Tags: 8ban

(Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
Oldies The Best | OB-09

Atlantic | WQJP-108 | 2004

(Theme From) The Monkees by The Monkees
Oldies The Best | OB-15

WEA | WQJP-109 | 2004

Bandai 8-ban Record Player - HMV Edition

Bandai 8-ban record player - HMV edition 2004 The HMV-branded 8-ban 3” record player was a rebranded Bandai 8-ban record player that matched the early 2000s HMV record store color branding. Specs All of the specs of the original Bandai 8-ban record player, plus: HMV record store black and hot pink colorway Read more »

Bandai 8-ban Record Player - Softly! Records Edition

From the original product description page (now sadly only viewable by Archive.org, as the original site is no more), “Unlike the retro feeling that BANDAI has released, it is released with coloring and design for people who are fashionable now!” Specs All of the specs of the original Bandai 8-ban record player, plus: Softly! records yellow and blue colorway Model #: SFTL-8000 Price: 3,990 yen (tax included) Records Along with the player were 8 Softly! Read more »

Bandai EBP01-1R Portable Record Player For EIGHTBANRECORD

Bandai 8-ban record player - 2004 Media Original press release Photo of 8-ban records in a retail environment Contemporaneous blog post about the releases White Stripes “Triple Inchophone” In 2005 Jack White discovered the Bandai 8ban player and these little records and made a plan to produce some records for the format. It’s a perfect match - White is clearly fond of the number three (founding Third Man Records), and over the years has been one of the most vocal proponents of vinyl records in the industry. Read more »

Boku No Suki Na Kotoba by Pomeranians
Nu Musik Sampler Softly Edition - Softly! Records | SFTL-8003

Softly! | SFTL-8003 | 1 October 2005

Both Sides Now by Judy Collins
Oldies The Best | OB-14

WEA | WQJP-115 | 2004

Cheep Sweet by EeL
Nu Musik Sampler Softly Edition - Softly! Records | SFTL-8004

FilleUnique/Vroom | SFTL-8004 | 1 October 2005

Daydream Believer by The Monkees
Oldies The Best | OB-10

WEA | WQJP-110 | 2004

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why are they called “8-ban” records? The name “8-ban” (8禁止) is derived from the records being (approximately) 8cm in diameter, with the suffix “ban” meaning “disc” or “platter.” The record label “EightBanRecords” was written in English on each of the records’ sleeves, labels, and inserts. 8cm == ~3.15 inches, so we refer to them casually as 3” records in the Read more »

I Love You, Sayonara by The Checkers
Checkers Discography | CD-12

Canyon | DMZA-30339 | 2004

Johnny Get Angry by Joanie Sommers
Oldies The Best | OB-02

Warner Bros. Records | WQJP-101 | 2004

La Pioggia (The Rain) by Gigliola Cinquetti
Oldies The Best | OB-11

CGD | WQJP-111 | 2004

Live Young by Troy Donahue
Oldies The Best | OB-05

Warner Bros. Records | WQJP-104 | 2004

Lookin' Through the Rainbow by Orangenoise Shortcut
Nu Musik Sampler Softly Edition - Softly! Records | SFTL-8001

Softly! | SFTL-8001 | 1 October 2005

Mahō Tsukai by Hazel Nuts Chocolate
Nu Musik Sampler Softly Edition - Softly! Records | SFTL-8005

Trolley Bus | SFTL-8005 | 1 October 2005

Melon Soda by Strawberry Machine
Nu Musik Sampler Softly Edition - Softly! Records | SFTL-8006

abcdefg* records | SFTL-8006 | 1 October 2005

Nana by The Checkers
Checkers Discography | CD-11

Canyon | DMZA-30338 | 2004

Napoli, Fortuna Mia by Gigliola Cinquetti
Oldies The Best | OB-12

CGD | WQJP-112 | 2004

NO MORE 恋愛ごっこ by おニャン子クラブ
Onyanko Club Singles Memories Part 1 | OC-12

Canyon | DMZA-30306 | 2004

Non Ho L'eta (Per Amarti) by Gigliola Cinquetti
Oldies The Best | OB-16

CGD | WQJP-113 | 2004

Number 5 by Orangenoise Shortcut
Nu Musik Sampler Softly Edition - Softly! Records | SFTL-8008

Softly! | SFTL-8008 | 1 October 2005

Oh!! Popstar by The Checkers
Checkers Discography | CD-09

Canyon | DMZA-30336 | 2004

One Boy by Joanie Sommers
Oldies The Best | OB-01

Warner Bros. Records | WQJP-100 | 2004

One Night Gigolo by The Checkers
Checkers Discography | CD-13

Canyon | DMZA-30340 | 2004

Pan·da by Aprils
Nu Musik Sampler Softly Edition - Softly! Records | SFTL-8002

Softly! | SFTL-8002 | 1 October 2005

Rhythm of the Rain by The Cascades
Oldies The Best | OB-04

Warner Bros. Records | WQJP-103 | 2004

Save the Last Dance for Me by The Drifters
Oldies The Best | OB-07

Atlantic | WQJP-106 | 2004

Sixteen Reasons by Connie Stevens
Oldies The Best | OB-03

Warner Bros. Records | WQJP-102 | 2004

Song for U.S.A. by The Checkers
Checkers Discography | CD-10

Canyon | DMZA-30337 | 2004

Stand By Me by Ben E. King
Oldies The Best | OB-06

Atlantic | WQJP-105 | 2004

Summer 2019 New Releases

Beastie Boys Sabotage Beatie Boys “Sabotage” The first of hopefully many upcoming new 3” record releases has finally1 been announced. Each will be available at participating Record Store Day pledged record stores2. From the Record Store Day press release: Beastie Boys’ classic “SABOTAGE” has been starting parties and ending Beastie Boys shows since 1994. And now, to mark the 25th anniversary of ILL COMMUNICATION, the album that returned Beastie Boys to the #1 spot, “SABOTAGE” will be issued as a 3” single, available only at indie record stores beginning Friday, July 19, 2019. Read more »

Summertime Location by Tetrapletrap
Nu Musik Sampler Softly Edition - Softly! Records | SFTL-8007

cockpit crew | SFTL-8007 | 1 October 2005

Techmoan YouTube Video

Aside from the release of the White Stripes’ Triple Inchophone, one of the major sources of 8-ban record knowledge in the West comes from the Techmoan blog and subsequent YouTube video, released in December 2017: Ironically, the best line in the video turned out to be a bit prophetic: since Crosley released a 3” turntable that is decidedly better-sounding than the original Bandai 8-ban mini turntable. Read more »

The 8ban Records That Never Were - Announced but Unreleased Titles

These two series were removed from later archives of the original 8-ban.com web site, and to my knowledge were never produced once sell-through of the first five series failed to achieve sales goals. Just like the blind box titles that were actually released, these were poised to be priced at 367 yen (~$3.25 USD) and were slated for “mid-May 2004” and “mid-June 2004” releases. It’s a pity, as 8ban was Read more »

The Future of the Format

Now that people have bought a novelty mini turntable conversation piece to play 3” records, what else could Crosley/Record Store Day/Toyokasei (or heck, any label) do to further the market aside from releasing more records to play on it (which seems like a no-brainer, now that there are thousands of these turntables in the wild)? We have some ideas. Two Sides to Every Story Make them double-sided. Adding a second Read more »

Three Inch Record Release Wishlist

After a spectacular re-debut of 3” records for Record Store Day all we know is that Record Store Day (the organization) has promised that there would be additional titles, and possibly additional non-limited Crosley turntables released to help increase demand for the medium. When the original 8-ban record series were released they came out in five themed series, including anime theme songs, songs from a popular children’s variety show, songs from pop groups from the 1980s, and a series of oldies from Western artists. Read more »

Tout L'Amour (Passion Flower) by Caterina Valente
Oldies The Best | OB-13

WEA | WQJP-114 | 2004

Under the Boardwalk by The Drifters
Oldies The Best | OB-08

Atlantic | WQJP-107 | 2004

We Buy Three Inch Records

While we obviously love these little 3” records, it’s understandable that sometimes people will have tiny vinyl regrets, need some extra cash (to buy more new records) or just didn’t buy-into the single song vinyl lifestyle as we did. Wanted to Buy We may buy any of your records to sell on this site at a later date, but there are some records and entire series that we would like to acquire both for listening as well as using for reference for this site: Read more »

Where to Buy 3" and 8ban Records

As the original 8ban records were discontinued in 2005 and the only 3” records produced since then have been limited editions, like the White Stripes releases, or otherwise limited like those released for Record Store Day 2019, options for buying three inch records have been similarly limited. 3” Records for Sale We’ve been able to acquire some extra copies of various 3” records and rather than sell them at auction we decided to offer them here first for people who may have picked up a 3” record player but need more records to play on it (we have almost all of the 3” 8-ban records ever produced and still want more records to play on our 3” turntables). Read more »