Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together 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. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.

Volume 12 covers the summer of 1993 and into the fall and my sophomore year of college.  Alternative has mostly taken over, although there’s still a small smattering of pop and hair metal, or whatever we were calling Def Leppard and Guns ‘N Roses back then.

Side A

10,000 Maniacs – Because The Night

The unplugged hit was taped off the radio from Chicago’s new rock alternative, Q101.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 8/26/2011

Cracker – Low

The first hit from Cracker’s sophomore effort was also taped from Q101.

iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 5/1/2012

Def Leppard – Miss You In A Heartbeat

The ballad was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 8/18/2011

Cher w/ Beavis & Butthead – I Got You Babe

The remake from the animated duos hit film was taped off Lafayette’s hit music station, 96.5 WAZY.

iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 10/10/2011

Guns N’ Roses – Estranged

The GnR opus was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 8/1/2011

Lemonheads – Into Your Arms

The big hit for Evan Dando and the boys must have been taped off of a cassingle.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 7/22/2011

Side B

Gin Blossoms – Found Out About You

The second hit from the Gin Blossoms was taped off Q101.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 3/19/2012

Stone Temple Pilots – Creep

The radio edit was, not coincidentally, taped off Q101.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 4/20/2012

Nirvana – All Apologies

The second hit from In Utero was taped from the CD.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 10/19/2011

Guns N’ Roses – Since I Don’t Have You

The last hit of the Slash era of GnR was taped off a radio station of undetermined origin.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 7/19/2011

Ace of Base – The Sign

The Swedish sensations were taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 1/27/2009

James – Laid

The smash hit for the lads from Britain was taped from Q101.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 5/17/2011

Crash Test Dummies – Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

The smash hit for the lads from Canada was taped from WAZY.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 3/15/2012

Cracker – Get Off This

The follow up hit from Kerosene Hat was, unlike its predecessor, taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 5/10/2011