Despite the coexistence of the four-track, with its superior sound quality, the eight-track tape was the technology that seized America’s attention in the ’60s and ’70s. The precursor to the cassette tape, the eight-track was a magnetic tape sound-recording device for luxury cars that was introduced by the Ford Motor Company in 1965. Its popularity soared, leading to the development of the home eight-track player in 1966. By 1967, all Ford vehicles offered an eight-track tape-player option. By the late 1970s and 1980s, however, the cassette tape became a more popular music source and eight-track cartridges began to disappear from store shelves. By 1988, the last eight-tracks were released by major music labels. And while some artists have released collectors' eight-tracks since then, the format has otherwise been rendered obsolete.