One of the biggest compilations of the year is set to get a special release on cassette. Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol 1, which featured as a mixtape in this summer’s superhero blockbuster, will become Disney’s first cassette release in more than a decade.
Billboard reports that the limited-edition cassette dub will be released on 17 November. Although it will be available exclusively at independent record shops, label executives have made the odd choice of ignoring the upcoming Black Friday Record Store Day: the compilation will precede the indie retail holiday by just 11 days.
Filled with feel-good classic hits by David Bowie, 10cc, Blue Swede and Marvin Gaye, the conceit of Guardians’ Awesome Mix Vol 1 is that it is a prized possession of movie hero Peter Quill, played by Chris Pratt. Enclosed in a classic Walkman, the tape was a final gift from the character’s late mother.
The movie Guardians of the Galaxy has grossed more than $700m (£432m) worldwide. Accordingly, the CD, vinyl and digital versions of Awesome Mix have seen huge sales as well: it reached No 2 on the UK’s compilation chart, and remains the United States’ 10th-highest selling album of 2014. Impressed by this popularity, Disney decided to make Awesome Mix their first music cassette since 2003’s compilation tape.
Alongside vinyl, cassette tapes have seen an unlikely resurgence in recent years, not just in underground scenes but also among several nostalgic major acts. MGMT, She & Him, Haim, Julian Casablancas and Beck are among the artists who have released music in the deprecated format.
All cassette copies of Awesome Mix Vol 1 will come with a free digital download.
