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. Three years ago, we looked back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listened to. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how things have changed in the last 3 years.

Volume 4 places us smack dab in the middle of my junior year of high school, from late 1990 and into 1991, and once again features a healthy dose of hair metal and pop, with a little dance electronica thrown in for good measure.  Judging solely from this tape, you would have no idea that Nirvana’s Nevermind would be released later this year.

Side A

Damn Yankees – High Enough

The one big hit from the supergroup featuring Ted Nugent managed to double its number of plays despite not showing up in rotation in over a year.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 5/3/2014

Sweet Sensation – If Wishes Came True

The #1 hit more than doubled its number of plays and was last heard one year ago today.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 5/13/2014

Poison – Fallen Angel

Poison’s hit from 1988, the only single from Open Up and Say… Ahh! to not crack the top 10, only got 2 additional listens over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 11 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 1/29/2013

Simpsons – Do The Bart Man

I finally managed to listen to the first single from the animated TV family for the first time in years last August.

2012 iTunes stats: Never played

2015 iTunes stats: 1 play, on 8/30/2014

Roxette – The Look

A tremendous increase for the first hit from the Swedish group.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 9/5/2014

Poison – I Won’t Forget You

The fourth single from Poison’s debut album went up by only 2 listens over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 7/14/2014

Side B

Roxette – Listen To Your Heart

Roxette’s second entry on this particular cassette went up by 3 listens, despite its last play being exactly 2 years ago today.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 4/13/2013

Tevin Campbell – Round and Round

After not listening to this song for years, it has popped up twice over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats:  Never Played

2015 iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 7/27/2014

Poison – Ride The Wind

Poison’s third entry on this cassette has doubled its small total over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 3/12/2015

Roxette – Joyride

The third entry from Roxette enjoyed a slight increase over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 5 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 4/2/2015

Nelson – More Than Ever

The third (and last) hit for the grandsons of Ozzie & Harriet remains absent from my iTunes collection.

Cathy Dennis – All Night Long (Touch Me)

The dance hit, which managed to hit #2 on the Billboard charts, was only listened to once in the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 9/27/2014

Great White – Once Bitten, Twice Shy

An impressive increase of 6 listens by the band now mostly known for a fatal fire in a small club.

2012 iTunes stats: 16 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 9/27/2014