WALK THIS WAY

[aesthetics-jvnck]

walkman cassette 1980s moodboard

[walkmanawakening]

WALKMAN AWAKENING

On the evening of December 4th, 2013, I received my very own Sony “Sports” Walkman. It was comically large in my ten-year-old hands and its glaring yellow surface filled me with disgust. My tiny brain could not comprehend the significance of the item that had been handed to me. It was from a different generation, a different time period. I looked up at my mom, and asked “what the heck is this?”

[dystopria]

Sony Sports Walkman Eggo WM - FS1 (1998)

[walkmanawakening]

Once this fascinating device had been explained to me, I became obsessed with it. I saved up my money, bought my very own cassette tapes, and listened to my mom's personal music mixes that she had saved for so many years. I was enchanted by this handheld music player and I reveled in its glory. I grew up without TV, cellphones, or the internet: we didn’t have electronics in my household. This blatant lack of technology was perhaps why I was so incredibly intrigued by the Walkman. To me, it was so much more than a music player: it was an escape. With my headphones on and a tape loaded into my Sony Sports Walkman, I felt invincible. 

[walkmanawakening]

So, why should you care?

The Walkman changed the way music was listened to in the 80s and 90s and had a lasting effect on society and music in America. It was a monumental piece of history and deserves to be recognized for its many contributions to our world. It changed my life, and it can change yours too.

[walkmanawakening]

“You shouldn’t have killed my mom and squished my Walkman!”

[walkmanawakening]

WILD WALKMANS

Walkmans come in several different shapes, sizes, and models. It may be confusing to distinguish between these models, but each Walkman tells a different story. 

Looking back, I am surprised that my mother trusted me with such a vibrant piece of history. I did not know much about the walkman, but as I grew I gradually learned more. It has become a foundation for my appreciation for music, and it has followed me through many stages of my life. Whether being happy or sad, moving from house to house, roller skating, or starting college, my Walkman has been there for me: allowing me to disappear into a magical, musical, world.

Walkmans were designed to be lightweight, small, portable music players: allowing their users to listen to music wherever they roamed. Shuhei Hosokawa, in his article titled ‘The Walkman Effect,’ defines the device as “a cassette recorder for headphone listening” (Hosokawa).

[walkmanawakening]

I own the Sony “sports” Walkman, but there are several other models out there – each with their own unique features. 

[walkmanawakening]

Keep scrolling to see a preview of these models!

[walkmanawakening]

[walkmanawakening]

The TPS-L2

Sony’s first “Walkman” model was the TPS-L2. It had unique features, such as room for two headphone jacks, and a hot-line button that allowed music to be paused, shared, and sung between two people. 

[walkmanawakening]

The Sony WM-2

The WM-2, or “Walkman 2” was released in 1981. It came in several colors (red, black, grey, white), and once again revolutionized the world of music. It was smaller than the first model, but still somewhat bulky.

https://walkman.land/sony/wm-2

[walkmanawakening]

The Sony WM-20

The Sony WM-20 was a staple of the 80s. With its vibrant color and tiny size, it fits in pockets and spare purses with ease. It was the first Walkman to be roughly the size of a cassette tape.

https://walkman.land/sony/wm-20

[neon-wonderlands]

[walkmanawakening]

The Sony WM-F75

The Sony WM-F75, the Sony “Sports” walkman, is the type of Walkman that I own. It was released in 1985 and contained a built-in AM-FM radio. It came in yellow, gray, and red. My mother owned the yellow model and passed it down to me. It is bulky and has some faults, but I absolutely adore it.

https://walkman.land/sony/wm-f75 

[walkmanawakening]

Catalog: all p0 ▶ Walkman.land

Browse catalog of all Walkman models

There are hundreds of Walkman models – too many to list on this page! For an incredibly detailed look at the timeline of Walkman models follow this link.

[hotwaterandmilk]

[walkmanawakening]

[walkmanawakening]

WIDESPREAD WALKMANS

The year was 1979, and Sony had just released the LPS-L2 – the first Walkman model. It was small, sturdy, and life-changing. Happy Meals, Strawberry Shortcake, and leg warmers were on the rise, but the Walkman quickly dominated the world of products, selling “50,000 models in the first two months” (Haire).

Teenagers everywhere clamored to get their hands on one. They were an instant hit, and people began to explore a whole new world of music. According to The New Yorker post, “within a year and a half of the appearance of the Walkman, Sony would produce and sell two million of them” (Alt).

The Walkman, in its early stages, had many names, such as the “Soundabout” and the “Freestyle” (Ray). However, Sony began marketing the device as the “Walkman,” and that’s what it became. A portable music device that you could walk anywhere with.

[neon-wonderlands]

[walkmanawakening]

The world of music had been changed – permanently.