on the cassette title to read the article.

#1 – METAL CHURCH –  BLESSING IN DISGUISE

#2 – JUDAS PRIEST – RAM IT DOWN

#3 – TESLA – THE GREAT RADIO CONTROVERSY

#4 – XYZ – HUNGRY

#5 – BLACKEYED SUSAN – ELECTRIC RATTLEBONE

#6 – RATT – DANCING UNDERCOVER

#7 – GIANT – TIME TO BURN

#8 – ELECTRIC BOYS – GROOVUS MAXIMUS

#9 – DIRTY LOOKS – TURN OF THE SCREW

#10 – NEVADA BEACH – ZERO DAY