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 3 picks up in mid-summer 1990 and takes us through late 1990 and into my junior year of high school. Featuring another steady stream of hair metal, with small selections of pop, rap, R&B, and dance thrown in for good measure, volume 3 also overlaps with the start of my relationship with my first “real” girlfriend.
Side A
2 Live Crew – Banned In The USA
The protest anthem from 2 Live Crew was taped off of the radio, from, if I remember correctly, B96.
iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 3/16/2012
Poison – Unskinny Bop
The first single from Flesh & Blood was taped off of the cassette.
iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 8/1/2011
Poison – Nothin’ But A Good Time
The out of sequence hit from Look What The Cat Dragged In was taped off the radio, most likely the Blaze.
iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 5/14/2011
MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her
The follow up to U Can’t Touch This was taped off the radio, from what I only assume was Z95. In a funny twist, the next song on the radio, which is quickly cut off, was the aforementioned Unskinny Bop.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 9/2/2011
Cheap Trick – Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love
Cheap Trick’s hit, which turned into “our song” with my first girlfriend, was also taped off of Z95.
iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 3/25/2012
Nelson – Love and Affection
Nelson’s debut smash was, again, taped off Z95.
iTunes stats: 1 play, on 8/8/2008
Warrant – Cherry Pie
The strip club anthem was taped off the cassingle.
iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 2/28/2012
Johnny Gill – Rub You The Right Way
The solo debut for the New Edition alumnus was also taped off Z95.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 9/1/2011