Back in the Commodore 64’s heyday, the lengthy tape loading times meant that computer games enthusiasts needed something to nod their heads and tap their feet to as their screens flickered with intro screens. Thus, the ‘loader’ track was born! Join me as I check out some SID chip jams from games old and new (three tracks on the playlist are from games released this decade!) along with some loading tunes from the Sharp X68000, Amiga, and Atari ST.

Listen:

https://ia801501.us.archive.org/12/items/fsvep41/fsvep41.mp3

Salamander (1988, Sharp X68000) ‘Loading’ by Yoshiaki Hatano and Miki Higashino

Que-Dex (1987, Commodore 64) ‘Loading Sequence: Timed Out’ by Matt Gray

Hessian (2016, Commodore 64) ‘Hessian Loader’ by Lasse Öörni and Péter Nagy-Miklós

Darkness (2014, Commodore 64) ‘Darkness Loader’ by Linus (Sascha Zeidler)

The Vice Squad (2013, Commodore 64) ‘Sinister Conflicts (Vice Squad Loader)’ by Richard Bayliss

The Killing Game Show (1990, Commodore Amiga) ‘Loading Tune’ by Ray Norrish

Zombi (1990, Atari ST) ‘Loading Music’ by David Whittaker

Namachuukei 68 (1988, Sharp X68000) ‘Loader’ by Yuji Takenouchi

Mario Bros. (1987, Commodore 64) ‘Ocean Loader 2’ by Martin Galway

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