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 5 takes us from the end of my junior year of high school, through the summer, and all the way to spring of my senior year, from mid 1991 through early 1992, and once again features a healthy dose of hair metal and pop. It also covers the acquisition of my first CD player, a Christmas gift in 1991.
Side A
Firehouse – Don’t Treat Me Bad
Peaking at #19 on the Billboard charts, the first hit from Firehouse picked up 7 new listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 plays | 5 plays | 12 plays, most recently on 12/2/2018 |
Color Me Badd – I Wanna Sex You Up
Featured on the soundtrack for New Jack City, the first single from the R&B boy band nearly tripled its spins over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 5 plays | 14 plays, most recently on 9/3/2018 |
Boyz II Men – Motownphilly
The debut release from the Philadelphia crooners, which hit #3 on the Billboard charts, had a healthy 15 play increase since last we checked.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 plays | 4 plays | 19 plays, most recently on 11/8/2018 |
Mötley Crüe – Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
The fourth single off of Dr. Feelgood, originally recorded off 103.5 The Blaze, gets a nice 8 listen increase to keep it in the running for one of the most listened to songs.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 18 plays | 22 plays | 30 plays, most recently on 9/1/2018 |
Slaughter – Fly To The Angels
The second single from the band’s debut album, which peaked at #19 on the Billboard charts, more than doubled its plays in the last 3 years..
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 6 plays | 13 plays, most recently on 8/21/2018 |
Boyz II Men – It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye
A cover of song originally written for the film Cooley High, the song saw a 20 spin increase over the past 3 years, covering both the radio and album versions of the tune.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 plays | 28 plays | 48 plays, most recently on 12/18/2018 |
Salt-N-Pepa – Let’s Talk About Sex
Nominated for the 1992 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy, the tune nearly doubled its output over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 plays | 9 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 10/20/2018 |
Side B
Color Me Badd – All 4 Love
The 9th biggest hit of 1992 saw a tremendous increase of 23 listens over the past 3 years, thanks mostly to its use as walk up music by former White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 8 plays | 31 plays, most recently on 5/10/2018 |
Poison – Your Mama Don’t Dance
Recorded off of my first ever CD, this live version wouldn’t have made it on to the tape if I hadn’t spent part of the Christmas break in Florida.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 plays | 11 plays | 15 plays, most recently on 11/27/2018 |
Poison – Talk Dirty To Me
Again, were it not for spending part of the Christmas break in Florida, I wouldn’t have felt compelled add this to the collection.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 plays | 12 plays | 22 plays, most recently on 10/19/2018 |
Mötley Crüe – Home Sweet Home
Originally released in 1985, the song, ranked as the 12th greatest power ballad of all time by VH1, was re-released in 1991 and managed to add 8 new spins over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 plays | 13 plays | 21 plays, most recently on 8/10/2018 |
MC Hammer – Addams Groove
The final top 10 hit for the rapper/dancer, the theme song from The Addams Family film, added only 5 new listens since last we checked.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 plays | 13 plays | 18 plays, most recently on 10/14/2018 |
Guns N’ Roses – Don’t Cry
Hitting #10 on the Billboard charts, the first single from Use Your Illusion I nearly doubled its plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 9 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 11/8/2018 |
Def Leppard – Let’s Get Rocked
The band’s first new release in 4 years, following the death of guitarist Steve Clark, picked up 16 additional spins over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 plays | 10 plays | 26 plays, most recently on 10/20/2018 |