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 17 picks up in early 1995 and the second semester of my junior year and takes us into early summer.  At this point, it is nearly all alternative, with just one hip-hop breakthrough.

Side A

Hole – Asking For It

The latest from Courtney Love and company was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 2/7/2011

Cranberries – Twenty One

The latest from the Irish lads and lass was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: Never played

Veruca Salt – Number One Blind

The latest from Chicago’s indie darlings was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/1/2012

Stone Temple Pilots – Unglued

The latest from STP was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 8/19/2011

Pearl Jam – Better Man

The latest from the grunge superstars was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 5/19/2012

Nirvana – Where Did You Sleep Last Night

The posthumous unplugged hit for the Seattle rockers was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 4/23/2012

Weezer – No One Else

Weezer’s latest was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/23/2012

Offspring – What Happened To You?

The Offspring’s latest was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 3/31/2012

Side B

Bush – Everything Zen

The debut from Bush was taped (finally) off the radio courtesy of (I assume) Q101.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 10/10/2011

The Ass Ponys – Little Bastard

The only hit for the well named group was obtained via the fine folks at Q101.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 3/13/2012

Hole – Violet

Hole’s second appearance on this tape was recorded off the CD.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 6/2/2011

Letters To Cleo – Here and Now

The first hit for the Boston rockers was taped off the radio from WKQX, Chicago’s new rock alternative.

iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 3/13/2012

Oasis – Live Forever

The first hit for the boys from Manchester was also taped off the radio from WKQX, Chicago’s new rock alternative.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 7/6/2011

Collective Soul – Gel

The first hit from Collective Soul’s sophomore effort was taped off an apparently Lafayette-based radio station.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 12/21/2010

Dr. Dre – Keep Their Heads Ringin’

Dr. Dre’s contribution to the Friday soundtrack was taped off the cassingle.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 5/14/2011

Better Than Ezra – Good

The debut hit for Better Than Ezra was taped off some radio station.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 6/4/2012