Zapas - Type I ~1999 - Indonesia (ID)
It is so difficult to pinpoint the year of release of certain cassettes. This is one of them! There are some clues. Given the look of the hubs, it appears it could have been an OEM by Maxell. However, they are not the same hub. Look closely. The sticker labels have however a striking similarity to some TDK labels. The overall quality of this tape is excellent, but I can't figure out which cassette company manufactured it.
If you have some Dead Sea scrolls that offer some good information of the true origins of this tape, ie. manufacturer and year of production, please let me know, and I will share it here with everyone else. You will be credited with any pertinent information you may provide, if you prefer it. The assigned year "1999", is merely an educated guess.
Music Suggestion: This may be the perfect cassette to record some of Zappacosta's singles and most recognized songs based on his charting (51-53 Minutes):
• We Should Be Lovers (1984) – breakout hit, Juno Award era (~4:00)
• Passion (1984) – another early hit (~4:20)
• Start Again (1985) – Top 40 Canada (~4:10)
• When I Fall (In Love Again) (1986) – CAN #44 (~4:30)
• Turn It On (1986) – CAN #95 (~4:00)
• Nothing Can Stand in Your Way (1986) – CAN #42 (~4:20)
• Overload (1987, Dirty Dancing soundtrack) – internationally known (~4:00)
• Letter Back (1990) – CAN #24 (~4:30)
• I’ll Be the One (1991) – CAN #45 (~4:10)
• Simple Words to Say (1991) – CAN #44 (~4:00)
• Show Me (1995) – CAN #67 (~4:20)
Note 1: 54 Minutes: Only a total of 5 available.
About Zappacosta:
Alfredo Peter “Alfie” Zappacosta (born July 5, 1953, in Sora, Italy) is an Italian‑born Canadian singer‑songwriter celebrated for his powerful vocals and romantic pop‑rock style. Moving to Canada as a child, he first gained attention with the band Surrender in the late 1970s before launching a solo career in 1984. His debut album produced hits like "Passion" and "We Should Be Lovers", earning him a Juno Award for Most Promising Male Vocalist. He followed with A to Z (1986) and contributed Overload to the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, cementing his international reputation. Zappacosta continues recording and performing today.
Sources: (1) Wikipedia, (2) Alfie Zappacosta
About Zapas:
Zapas cassettes were distributed in Japan, and in other Southeast Asian nations. They were distributed by KST Co. Ltd., with UPC 4974832102262 in Japan, which confirms Japanese manufacturing registrations. This Zappa sticker label sheets echo TDK’s style (see pic), while the hub design closely resembles Maxell’s iconic tooling—though with 13 half‑moon cuts instead of 10. This subtle variation may suggest a Maxell OEM lineage or a subcontracted supplier using similar moulds. Evidence also points to production in Indonesia, where Maxell’s partner plant (PT Panggung Electric Citrabuana, Sidoarjo) was active through the 1990s all the way to today, 2025!
Collector's Note: If you ever uncover new details on the Zapas cassette, share them with us at Cassette Comeback—we’ll credit your findings so the whole community benefits.
Zapas - Type I - 1999 - Indonesia