很难想像没有随身音乐的日子，现在我们多半可以把整个音乐收藏放入一小台MP3播放器里，但30年前，大家还流行扛着音响出门的时候，对於Walkman随身听这麽迷你的播放器可说哈的不得了。
一开始，随身卡带播放器主要是给工作上需要录音的人士使用，比如记者或商业人士，但Sony的Walkman却把这种播放卡带的概念带给消费大众。大部分Walkman随身听不仅具备卡带播放、AM/FM转钮、双耳机孔，同时还有一些蛮酷的功能，比如自动倒带、播放与录音。
图为第一台Sony Walkman，TPS-L2，1979年首度推出，并在1980年引进美国。这台Walkman 售价200美元，当时被华尔街日报誉为「最新当红的身份表徵之一」。一如现今的iPod用户，当时想买一台TPS-L2还得等上至少一个月，因为订单实在太多了。
Sony Walkman推出两个月就卖了3万台，之後的10年间更有高达5000万台佳绩。本周Sony Walkman 30岁了，我们趁机来看看当年的Walkman，以及推出当时的十大金曲。
Photo by AFP PHOTO/Yoshikazu TSUNO
Caption by Dara Kerr
1981年推出的WM-2机种（一般称为Walkman II）卖了150万台，是史上最热销的卡带随身听，这比第一代的TPS-L2多了一点现代时尚感。
1981年Billboard前十大排行榜：
1. "Bette Davis Eyes," Kim Carnes
2. "Endless Love," Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
3. "Lady," Kenny Rogers
4. "(Just Like) Starting Over," John Lennon
5. "Jessie's Girl," Rick Springfield
6. "Celebration," Kool and The Gang
7. "Kiss On My List," Daryl Hall and John Oates
8. "I Love A Rainy Night," Eddie Rabbitt
9. "9 To 5," Dolly Parton
10. "Keep On Loving You," REO Speedwagon
Photo by Flickr user: chrisfer64
Caption by Dara Kerr
WM-4在1983年推出，算是前一代的低价机种，这台Walkman超大声，因为使用四颗AA电池，而非传统的两颗。
1983年Billboard 前十大金曲：
1. "Every Breath You Take," Police
2. "Billie Jean," Michael Jackson
3. (From "Flashdance"..."What a Feelin," Irene Cara
4. "Down Under," Men at Work
5. "Beat It," Michael Jackson
6. "Total Eclipse of the Heart," Bonnie Tyler
7. "Maneater," Daryl Hall and John Oates
8. "Baby Come to Me," Patti Austin and James Ingram
9. "Maniac," Michael Sembello
10. "Sweet Dreams (are Made of This)", Eurythmics
Photo by Nick Jarman/Walkman Central
Caption by Dara Kerr
1984年Sony WM-F10 Walkman看起来跟前一代机种WM-10很像，但这台有FM立体收音机。工程师对於如何把收音机放入这麽小的机身里还伤了一些脑筋，最後决定放在卡匣门上，因此整个外型只比前一代大了一点点。
1984年 Billboard 前十大金曲：
1. "When Doves Cry," Prince
2. "What's Love Got to Do with It," Tina Turner
3. "Say, Say, Say," Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
4. "Footloose," Kenny Loggins
5. "Against All Odds" (Take a Look at Me Now), Phil Collins
6. "Jump," Van Halen
7. "Hello," Lionel Richie
8. "Owner of a Lonely Heart," Yes
9. "Ghostbusters," Ray Parker Jr.
10. "Karma Chameleon," Culture Club
Photo by Flickr user: WhineAndDine
Caption by Dara Kerr
1986年推出的WM-55 Walkman是第一台粉红机身的随身听，同时还有AM/FM收音机，FM立体声喔。
1986年 Billboard 前十大金曲：
1. "That's What Friends Are For," Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight
2. "Say You, Say Me," Lionel Richie
3. "I Miss You," Klymaxx
4. "On My Own," Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald
5. "Broken Wings," Mr. Mister
6. "How Will I Know," Whitney Houston
7. "Party All The Time," Eddie Murphy
8. "Burning Heart," Survivor
9. "Kyrie," Mr. Mister
10. "Addicted to Love," Robert Palmer
Photo by Nick Jarman/Walkman Central
Caption by Dara Kerr
1987年推出的WM-36，内建有5频音场调控（或称EQ等化器）。
1987年Billboard前十大金曲：
1. "Walk Like an Egyptian," Bangles
2. "Alone," Heart
3. "Shake You Down," Gregory Abbott
4. "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" (Who Loves Me), Whitney Houston
5. "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now," Starship
6. "C'est La Vie," Robbie Nevil
7. "Here I Go Again," Whitesnake
8. "The Way It Is," Bruce Hornsby and the Range
9. "Shakedown," Bob Seger
10. "Livin' On A Prayer," Bon Jovi
Photo by Flickr user: Headphonaught
Caption by Dara Kerr
1988年是Walkman真正迈入成熟期的时候，WM-AF64拥有自动倒带、AM/FM内建於卡匣门、相容金属带，并有Dolby B NR杂音抑制。
1988年Billboard前十大金曲：
1. "Faith," George Michael
2. "Need You Tonight," INXS
3. "Got My Mind Set On You," George Harrison
4. "Never Gonna Give You Up," Rick Astley
5. "Sweet Child O' Mine," Guns N' Roses
6. "So Emotional," Whitney Houston
7. "Heaven Is a Place on Earth," Belinda Carlisle
8. "Could've Been," Tiffany
9. "Hands to Heaven," Breathe
10. "Roll With It," Steve Winwood
Photo by Flickr user: +Russ
Caption by Dara Kerr
显然到了1995年，「超低重音」（Mega bass）已经相当普及，前十大有一半是R&B或rap。WM-FX413 Walkman有两种低重音设定，并可持续或单次自动倒带。
1995年前十大Billboard金曲：
1. "Gangsta's Paradise," Coolio
2. "Waterfalls," TLC
3. "Creep," TLC
4. "Kiss From a Rose," Seal
5. "On Bended Knee," Boyz II Men
6. "Another Night," Real McCoy
7. "Fantasy," Mariah Carey
8. "Take a Bow," Madonna
9. "Don't Take It Personal" (Just One of Dem Days), Monica
10. "This Is How We Do It," Montell Jordan
Photo by Flickr user: jaywood_uk
Caption by Dara Kerr
到了1997年，Walkman越见精致，这台WM-EX652被认为是当年度最佳卡带随身听，里面除了增加一堆新功能外，还有「Mega bass」与「Groove」可强化Elton Jon的「Candle in the Wind」民谣曲风。
1997年 Billboard 前十大金曲：
1. "Candle in the Wind," 1997, Elton John
2. "Foolish Games"/"You Were Meant For Me," Jewel
3. "I'll Be Missing You," Puff Daddy and Faith Evans
4. "Un-Break My Heart," Toni Braxton
5. "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down," Puff Daddy
6. "I Believe I Can Fly," R. Kelly
7. "Don't Let Go (Love)," En Vogue
8. "Return Of The Mack," Mark Morrison
9. "How Do I Live," LeAnn Rimes
10. "Wannabe," Spice Girls
Photo by Nick Jarman/Walkman Central
Caption by Dara Kerr
1980与1990年代，Sony在卡匣播放器市场呼风唤雨，但随着数位音乐与iPod的来临，它开始丧失市占率，不过该公司目前在自家数位音乐播放器依然沿用Walkman的名称。
图为Sony最新触控式X-Series Walkman，内建有无线天线可连上网路，并聆听Slacker应用的免费音乐。
Photo by CNET
Caption by Dara Kerr
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