Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.

 

Volume 3 picks up in mid-summer 1990 and takes us through late 1990 and into my junior year of high school.  Featuring another steady stream of hair metal, with small selections of pop, rap, R&B, and dance thrown in for good measure, volume 3 also overlaps with the start of my relationship with my first “real” girlfriend.

 

Side A

2 Live Crew – Banned In The USA

The protest anthem from 2 Live Crew was taped off of the radio, from, if I remember correctly, B96.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 3/16/2012

Poison – Unskinny Bop

The first single from Flesh & Blood was taped off of the cassette.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 8/1/2011

Poison – Nothin’ But A Good Time

The out of sequence hit from Look What The Cat Dragged In was taped off the radio, most likely the Blaze.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 5/14/2011

MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her

The follow up to U Can’t Touch This was taped off the radio, from what I only assume was Z95.  In a funny twist, the next song on the radio, which is quickly cut off, was the aforementioned Unskinny Bop.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 9/2/2011

Cheap Trick – Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love

Cheap Trick’s hit, which turned into “our song” with my first girlfriend, was also taped off of Z95.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 3/25/2012

Nelson – Love and Affection

Nelson’s debut smash was, again, taped off Z95.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 8/8/2008

Warrant – Cherry Pie

The strip club anthem was taped off the cassingle.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 2/28/2012

Johnny Gill – Rub You The Right Way

The solo debut for the New Edition alumnus was also taped off Z95.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 9/1/2011

Side B

Poison – Every Rose Has It’s Thorn

The out of time hit was taped off of the radio and must have come from 103.5 The Blaze.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 6/7/2011

Poison – Something To Believe In

The back-end of the second Poison double dip on this tape was taped from the cassette.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 3/24/2012

2 In A Room – Wiggle It

The dance hit was taped off the radio, most likely Z95.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 5/28/2009

Wilson Phillips – Impulsive

The third hit from Wilson Phillips was taped off the radio, again likely Z95.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 12/7/2010

Alias – More Than Words Can Say

The one-hit wonder was taped off of Z95.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 9/17/2011

Stevie B – Because I Love You (The Postman Song)

The love song, which was my junior prom theme, was taped off of the cassingle.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 10/18/2008

Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby

The novelty rap hit was taped off Z95.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 2/2/2012