The entire process — tape-making, cassette assembly, recording, labeling and shipping — happens under National Audio Company's roof. It’s an old building with two sections.

Variable-speed playback cassette players were already the cool kids on the block. How else are you going to have any fun with magnetic tape without ripping out the tape head and running it ...

So I went back to the merch table to see what was on offer and saw—among other things—a cassette tape. I figured that participating in a weird economic trend would be worth the $5, so I bought it.

From $20 $20 at urbanoutfitters.com Urban Outfitters Clear Cassette Player We're all about the look of this retro Clear Cassette Player ($38), which also comes in a really cool translucent pink.

Some background: The original 10,000 copies of the cassette version of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx released in 1995 were a shade of purple. After that, RCA Records switched back to standard clear plastic.

CHANG: That catchphrase persisted, but the cassette tape - well, less so. Cassettes, though, are making a small comeback, thanks in part to a family-run company in southern Missouri.