Some time ago we threatened to do an episode on covermount CDs. For Chris, Dave and many, many other teenagers, the covermount CDs found bundled with copies of Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, NME and numerous other magazines were an indispensable way of finding new music.

At a time when these music magazines were still in high circulation, the covermount CD (or cassette, or vinyl) was also a great way for relatively unknown acts to find a new audience by being included on a CD with some of the biggest acts in the world.

But how did it all begin? What was the origin of these covermount CDs, cassettes, vinyl and floppy disks? How did it benefit bands, the magazines and the labels? Did it even have a positive effect on the smaller bands that found themselves on these release? And how exactly did unsigned bands manage to land a spot on one of t ...