Cassettes and 8-track cartridges
Normally considered just an LP series, Top of the Pops in fact issued a substantial number of tape editions, marketing 100 or so albums on cassette, and 70 or more on 8-track cartridge.
Cassettes
Cassette editions were introduced around volume 18 (mid-1971), and would become a standard fixture, alongside LPs. The early editions are extremely rare; the others are far from easy to find too. Click here for a gallery of cassette editions:
CASSETTE IMAGES
8-track cartridges
The 8-track made its appearance a little later than the cassette, debuting towards the end of 1972 (although a few of the spin-off albums were issued on the format earlier than this). It would endure until the start of 1980, by which time the format was practically obsolete. Click here for a gallery of 8-track cartridges:
8-TRACK CARTRIDGE IMAGES
Cassettes
Cassette editions were introduced around volume 18 (mid-1971), and would become a standard fixture, alongside LPs. The early editions are extremely rare; the others are far from easy to find too. Click here for a gallery of cassette editions:
CASSETTE IMAGES
8-track cartridges
The 8-track made its appearance a little later than the cassette, debuting towards the end of 1972 (although a few of the spin-off albums were issued on the format earlier than this). It would endure until the start of 1980, by which time the format was practically obsolete. Click here for a gallery of 8-track cartridges:
8-TRACK CARTRIDGE IMAGES
Tape-ography
Below is a discography of known tape editions (which, since it does not cover 'discs' should perhaps be called a tape-ography). There are probably gaps, but these will be filled in as and when information comes in.
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1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 |
Cassettes
PSC 513 Probably exists Exists Exists PSC 525 Probably exists Probably exists HSC 528 Probably exists Probably exists Probably exists Probably exists Probably exists Probably exists Probably exists HSC 180 Probably exists Probably exists HSC 195 HSC 200 HSC 192 HSC 205 HSC 210 HSC 215 HSC 220 HSC 225 HSC 230 HSC 235 Probably exists HSC 245 HSC 250 HSC 255 HSC 260 HSC 265 HSC 270 HSC 275 HSC 280 HSC 285 HSC 290 HSC 295 HSC 300 HSC 305 HSC 310 HSC 315 HSC 320 HSC 325 HSC 330 HSC 335 HSC 340 HSC 345 HSC 350 HSC 352 HSC 351 HSC 353 HSC 354 HSC 3001 HSC 3002 HSC 3003 HSC 3004 HSC 3005 HSC 3006 HSC 3007 HSC 3008 HSC 3009 HSC 3011 HSC 3012 HSC 3013 HSC 3014 HSC 3016 HSC 3018 HSC 3034 HSC 3042 HSC 3043 HSC 3044 HSC 3045 HSC 3046 HSC 3060 HSC 3066 HSC 3080 HSC 3095 HSC 3096 HSC 3098 HSC 3099 HSC 3104 HSC 3111 Exists HSC 3170 |
LP edition
Volume 18 (SHM 745) Volume 19 (SHM 750) Volume 20 (SHM 755) Volume 21 (SHM 770) Best of 1971 (SHM 775) Volume 22 (SHM 780) Volume 23 (SHM 785) Volume 24 (SHM 790) Volume 25 (SHM 795) Volume 26 (SHM 800) Volume 27 (SHM 805) Volume 28 (SHM 810) Best of 1972 (SHM 799) Volume 29 (SHM 815) Volume 30 (SHM 820) Volume 31 (SHM 825) Volume 32 (SHM 830) Volume 33 (SHM 835) Volume 34 (SHM 840) Volume 35 (SHM 845) Best of 1973 (SHM 850) Volume 36 (SHM 855) Volume 37 (SHM 860) Volume 38 (SHM 865) Volume 39 (SHM 870) Volume 40 (SHM 875) Volume 41 (SHM 880) Volume 42 (SHM 885) Best of 1974 (SHM 890) Volume 43 (SHM 895) Volume 44 (SHM 900) Volume 45 (SHM 905) Volume 46 (SHM 910) Volume 47 (SHM 915) Volume 48 (SHM 920) Volume 49 (SHM 925) Best of 1975 (SHM 930) Volume 50 (SHM 935) Volume 51 (SHM 940) Volume 52 (SHM 945) Volume 53 (SHM 950) Volume 54 (SHM 955) Volume 55 (SHM 960) Volume 56 (SHM 965) Best of 1976 (SHM 970) Volume 57 (SHM 975) Volume 58 (SHM 980) Volume 59 (SHM 985) Volume 60 (SHM 990) Volume 61 (SHM 995) Volume 62 (SHM 996) Volume 63 (SHM 997) Best of 1977 (SHM 999) Volume 64 (SHM 998) Volume 65 (SHM 3000) Volume 66 (SHM 3001) Volume 67 (SHM 3002) Volume 68 (SHM 3003) Volume 69 (SHM 3004) Volume 70 (SHM 3005) Best of 1978 (SHM 3006) Volume 71 (SHM 3007) Volume 72 (SHM 3008) Volume 73 (SHM 3009) Volume 74 (SHM 3011) Volume 75 (SHM 3012) Volume 76 (SHM 3013) Volume 77 (SHM 3014) Best of 1979 (SHM 3016) Volume 78 (SHM 3018) Volume 79 (SHM 3034) Volume 80 (SHM 3042) Volume 81 (SHM 3043) Volume 82 (SHM 3044) Volume 83 (SHM 3045) Best of 1980 (SHM 3046) Volume 84 (SHM 3060) Volume 85 (SHM 3066) Volume 86 (SHM 3080) Volume 87 (SHM 3095) Volume 88 (SHM 3096) Volume 89 (SHM 3098) Best of 1981 (SHM 3099) Volume 90 (SHM 3104) Volume 91 (SHM 3111) Best of 1984 (SHM 3160) Volume 92 (SHM 3170) |
8-tracks
Exists Probably exists H8 166 Probably exists Exists H8 180 H8 185 Exists Exists H8 200 H8 192 H8 205 H8 210 H8 215 H8 220 H8 225 H8 230 H8 235 Exists H8 245 H8 250 H8 255 H8 260 H8 265 H8 270 H8 275 H8 280 H8 285 H8 290 H8 295 H8 300 H8 305 H8 310 H8 315 H8 320 H8 325 H8 330 H8 335 H8 340 H8 345 H8 350 H8 352 H8 351 H8 353 H8 354 H8 3001 H8 3002 H8 3003 H8 3004 H8 3005 H8 3006 H8 3007 H8 3008 H8 3009 H8 3011 H8 3012 H8 3013 H8 3014 H8 3016 H8 3018 H8 3034 |
Other releases
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PSC 519 HSC 125 HSC 165 HSC 181 HSC 191 HSC 207 Probably exists HSC 172 PSC 530 PSC 531 PDC 025 Probably exists 4-304 4-305 Probably exists ALC 4049 ALC 4050 ALC 4051 DTO 10035 |
Sing & Play
The Beatles (SHM 742) The Beatles (SHM 742) Simon & Garfunkel (SHM 783) Gilbert O'Sullivan (SHM 809) T Rex (SHM 819) The Carpenters (SHM 838) The Osmonds (SHM 854) Top of the Tots Top of the Tots 1 (SHM 766) Top of the Tots 2 (SHM 787) Europe Editions volume 4 volume 5 Compilations Motortown Hits 20 Smash Disco Hits! Vol 1 (SHM 894) 40 Smash Disco Hits! (PDA 025) Smash Disco Hits (PDA 025) 50 Red Hot Black Music Hits (50DA 302) 50 No. 1 Hits Of The 70's (50DA 304) 50 Rocketing Disco Hits (50DA 305) 50 All Time Pop Hits (50DA 311) Cassette-only albums Disco Machine Disco Crazy Disco Heat Hits for Kids |
Exists
H8 125 H8 165 H8 181 H8 191 H8 207 Exists Exists Exists H8 172 Exists H8 153 H8 254 |
Notes
1. The albums "Sing & Play The Beatles" and "Motortown Hits" pre-date the introduction of the 8-track cartridge for the main series, and it is possible that the 8-track cartridge editions do too - since the catalogue numbers are earlier (H8 125 and H8 153).
2. There are two different cassette editions of "Sing & Play The Beatles", only one of which (to our knowledge) has a corresponding 8-track.
3. The cassette-only compilation, "Disco Crazy", was re-issued at some point as BRC 2572, on the Bravo label.
4. The cassette-only "Hits For Kids" is, in effect, a cassette edition of "Top of the Tots" volumes 1 and 2 (albeit released much later on).
2. There are two different cassette editions of "Sing & Play The Beatles", only one of which (to our knowledge) has a corresponding 8-track.
3. The cassette-only compilation, "Disco Crazy", was re-issued at some point as BRC 2572, on the Bravo label.
4. The cassette-only "Hits For Kids" is, in effect, a cassette edition of "Top of the Tots" volumes 1 and 2 (albeit released much later on).