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 9 places us squarely in the early months of 1993, overlapping with the second semester of my freshman year of college. The hip hop and pop are rounded out with some alternative and what passes for hair metal in the post-grunge era.
Side A
Dan Baird – I Love You Period
Despite not knowing if this song, which peaked at #26 on the Billboard charts, ever got radio play in the state of Illinois, I’ve somehow managed to add 5 new listens over the past 3 years..
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 9 plays | 14 plays, most recently on 11/1/2018 |
Ugly Kid Joe – Cats In The Cradle
The cover of the Harry Chapin hit, which gave the band their highest charting hit of their career, picked up a mere 4 new plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 6 plays | 10 plays, most recently on 11/15/2018 |
Arrested Development – Mr. Wendal
The story of a wise homeless man, which hit #6 on the Billboard charts, managed to pick up 7 plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 12 plays | 19 plays, most recently on 11/27/2018 |
Naughty By Nature – Hip Hop Hooray
The 45th biggest hit of 1993 nearly doubled its total over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 plays | 12 plays | 23 plays, most recently on 12/19/2018 |
Positive K – I Got A Man
The rappers only top 40 hit, peaking at #14, garnered a slight 4 play increase in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 plays | 10 plays | 14 plays, most recently on 11/16/2018 |
REM – Man On The Moon
The tribute to comedian Andy Kaufman, which peaked at #2 on the Alternative Songs chart, picked up a mere 4 new listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 5 plays | 9 plays, most recently on 11/28/2018 |
Aerosmith – Livin’ On The Edge
Spending 9 weeks atop the Album Rock Tracks chart, the first single from the band’s 11th studio album, which I bought at a midnight release at the Musicland that would eventually become Kazoo’s, managed a slight increase over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 5 plays | 8 plays, most recently on 7/3/2018 |
Side B
Def Leppard – Tonight
The fifth single from Adrenalize, which stalled out at #62 on the Billboard chart, picked up 7 listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 plays | 5 plays | 12 plays, most recently on 11/30/2018 |
Guns N’ Roses – Dead Horse
The final release from the Use Your Illusion albums, which was never officially released as a commercial single and thus didn’t chart, added 5 new plays over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 8 plays | 13 plays, most recently on 12/3/2018 |
Bon Jovi – In These Arms
The third single from the New Jersey rockers fifth studio album, which peaked at #27 on the Billboard charts, has not been heard in more than 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 plays | 11 plays | 12 plays, most recently on 10/11/2015 |
Silk – Freak Me
The 5th biggest single of 1993 and the biggest hit for Silk managed to add only 3 plays in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 4 plays | 7 plays, most recently on 7/27/2018 |
Poison – Until You Suffer Some (Fire & Ice)
The final appearance from the glam rockers, which failed to chart in the US, .
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 play | 5 plays | 9 plays, most recently on 8/22/2018 |
PM Dawn – Looking Through Patient Eyes
The 38th biggest hit of 1993 features backing vocals from Cathy Dennis and tripled its number of plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 play | 3 plays | 9 plays, most recently on 9/17/2018 |
Ugly Kid Joe – Busy Bee
The final hit for Ugly Kid Joe, which stalled out at #22 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, picked up 12 plays in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 plays | 1 play | 13 plays, most recently on 10/15/2018 |