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 16 takes us from the early fall of 1994 towards the end of the year and the first semester of my junior year of college. The song selection is nearly completely alternative, with just one or two hip-hop and pop hits to go along with it.
Side A
Hole – Doll Parts
The band’s first release after the death of bassist Kristen Pfaff in June 1994 picked up an additional 9 listens over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 plays | 19 plays | 28 plays, most recently on 12/9/2018 |
Live – I Alone
Ranked as the 62nd best song of the 90s by VH1, the band’s second single added 9 listens over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 7 plays | 16 plays, most recently on 10/2/2018 |
Deadeye Dick – New Age Girl
The one hit wonder, featured on the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack, quadrupled its listens after not having been heard for over 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 2 plays | 8 plays, most recently on 8/9/2018 |
Nirvana – About A Girl
The performance from MTV Unplugged, which reached #1 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart, added an additional 8 listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 plays | 15 plays | 23 plays, most recently on 8/7/2018 |
Aerosmith – Blind Man
The extra B-side thrown onto Aerosmith’s then-current greatest hits package picked up 4 new listens over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 8 plays | 12 plays, most recently on 11/9/2018 |
Real McCoy – Another Night
Ranked as both the 63rd best single of 1994 and the 6th best of 1995, the international dance hit doubled its total since last we checked.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 5 plays | 10 plays, most recently on 10/11/2018 |
Warren G – Do You See
The Warren G release, which failed to make the Top 40 in the US, hasn’t been heard in 2 1/2 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 plays | 3 plays | 4 plays, most recently on 7/1/2016 |
Urge Overkill – Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon
The Neil Diamond cover, featured on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, added 5 additional plays over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 plays | 13 plays | 23 plays, most recently on 11/14/2018 |
Side B
REM – Bang and Blame
The last REM song to breach the top 20 on the Billboard charts, peaking at number 19, the tune from the boys from Athens, GA picked up a mere 5 new plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 plays | 9 plays | 14 plays, most recently on 7/30/2018 |
The Murmurs – You Suck
A much bigger hit in Norway than in the US, the one semi-hit for The Murmurs, featuring actress Leisha Hailey, tripled its listens in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 plays | 3 plays | 9 plays, most recently on 4/20/2018 |
Weezer – Buddy Holly
Released on what would have been Buddy Holly’s 58th birthday, the big breakthrough hit for Weezer, which scored 4 MTV Video Music Awards in 1995, managed 13 additional plays in the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 plays | 15 plays | 28 plays, most recently on 5/17/2018 |
The Flaming Lips – She Don’t Use Jelly
An 8 listen increase for the only Flaming Lips song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 plays | 10 plays | 18 plays, most recently on 12/4/2018 |
Green Day – When I Come Around
Topping Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart for a then-record seven weeks, the third single from Green Day’s major label debut doubled its number of listens in the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 plays | 6 plays | 12 plays, most recently on 10/17/2018 |
Veruca Salt – Victrola
The third single from Veruca Salt’s debut album, which failed to chart in the US or UK, nearly tripled its number of listens in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 plays | 8 plays | 22 plays, most recently on 11/7/2018 |
Liz Phair – Whip-Smart
Peaking at #24 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the final single from Phair’s sophomore effort managed to go unheard for nearly 4 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 4 plays | 4 plays, most recently on 3/7/2015 |
Pearl Jam – Spin The Black Circle
Garnering Pearl Jam their first, and so far only, Grammy, the tune picked up 10 new listens in the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 plays | 9 plays | 19 plays, most recently on 12/4/2018 |
The Offspring – Gotta Get Away
Six new listens for the third release from The Offspring, which reached #6 on Billboard’s Modern Rock charts
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 plays | 5 plays | 11 plays, most recently on 7/17/2018 |