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As a rule a demo tape has 3 songs on it, with your strongest one first. A&R types will only listen to the other songs if they like the first one. It definitely does not need to be professionally done - as long as the recording is clear and the song is played well and sung well. Often record companies don't like demos to be too 'produced', as that bit is their job and they like to start with a blank canvas. Always include contact details on the body of the tape as well as on the cover, in case they get separated, and always make sure the tape is rewound to the start. Nobody at a record company is going to wait for a tape to wind back, it'll just go in the bin.
Also you need to consider including info about yourself and press cuttings if you have any.
As you asked about backing music, well there are several possibilities. If you are doing covers just to demonstrate your voice, use standard MIDI files of the net and get someone with decent equipment to record them and your voice (this could just be a PC with a decent soundcard or a 4 track recorder and a quality mic.). If you are doing original material, there are companies that will create backing tracks to your lyrics and sung melody, but they charge quite a bit. Look in the back of music magazines for contacts in this area.
All in all, it depends what you are doing the tape for. If it's purely to demonstrate your voice, don't worry too much about the backing, and send the tape to producers rather than record companies. Often music websites will have people looking for vocalists for projects. Record companies aren't really interested in people without original material. If you are trying to 'sell' your original material to a record comany, get up to date info - call them, ask who is in A&R so you know who to address envelopes to (ones with peoples names on rather than just 'Head of A&R' tend to get opened more quickly). Whilst quality of recording is still not the most important thing, some record companies will release finished material (well produced) that you send in, as it costs them less.
Sorry about the long winded reply. If you want, I'll send you my demo package and you can see what sort of things go into it - e-mail your address to phil_doleman@hotmail.com and I'll post one.
All the best,
Phil
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