STRAP IN FOR NOSTALGIA

The History and Legacy of the Walkman

- Sandesh Bhosle

In the early 1980s, a revolution was born. It was not a political one nor a scientific one, but a cultural one. And it arrived in the form of a sleek, portable cassette player called the Walkman. Just saying the name brings back tons of memories, right folks from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s? The little boxy gadget revolutionised how we listen to music in no time, but do you know how?

LIFE BEFORE THE WALKMAN

Earlier, back in the 70s, listening to music on the go was a cumbersome experience, as portable cassette players were huge, heavy and required access to electricity or a pair of batteries. No doubt, they were not designed to be carried around, and the quality of the sound was often mediocre at best. Then, in 1979, the Japanese electronics company Sony introduced the Walkman.

THE GAME-CHANGER