20 years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I put together the first of what would become 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. We last looked back at all 20 volumes three years ago to see which of my “favorite” songs still resonated in today’s digital world. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how, or if, things have changed in the past 3 years.
Volume 1, again, was started in 1989 when I was a sophomore and stretches to early 1990. It features a steady stream of hair metal, with a smattering of pop, rap and dance, with a morning zoo radio bit thrown in for good measure.
Side A
Warrant – Heaven
The biggest hit from Warrant, which I most likely originally recorded from Z95, peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts. It has more than doubled its number of plays over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 plays | 6 plays | 13 plays, most recently on 12/4/2018 |
Young MC – Bust A Move
One of the first tunes I bought on cassingle, this one hit wonder won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1990. It had another impressive increase, gaining 6 plays since 2015.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 plays | 20 plays | 26 plays, most recently on 9/17/2018 |
New Kids Got Run Over By A Reindeer
Thanks to YouTube, I just finally tracked down this parody song that I originally heard on the Welch & Woody morning show on Z95. I may even listen to it next Christmas.
Bon Jovi – You Give Love A Bad Name
Originally written by Desmond Child for Bonnie Tyler, the song was rewritten and became the first single from Bon Jovi’s third album in 1986. After a dry spell between 2012 and 2015, it has more than doubled in the 3 years since.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 6 plays | 14 plays, most recently on 12/11/2018 |
B-52s – Love Shack
I’m still hoping to acquire the full version of the song on MP3, which I had originally taped off the radio. In spite of that, I’ve more than tripled the number of listens over the last three years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 3 plays | 13 plays, most recently on 10/2/2018 |
Paula Abdul – The Way That You Love Me
After stalling out on the Billboard charts on its original release in 1988, the song, along with a video by future Academy Award nominee David Fincher, was re-released the following year, making it up to #3. Despite barely hearing the song for years, it’s added 7 new plays in the past three years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 plays | 1 play | 8 plays, most recently on 11/6/2018 |
Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting
The #1 hit, the third consecutive for Marx, was the second single from his second album. After a dry spell between 2012 and 2015, it has more than tripled in the 3 years since.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 play | 3 plays | 10 plays, most recently on 12/12/2018 |
Side B
Billy Joel – We Didn’t Start The Fire
Nominated for the Record of the Year Grammy, Billy Joel’s huge comeback hit made it to #1 on the Billboard charts. After going 3 years with nary a listen, it has increased over five-fold in the 3 years since.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 2 plays | 11 plays, most recently on 12/4/2018 |
Bon Jovi – Lay Your Hands On Me
The fourth single from New Jersey peaked at #7, helping each single from the album to crack the top 10. It garnered a mere 3 listens in the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 plays | 2 plays | 5 plays, most recently on 9/23/2018 |
Bon Jovi – 99 In The Shade
Meanwhile, this album track from the same album went unlistened to for years, but has tried to make up for lost time over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 plays | 0 plays | 6 plays, most recently on 4/22/2017 |
Shana – I Want You
The one-hit wonder (if you can consider peaking at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 a hit) is available on iTunes, but I still haven’t been moved enough to acquire it.
Skid Row – I Remember You
Reaching #6 on the Billboard charts, the third single from the band’s debut album was originally recorded from American Top 40. It has seen a steady increase, gaining 6 plays over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 plays | 9 plays | 15 plays, most recently on 11/5/2018 |
Aerosmith – Janie’s Got A Gun
The second single from Pump, the song made it to #4 on the charts and won the Grammy in 1990 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. It has more than doubled its listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 plays | 10 plays | 25 plays, most recently on 5/14/2018 |
[…] 146 – Volume 1 […]