I recently found out why all my recordings sounded like demos, rather than like "records". After recording and mixing the instruments and voices there is another important process called "mastering" that needs to be done for the recording to sound finished. Mastering involves adding compression to the overall mix, sequencing the songs, and adding the desired spacing between tracks. It really helps to make your recording sound good on all kinds of boom boxes, dash board tape players, etc. Nowadays it is easily done digitally. It's something to ask about when you're checking out studios.

Just my two bits worth
Good luck
Bart