we love pates tapes and pates tapes loves...

We've been listening to the archives of Pates Tapes for the past few months. It's an excellent musical companion, with a mix for every mood. It's best explained in founder Charles Pates' own words, I think. Charles has also very kindly shared his top ten records with us. Thankyou and keep making Pates Tapes so we can keep listening! The passion and thoughtfulness he approaches his tape making with, and his joyful appreciation and vast knowledge of music is catching and inspiring.

A long time ago in a galaxy far away, I found myself living around the corner from CBGB's, working for a music magazine and illustrating reviews for Lester Bangs (oops I dropped something). I was surrounded by a musical epoch, that years later would inspire bucket loads of films, books, t-shirts and now this web site. That same year I went back to the U.K. to collect my record. One damp dark night, I was comfortably crashed at a friends flat surrounding by his records. The excitement as I rummaged through his singles collection is hard to describe. Amundsen reaching the South Pole? Armstrong stepping onto the moon? You get the picture. Heads Hands and Feet, with Albert Lee on guitar, Lynda Lewis, Shocking Blue…the Dr Who Theme! I was gob smacked. The next morning I resolved to pick up a blank cassette, and lay these classics down on tape. In so doing I came upon the magic of tape making. A skill I'll warrant, that can only be performed by a human.

The following evening, I had what is now Hits - Good Vibrations.

As my record collection moved into four figures, the tapes ended up in restaurants, bars and public events. The forty-five minute format was perfect for dinner parties, gifts, nostalgia quiz nights anyone? People started sending me John Peel Shows and music from afar. Recently it was suggested to me that the tapes should be on line. 'Content and playlists, that's what people want'.