圖：Sony Walkman 30年懷舊 你用過哪一台？
很難想像沒有隨身音樂的日子，現在我們多半可以把整個音樂收藏放入一小台MP3播放器裡，但30年前，大家還流行扛著音響出門的時候，對於Walkman隨身聽這麼迷你的播放器可說哈的不得了。
一開始，隨身卡帶播放器主要是給工作上需要錄音的人士使用，比如記者或商業人士，但Sony的Walkman卻把這種播放卡帶的概念帶給消費大眾。大部分Walkman隨身聽不僅具備卡帶播放、AM/FM轉鈕、雙耳機孔，同時還有一些蠻酷的功能，比如自動倒帶、播放與錄音。
圖為第一台Sony Walkman，TPS-L2，1979年首度推出，並在1980年引進美國。這台Walkman 售價200美元，當時被華爾街日報譽為「最新當紅的身份表徵之一」。一如現今的iPod用戶，當時想買一台TPS-L2還得等上至少一個月，因為訂單實在太多了。
Sony Walkman推出兩個月就賣了3萬台，之後的10年間更有高達5000萬台佳績。本週Sony Walkman 30歲了，我們趁機來看看當年的Walkman，以及推出當時的十大金曲。
Photo by AFP PHOTO/Yoshikazu TSUNO
Caption by Dara Kerr
1981年推出的WM-2機種（一般稱為Walkman II）賣了150萬台，是史上最熱銷的卡帶隨身聽，這比第一代的TPS-L2多了一點現代時尚感。
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，算是前一代的低價機種，這台Walkman超大聲，因為使用四顆AA電池，而非傳統的兩顆。
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看起來跟前一代機種WM-10很像，但這台有FM立體收音機。工程師對於如何把收音機放入這麼小的機身裡還傷了一些腦筋，最後決定放在卡匣門上，因此整個外型只比前一代大了一點點。
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是第一台粉紅機身的隨身聽，同時還有AM/FM收音機，FM立體聲喔。
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，內建有5頻音場調控（或稱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真正邁入成熟期的時候，WM-AF64擁有自動倒帶、AM/FM內建於卡匣門、相容金屬帶，並有Dolby B NR雜音抑制。
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
顯然到了1995年，「超低重音」（Mega bass）已經相當普及，前十大有一半是R&B或rap。WM-FX413 Walkman有兩種低重音設定，並可持續或單次自動倒帶。
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越見精緻，這台WM-EX652被認為是當年度最佳卡帶隨身聽，裡面除了增加一堆新功能外，還有「Mega bass」與「Groove」可強化Elton Jon的「Candle in the Wind」民謠曲風。
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與1990年代，Sony在卡匣播放器市場呼風喚雨，但隨著數位音樂與iPod的來臨，它開始喪失市佔率，不過該公司目前在自家數位音樂播放器依然沿用Walkman的名稱。
圖為Sony最新觸控式X-Series Walkman，內建有無線天線可連上網路，並聆聽Slacker應用的免費音樂。
Photo by CNET
Caption by Dara Kerr
