"It was very hard to get any records, so the only source for us to really hear what was happening was listening to the Voice of America. We would be taping all the broadcast and then sharing the tapes and talking about it"

Jan Hammer's quote talks to the difficulty of getting records during the Cold War era. With limited access to music, the only method to hear what was occurring was to listen to the Voice of America. This was a radio station that broadcasted news and music from the United States to countries behind the Iron Curtain. People would tape the broadcasts and share the tapes with each other, discussing the music and news they heard. This was a method for individuals to stay connected to the outdoors world and to keep up with the current music and news. It was likewise a method to stay connected to each other, as they shared the tapes and discussed the material. The Voice of America was a lifeline for many individuals during the Cold War, providing a method to stay informed and linked.