This will hopefully be a continuing post regarding flexi discs and their impact on the music world. Recently in Bhutan they have issued a new postage stamp — a listenable flexi-disc postage stamp.
The interest in flexible audio records has been forever linked to an inexpensive and decent quality way of distributing music (barring the necessity of a coin or two to hold down the weigh-challenged disc). From an easy and affordable device to recreate mass recordings, the flexi has found its way into many different sound recording milieus. One company actually released computer software on flexi disc called a floppy ROM. This video gives a visual of a flexi in use.
I remember my first flexi. It came in a National Geographic magazine that my parents had subscribed to for me. The title was “Sounds of the Humpback Whale”. I treasured that flexi and played it over and over again until the inevitable happened . . . the disc wore out. Heartbroken I tried everything to replay my record from placing weight on the turntable arm to trying to find another National Geographic issue with the flexi intact. All of this was to no avail, and I lost my treasured flexi due to my wanting to listen to it. With flexis the life span is nowhere nearly as long as a traditional record which can last for a lifetime or five if properly stored and cared.
While primarily used as advertising, flexi discs were more memorable than the products they promoted.