8-Track Heaven aka Eight-Track Heaven was a website that was dedicated to the 8-track cartridge and the associated equipment.
Background 8-Track Heaven was founded on 20 July 1995 by Malcolm Riviera, Abigail Lavine, Russ Forster and Chip Rowe. It was described by The New York Times as a Web shrine containing a cache of trivia on collecting 8-tracks.New York Times, March 9, 1996 - It's NetDay! Let's Surf Our Way to Class By Gary BrickmanThe Hanson guide to the Internet & Internet databases, Edited by John Krol - - Page 2 7, 8-Track Heaven The site offered help to the 8-track enthusiast by offering free ads, tips and links to other sites that featured the cartridges.Los Angeles Times, Jan. 11, 1999 - In a Case of Tape Delay, the Eight-Track Is Back By SCOTT MARTELLE
Founder Malcom Riviera, aka Gary C. Broyhill, was a well-known participant of the D.C. music scene during the 1980s and a member of bands such as Elevator, Grand Mal, Sub Primal Cuts, The Velvet Monkeys, and Gumball. He was also an enthusiast of eight-tracks and the history surrounding them.History of Sound Recording Technology, September 6, 2025 - Malcolm Riviera’s Final Track - Dave Morton Riviera was also the webmaster for the site. He also founded the alt.collecting.8-track-tapes newsgroup.Washington Post, July 19, 1995 - ON THE RIGHT 8-TRACK NEWSGROUP REVIVES REVILED FORMAT According to a 2004 article by The Journal Record, Riviera was "regarded as something of a god in 8-track circles".The Journal Record, October 8, 2004 - Keeping the legacy of 8-tracks alive He was also an article contributor and had contributed an article to the summer/fall 1996 issue of Chunklet magazine.Chunklet, 11 - Pages 30-31
Abbey Lavine was also a singer. She sang lead on the song "Alligator" by the garage band Soul Assassins.The Tin Whistle, October 27, 2012 - Remembering Abby’s favorite sandwichSteven Hager channel, Feb 6, 2024 - Alligator by the Soul Assassins She was also part of the backing group, the Assassinettes.Discogs - Soul Assassins (2) / Assassinettes – Don't Tread On Me / My Way Of Thinking
Russ Forster, a musician, founder of Underdog Records and member of bands; Gore Gore Girls, Spongetunnel and Dashing Marble was the editor of the fanzine 8-Track Mind.The Chicago Reader, January 16, 2003 - MUSIC, Music, Movies, and a Life Outside the Mainstream, Russ Forster/A Tributary of His Own by Peter MargasakApple Podcasts, 3 May 2022 - Episode 120: Russ Forster
The website was listed on page 406 of the 1997 edition of the New Rider's official World Wide Web yellow pages directory, and page 538 of the 1998 edition of Official Microsoft Bookshelf Internet directory. There were no similar sites in both of the directories.1997 AOL Member's Edition World Wide Web Yellow Pages - Page 406 Sound, 8-Track HeavenOfficial Microsoft bookshelf Internet Directory, 1998 edition - Page 538 Hobbies, 8-Track Heaven
History By 1995, the website was online.Things Magazine, Friday, December 23, 2005 - So Wrong They're Right
During the 1990s there were still a few eight track albums being released. 8-Track Heaven profiled these releases.Extreme Music Silence to Noise and Everything In Between, By Michael Tau · 2022 - - IV.5.2 8-Tracks in the Nineties
In 1995, Eight Track Heaven founder Russ Forster released the film So Wrong They’re Right, a film about the eight-track. It also featured Abbey Lavine.Things Magazine, Friday, December 23, 2005 So Wrong They're Right48 Hills, April 30, 2019 - Media Archeology: Incredibly Strange Music 2 An article about the film appeared in the 12 August 1996 issue of Variety.Variety, Aug 12, 1996 - Film > Reviews, So Wrong They’re Right an 8-Track Journey By Dennis Harvey It won an award for best feature-length documentary at the 1995 Chicago Underground Film Festival.
Co-founder Abbey Lavine died in 1997. An album Links Outta Here which is dedicated to her was released on the Generator Sound Art that year.The Sound Projector, Eleventh Issue, March 2003 - Page 8 Various Artists Links Outta Here: Dedicated to Abigail Lavine USA GENERATOR SOUND ARCHIVE RRR-CD23 CD-R (ND)
Eight-Track Heaven was included in the "What to Surf" article by Entertainment Weekly that was published on 2 October 1998. It was given a B+ rating.Entertainment Weekly, October 2, 1998 - What to Surf
In October 2008, 8-Track Heaven joined Twitter.Times Now, May 17, 2024 - Twitter Turns Into X Completely: Elon Musk Turns Url To X.comX.com - 8-track Heaven
Later years Malcom Riviera died circa July / August 2023. Following his death, the website was still active until the domain expired in the early summer of 2024.History of Sound Recording Technology, September 6, 2025 - Malcolm Riviera’s Final Track
References
External links Internet Archive - Archived website othercinemadvd channel, Mar 30, 2011 - So Wrong They're Right (video trailer)