Cassettes – remember them?
It seems a lot of people do.
For a short period, I think between the late 1970s and 1980s, Ladybird started to publish many fiction titles with an accompanying cassette. Occasionally at a car-boot sale I’ll still come across a cassette from a Puddle Lane, WLT or Children’s Classic book.
Although these cassettes don’t seem to have been issued for very long, they seem to have been valued, at least in retropect, by erstwhile owners. This email, which I received last week, is quite typical:
For some years now I have been searching for the “well loved tales” series by Ladybird with the accompanying audio cassettes. Especially their 1979 version of “The Ugly Duckling” would be a fantastic find. I see you offer most of the books but there is no mention of the audio tapes, do you happen to have these as well? Or know where I can find them, possibly converted to MP3?
I have no answer to these enquiries. Does anyone know if you can still get hold of them anywhere?
They are indeed rare. I have been searching everywhere and collecting for about two years now. I Have about 20 cassettes. I plan to eventually rip them to Mp3.
It has become a hobby of mine.
The tapes were recorded by Pickwick International in association with ladybird books.
Do you have storytime for 5 or 6 year olds
Hey everyone! Do glad to have found this thread. I’m looking for the tinder box which I am sure was a ladybird story. Does anyone know or have a copy of this? Thanks
Does anybody have the lost world audio tape? Ihad it as a child and now can't find it.
Oh my word, I remember the puddle lane ones! I read the book whilst my sister listened to the audio (she isn't much of a reader) and I just remember puddle lane, and singing along to a little song about Mrs Pitter Patter!
If anyone has Around the World in 80 Days from this series I would love a copy! I have such fond memories of these. I also remember The Secret Garden very vividly.
rick 4444 – have lost world tape..listened to it for first time in 20 years or more tonight…
davidyellop@hotmail.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
I am searching for the audio cassette that came with 'The Space Pirates' which was one of the 'Adventures of Major Tom' series. If anyone has one or sees one then please let me know. You would make me a very happy man!
Still looking 5 years later?- We just got a pile of cassettes from a charity shop, and it was one of them..
Glyn, I certainly am. Please email me with how to make this happen.
I have found about 20 cassettes of tell a tale in a box in my parents attic. All the princess ones really, classic fairytales. I am going to convert them to mp3 and would love to share them, can anyone recommend a platform?
YouTube? with an image of the cover… Or, soundcloud or something like that. I think if I was searching for something like that then YouTube would be where i'd expect to find it
hey there, I just lost my post sort of, but if it does turn up, don't think I'm impatiently double posting!
I wanted to ask Dan and Anonymous further up: Anything ever become of the MP3 rip?
And: I'm not living in England, which means my chance of finding these cassettes anywhere are 0.00001%.
If someone finds the Lorna Doone cassette, playing to Beethoven's 6th symphony, the pastorale, which was a "Tell-a-tale" cassette, with "Tell-a-tale" printed on it, I will pay anything up to 20 pounds for the effort of postage and packing; I can't really afford that much more, but please, if you find it, I'll take it if it costs 50 too, I would be eternally grateful; I loved the cassette, the music, and I'll never find it again if not for somebody's help 🙂
Thank you to anyone who reads this.
Theo Brown, to be found at theo6brown@gmail.com
Theo! I have about 200 of these tapes but frustratingly I can't find one copy of Lorna Doone otherwise I would have happily sold it to you. It's also one of the few ones I don't have a digital version of. Sorry!
Let me know if you're looking for any others. I have quite a lot of duplicates so will be hopefully listing these all online for sale before the end of the year.
All the best,
Stephen
stephensellis@gmail.com
Stephen do you happen to have the wind in the willows one? With the beethoven music?I've been looking for this for years…
Hello, has anyone got the pickwick ladybird horror classics cassettes. Dracula,The Mummy,Frankenstein,Hound of the Baskervilles,Jekyll& Hyde to sell or even good copies of the cassettes. I purchased these for my children when they were younger and then they no longer listened to them I gave them to our local charity shop.
We had a family get together recently and they were mentioned and I really would love to be able to get them to pass on to my grandchildren.
Kind Regards
Barbara
angelangelus@msn.com
Hey guys, I had a customer bring me in a treat, unopened castle grayskull under attack book and cassette. he's looking for a valuation as its one of those loft findings. If anyone has any idea what these are worth or if anyone is interested could you call or text 07546882310. thanks guys, shane fairweather.
I am looking for a copy of the Swiss Family Robinson audio cassette as a gift for my brother, does anyone happen to have a copy they're willing to sell? Thanks.
I have a copy of Swiss Family Robinson on cassette. Feel free to contact me on stephensellis@gmail.com
All the best, Stephen
I rememeber these fondly. Esp the music to "Journey to the centre of the Earth"
Rimsky-Korsakov. Scheherazade, Symphonic Suite, Op. 35 The Sea and Sinbads ship I belive is the piece I remember.
Ho Stephen, I emailed you with some questions!
Hi Stephen,
I have read your comments on this thread and have a request �� I have sent you an email with this request ��
Hope to hear from you soon ��
Rob
For years I've been trying to find a cassette I had in the late 80s early 90s that was about a zoo and it had the music from van halen's brown eyed girl. This is all I can remember! And it has been bugging me for so long! I've searched everywhere, but with just the song and the zoo, as you can imagine I haven't got very far! If anyone knows what this might be or where I can find it please let me know! phil.newbury@gmail.com
I have The Ugly Duckling tape, produced by Pickwick International, but now am struggling to find a cassette player to test it out on! Then I need to turn it into digital. Has anyone found a digital version?
Hey
Just put The Lost World on youtube 🙂
https://youtu.be/KE27_w1eFvw
Cheers
David
David, amazing upload. It would be so great if those who had these on cassette could upload them to youtube or digitise them somehow. Sad to think they'll eventually be lost.
And if anyone has a digital version of Swiss Family Robinson, please do let me know! Been searching for this for years!
Cheers Fran, don't have any more I'm afraid…if I find any I will 🙂
I am looking for A tale of two cities. Lots of fond memories of it as a child. Cathy
Did anyone ever manage to get these on mp3? I'm desperately trying to get hold of the Swiss Family Robinson one. ..
Does anyone have the pick-wick telltale version of the Secret Garden? I would really like to track down a copy of the audio!
Thanks, Tasha
Please please help!!! I too am desperate to get hold of the Swiss family Robinson. Have a two year old and could cry at the thought of listening to that with him. I loved the music. Was so wonderful always felt like I was in the cave with them lol. Please help if you can
My name is emmy
Email
missnaylorscience@gmail.com
Thank you to those who have put some on YouTube after reading this I found a couple. If anyone knows where I can find more or Swiss family please get in touch. I'll keep my eyes open on my travels and share any I come across. Thanks So happy I found this page 🙂
Sorry, no. But I now have created an mp3 of The Ugly Duckling…Many happy memories of car journeys in the mid-80s…
Oh wow I remember that!! 🙂
I am a little late to the table 🙂 but if it is of interest, the music for the following books is:
Journey to the centre of the earth: Wagner – Rienzi overture
Ali-Baba and the 40 thieves: Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade
The Lost World: Berlioz – Overture from the Trojan March (This took me ages to work out and I am a musician by profession 🙂
Aladdin : Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade (begins with 3rd movement unlike the 40 thieves
Oliver Twist – Schubert's Unfinished Symphony
Lorna Doone – Beethoven's Patrol Symphony
Around the World in Eighty-Days – Dvorak New World Symphony
Tom Sawyer – Dvorak New World Symphony
Annoyingly I cannot remember which one was used for Swiss Family Robinson and cannot find the cassette currently but it might come back…..
Best Wishes,
Tom
Sorry for the embarrassing typo Beethoven …….
In fact I think Swiss Family Robinson was also Scherazade
Regards,
Tom
2 more:
"The Mummy" and "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" were both Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
Ugly Duckling uses Vlatava by Smetana. Lovely music. Beautifully read story…
Yes and so does Treasure Island 🙂
Shame children don't really have something that quiet compares these days to my knowledge…
Apologies, but i have gotten a bit lost – does anyone have a lead on the Wind in the Willows with Beethovens soundtrack? I listened to mine so much it broke the spool. I would LOVE to hear it again, it brought the story to life in a way no other retelling has ever done.
Thanks all round!
Deets
Hi there everyone its nice to see I'm to the only one who still remember those tapes… does anyone have an idea of the music for secret garden? I believe it was released in Jan 1980.
I've been looking for that Wind in the Willows with Bethoven's 6th for years too!! It was wonderful and I would dearly love to find it again! Any leads appreciated.
Hi guys,
I have The Wind in the Willows, the book and the cassette! The Ladybird Children's Classics and the cassette is Pickwick International light green in colour. I bought it from eBay back in 2012 and kept in in an envelope, just hope it's ok! I'm hoping to get it transferred to a cd and MP3 then I'll put it on YouTube if I can! I'm afraid I'm not very technical so I don't know how long it will take me to do it but I will, as so many people loved this version of the story, I have very fond memories listening to it as a child (now 41 yrs)
Excellent. In time, we may find them all. Very happy memories if listening to these on car journeys back in the mid 80s…
Amanda, Secret Garden music is Borodin, steppes of central Asia https://youtu.be/Dq4bOmxKVQQ
I hope you can get wind in the willows on to YouTube, if love to play it got my kids!
Hi guys,
I'll certainly do my best with The Wind in the Willows! I'm going to get it copied over to a cd (really hope it can be done) over Easter and whilst I'm there I'll see if they can help me put it on YouTube as I have no idea what to do! Keep an eye on this thread and I'll let you know when I've done it! I'm doing it as a surprise for my sister's 40th; she'll love it, as it was one of our favourites growing up!
I'd love the wind in the willows – I've searched for it on ebay a couple of times and can't find it
I have managed to find the Horror Classics online and download them onto my phone, I have listened to them whilst reading the books (which I managed to find)and it took me straight back to my childhood !!
I am now trying desperately to find the audio to The Wind in the Willows, A tale of Two Cities and A Christmas Carol.
My life would then be complete !!!
Thanks to anyone that could help.
susiemorris1978@hotmail.co.uk
IM LOOKING FOR A LADYBIRD CASSETTE'S AUDIO TO DOWNLOAD, BY CHRISTINE MORTON "DONT WORRY WILLIAM", I LOVE THE FINAL SONG: DONT YOU WORRY WILLIAM BEAR, DONT BE FRIGHT—- LOVELY SONG; :: IF ANYONE COULD HELP ME FIND IT ILL BE GLAD
Does anyone have Treasure Island read by Gordon Fairclough? I would love a copy to surprise my husband with.
This thread makes me sooooo happy! I've been searching endlessly for 'The Secret Garden' and also loved 'The Little Mermaid'. But as I've read through this I've realised I also listened to loads more which I had forgotten.
If anyone has any copies they can share please get in touch!
contact@louisealexander.com
Thank you!
I have uploaded The Secret Garden, The Wind In The Willows and A Christmas Carol to these links –
https://www.sendspace.com/file/xdtma8
https://www.sendspace.com/file/kq2r3s
https://www.sendspace.com/file/s1fzj3
Does anyone have The Wizard Of Oz, Tom Sawyer, Kidnapped, Heidi, The Railway Children, A Tale Of Two Cities, The Hound Of The Baskervilles, Swiss Family Robinson, Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland? I have fond memories of this series of tapes from the early 80s and would love to hear some of them again, please email g.frye@virginmedia.com or post here if you can help, Many Thanks, Graham Frye
Yes! Wind in the willows! Thank you so much.
You're welcome 🙂
These are great. Thanks for taking the time to upload them!
I have several Ladybird Books to sell, some with their cassette, all in good or very good condition. There are also some cassettes without the book (lost or given away). If anyone is interested in things like "Tales from the Jungle Book" (+ cassette), "Well-Loved Carols" (+ cassette), "Tom Sawyer" (+ cassette) or cassettes without books, such as "Counting Songs", "Peter Pan", "Alice in Wonderland", "Pinocchio", "The Sly Fox and the Little Red Hen", "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", "The Little Mermaid" etc, let me know!
Hi Lindsay, I might be interested in some of these, is that the complete list of what you have and how much would you be looking for for each one? Please email g.frye@virginmedia.com if you want, thanks.
Hi all,I'm looking to get hold of a digital copy of The 12 Dancing Princesses (Well Loved Tales) and Ghostly Tales (Ladybird Horror Series). They are two of the more obscure Pickwick/Ladybird cassettes and do not seem to have shown up for auction very often over the past few years. Ideally trying to get a WAV digital recording of each.
Hi everyone! I had a book&tape compilation of ghost stories for children when I was a boy. I remember absolutely loving it but can’t for the life of me remember who published, acted or wrote it.
The one thing I can remember is that one of the stories was about a Bogle (Boggle), and two lines of dialogue: the narrator thinks he has rid himself of the Bogle but the creature says “It took you long enough to get here. I’ll teach you to keep me waiting! … and it blew out the fire”.
The other line is “You should never thank a bogle.”.
I know it’s a long shot but can anyone shed any light on this?
Davidbarrynewemail@gmail.com
Dear Lindsay, I am interested in the cassettes you have. Please could you say if you still have any left now and if you do, how I can go about contacting you?
Thanks and best wishes
Graham, thank you so very much for the links to the wind in the willows and a Christmas carol! My absolute favourites😁
I would love to listen to Oliver Twist again if anyone has that.
HI only just seen this thread and there are a lot of folk after this stuff.
I have uploaded Around the World in Eighty Days.
I also found a link to loads more- check this out. http://english.htu.cn/STORIES/INDEX.HTM
I would love to hear around the world in eight days again! Do you have a link to it? Thanks!
Yes https://youtu.be/9sCX6Ftv-t0
The first link I posted doesn't seem to work. Try pasting it into Google.
More stuff to follow.
Hi everyone.
Please see the below link to those Pickwick Ladybird cassette recordings, which I have been slowly building over time. I have managed to get some of the tapes and then create audio files from them – the best thing I think, as these tapes will only fade over time, and it's not as if anyone will re-release them; as far as I know there are no original recordings kept anywhere.
Hope you find what you want – can anyone help to expand this? I'm sure more people would like to hear them, and future generations. Hopefully most of these will not now be totally lost to time. Some of the quality may vary a bit but I've done my best, always room for improvement though.
Enjoy.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vhf9wgw6vefku1y/AADDF9i2cfA0QY55TEjxWEmGa?dl=0
Please please please, if anyone has the audio to The Snow Queen, please let me know!!! I've been searching for it for years!!!
It made me love classical music through Vivaldi's Winter.
To the poster above who left the dropbox link – thank you so much. What an incredible collection, i'm so grateful to you for sharing this.
To the person asking after The Snow Queen – I'd also love to find this one, for the exact same reason!
best
Richard
It was only recently, after searching for years, that I finally discovered The Snow Queen cassette I loved as a child was the Ladybird version. However, even though so many other ladybird stories from their cassettes are available to buy (or even listen to on YouTube), I can't find The Snow Queen anywhere!
If anyone has a copy (in cassette form or even digital version) I would happily pay you for it.
E-mail me jaygonlarkin@gmail.com for The Snow Queen
Can anybody help me out with the 12 Dancing Princesses?
It’s been some time since you posted, would it still be okay to email you for the Snow Queen?
That dropbox link was amazing. Did you rip these yourself? I just finished ripping my copy of Swiss Family Robinson for the group after finding it but see its in the link.
I'm trying to see can I develop a more permanent website for these books, download links etc.
Hi, any chance of posting the Dropbox link again pretty please?! Would be very much appreciated, my kids will hopefully love them as much as I did! Thank you in advance….
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vhf9wgw6vefku1y/AADDF9i2cfA0QY55TEjxWEmGa?dl=0
Ian, this is fantastic! I went straight to the Snow Queen, but the recording is actually for The Magic Mirror! Do you have the Snow Queen? It would truly make my adult life! Thanks, and cheers!
Just kidding! Realized upon opening the book that the first chapter is The Magic Mirror. Absolutely fantastic. Thank you so, so much!
Arghh pretty please can someone leave the drop box as a blue hyperlink? Xcsnt copy and paste using tech I have. Only selects part of the link…. 🙁
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vhf9wgw6vefku1y/AADDF9i2cfA0QY55TEjxWEmGa?dl=0
I have been thinking about the old cassette I had of the Snow Queen for some time recently but never thought I would hear it again. On a whim, I googled and found this site and Dropbox recording. I am so grateful that you took the time to upload this. It means an awful lot.
Thanks Iain x
Ghostly Tales is for auction here. Can’t help with 12 Dancing Princesses I’m afraid
https://m.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2056088.m570.l1313.TR4.TRC2.A0.H0.Xvintage+cassettes.TRS0&_nkw=vintage+cassettes+pickwick+
Any luck with Swiss Family Robinson + Rimsky-Korsakov? My husband remembers it fondly and we are about to have a baby… would so love to be able to play it for him/them as a surprise. Physical cassette not necessary; would be delighted with an upload that all could enjoy!! Though would also gladly pay for a copy.
I don’t know if anyone can help but I’m looking for the audio cassettes of “The Energy Pirates” and “The Frozen Planet of Azuron” by Geoffrey and Fred Hoyle. The ladybird books are easy to find. The Cassettes are proving harder.
Thanks in advance!
The Little Mermaid music is Mendelssohn’s The Hebrides Overture.