Abstract: A tape player includes a changeover mechanism for shifting the position of a tape travel direction changeover member in response to the reciprocating movement of a rewind pushbutton actuator, a head channel selector switch connected to the changeover mechanism via a resilient connecting mechanism and shiftable in response to the shifting operation of the changeover mechanism, silence detecting for detecting a blank interval between recordings on a magnetic tape and producing a silence interval detection signal upon detection of the blank interval, a latch mechanism for releasably holding the rewind pushbutton actuator in its advanced position, the latch mechanism being responsive to the silence interval detection signal for releasing the rewind pushbutton actuator, and blocking member for blocking the shifting operation of the head channel selector switch during the forward movement of the rewind pushbutton actuator.