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 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
One of three Hole songs to feature a contribution from Kurt Cobain, the latest from Courtney Love and company more than quadrupled its play total after not being heard in 2 1/2 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 4 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 12/4/2018 |
Cranberries – Twenty One
The minor hit from the band’s second album, helped in part by the death of singer Dolores O’Riordan, added a mere 5 plays in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 plays | 1 play | 6 plays, most recently on 12/12/2018 |
Veruca Salt – Number One Blind
The follow up single to Seether added 8 listens over the past 5 1/2 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 plays | 9 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 12/18/2018 |
Stone Temple Pilots – Unglued
Peaking at #16 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart, the track added 10 new plays in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 plays | 13 plays | 23 plays, most recently on 11/30/2018 |
Pearl Jam – Better Man
The biggest hit from the grunge superstars’ 3rd album, spending 8 weeks at the top of Mainstream Rock chart, added a paltry 5 listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 6 plays | 11 plays, most recently on 11/9/2018 |
Nirvana – Where Did You Sleep Last Night
The traditional American folk song, recorded for MTV Unplugged and released following the death of lead singer Kurt Cobain, picked up a mere 4 new listens.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 3 plays | 7 plays, most recently on 8/27/2018 |
Weezer – No One Else
Never released as a single but with plenty of radio airplay, Weezer’s latest picked up 7 new listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 plays | 10 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 10/4/2018 |
Offspring – What Happened To You?
The final offering from Offspring’s debut album, also never officially released as a single, added 8 additional plays in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 plays | 12 plays | 20 plays, most recently on 10/14/2018 |
Side B
Bush – Everything Zen
Peaking at #5 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, the debut song from Gavin Rossdale and company added 6 new listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 10 plays | 16 plays, most recently on 6/21/2018 |
The Ass Ponys – Little Bastard
The lone single from the Cincinnati-based band, originally recorded off of Q101, added 6 listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 plays | 11 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 11/6/2018 |
Hole – Violet
Written in 1991 about Courtney Love’s failed relationship with Billy Corgan, Hole’s second appearance on this tape only was heard 4 times in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 plays | 10 plays | 14 plays, most recently on 11/30/2018 |
Letters To Cleo – Here and Now
Featured on the Melrose Place soundtrack, the first hit for the Boston rockers added 11 new listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 plays | 17 plays | 28 plays, most recently on 10/1/2018 |
Oasis – Live Forever
Also written in 1991 and inspired by a Rolling Stones track, the breakthrough hit for the Gallagher brothers added 7 new listens after a long hiatus from 2013-2015.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 plays | 11 plays | 18 plays, most recently on 12/6/2018 |
Collective Soul – Gel
Hitting #14 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart, the first hit from Collective Soul’s sophomore effort added 7 listens in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 12 plays | 19 plays, most recently on 7/23/2018 |
Dr. Dre – Keep Their Heads Ringin’
Dr. Dre’s contribution to the Friday soundtrack, which peaked at #10 on the Billboard charts, picked up 14 listens in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 plays | 17 plays | 31 plays, most recently on 12/28/2018 |
Better Than Ezra – Good
The 85th biggest hit of 1995 picked up 5 new listens over the past 3 years, though none in the last year and a half.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 4 plays | 9 plays, most recently on 6/10/2017 |