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 14 takes us into the early summer of 1994, following the end of my sophomore year of college.  The song selection continues to be  mostly alternative, with a little G-funk added for flavor.

Side A

Stone Temple Pilots – Big Empty

The entry from The Crow soundtrack was taped off the radio, from what I’m guessing was the new Rock 103.5.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 10/2/2010

Aerosmith – Crazy

The final installment of the Alicia Silverstone video trilogy, now with extra Liv Tyler, was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 3/30/2012

Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun

The big hit for Soundgarden was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 3/17/2012

Green Day – Longview

The “debut” that pushed Green Day into the mainstream was taped off the radio, specifically Q101.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 3/30/2011

Hole – Miss World

The introduction of Courtney Love to a mainstream audience was taped off the radio, again from Q101.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 5/3/2012

Pearl Jam – Dissident

The latest from Pearl Jam was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 3/19/2012

Sarah McLachlan – Possession

The first hit for Sarah McLachlan was taped off what must have been a cassingle.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 3/31/2012

Side B

Tori Amos – Cornflake Girl

The follow up from Under The Pink was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 3/14/2012

Sonic Youth – Bull In The Heather

The Sonic Youth hit was taped off the radio, surprisingly from Q101.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/19/2012

Offspring – Come Out And Play

The smash the exposed the Offspring to a mainstream audience was also taped off the radio courtesy of Q101.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 5/19/2012

Toad The Wet Sprocket – Fall Down

The return of Toad the Wet Sprocket was, again, taped off the radio thanks to Chicago’s new alternative, Q101.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 5/30/2012

Stone Temple Pilots – Vasoline

The first hit from the second album was taped, surprisingly, off Q101.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 3/16/2011

Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories – Stay

The (at the time) unsigned Loeb’s smash hit from the Reality Bites soundtrack was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 3/11/2012

The Pretenders – Night In My Veins

The Pretenders returned to the charts with this hit that was taped off the radio, from, you guessed it, Q101.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 4/19/2011

Warren G – Regulate

The debut hit from Dr. Dre’s step-brother was taped off the radio, most certainly not from Q101, but I can’t tell from where.

iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 8/31/2011

Coolio – Fantastic Voyage

The debut for Coolio was taped off the radio from upstart 106 Jamz.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 9/1/2011