According to the ancient Mayan calendar, today is the end of the world. Early reports from Australia and New Zealand, where the day has come and gone, have the world living on to see another day. I guess we shall see if the US can say the same.
In other news, in the unlikely event that the world does not come to an end, REM will likely be getting a big royalty check sometime in the near future.
Earlier this year, we looked at the 20 volumes of mix tapes that I had made between 1989 and 1995, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. In addition to those, I had 2 tapes that consisted of songs that I liked, but, for differing reasons, did not make it to the main set. I thought it would be fun to take another look back at those two cassettes, how much I listen to those songs now, and why they did not qualify for the main set of mix tapes.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Soul To Squeeze
This song was from the Coneheads soundtrack, released in 1993. I’m not sure what held the song back, as it ranks high today in my list of favorite Chili Pepper songs.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 8/29/2011
Aerosmith – Sweet Emotion
At some point, I stopped putting old songs on the main series of mix tapes and shunted them off to this collection. This Aerosmith hit, originally released in the 70s, was re-released as the single from the Pandora’s Box boxset.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 6/17/2012
EMF – Unforgettable
The one hit from EMF certainly should have made it to the main series of tapes. Maybe I just never got it recorded until it was too late?
iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 9/1/2011
REM – Drive (Live)
This live version of the debut single from Automatic For The People was recorded for Greenpeace.
Stone Temple Pilots – Plush
One thing I did notice was that for bands I ended up reallly liking, like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and STP, their first breakthrough hit did not make it on to my favorites tapes.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 10/13/2010
Motley Crue – Kickstart My Heart
Again, not sure why this wouldn’t have made it to the main tapes, unless it came out before those tapes started. The timing would have been close.
iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 6/17/2012
REM – Stand
The title song from the Chris Elliot show Get A Life would have pre-dated the other collection of favorite songs.
iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 7/13/2012
Guns N’ Roses – Patience
With the overwhelming success of Appetite For Destruction, a quickie EP was released with previously released material and this song, which would have come out right around the time the other series of tapes was starting off.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 8/15/2011
Van Halen – Jump
Since this song came out in 1984, it was relegated to this backup tape as opposed to the main stream.
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 10/2/2012
Def Leppard – Bringin’ On The Heartbreak
This Def Leppard song easily pre-dates my collection of favorite songs, as it came out in the early 1980s.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/25/2012
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.
Last week, we finished up the last of the 20 volumes. The 287 songs from 144 different bands or performers have been played an average of just over 5 times each, according to my iTunes stats. Let’s take one final look back at the bands and songs that made up my youth.
25 – Veruca Salt – Seether
19 – Motley Crue – Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
18 – The Breeders – Cannonball
18 – Cher with Beavis and Butthead – I’ve Got You Babe
17 – Great White – Once Bitten, Twice Shy
11 – Poison
10 – Aerosmith
10 – Pearl Jam
7 – Def Leppard
7 – Guns N’ Roses
OK, it may be a little cliched at this point, and I haven’t really listened to this song at all in over a year, but it certainly fit the criteria back when it first came out.
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 19 stretches from late summer 1995 and into the fall semester of the first of my two senior years of college. Again, it mostly features what was considered alternative music, with Coolio interjecting some street flavor for good measure.
Tripping Daisy – I Got A Girl
The one hit for Tripping Daisy was taped off the radio courtesy of Q101.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 9/2/2011
Foo Fighters – This Is A Call
The debut for Dave Grohl’s new venture was taped off Q101.
iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 10/10/2011
Pearl Jam – Whipping
Pearl Jam’s latest was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Hootie and the Blowfish – Only Wanna Be With You
Hootie’s ode to, among other things, the Miami Dolphins was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 8/28/2009
Elastica – Stutter
The follow up from Elastica was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Cranberries – Ridiculous Thoughts
The latest from the Cranberries was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Green Day – J.A.R.
Green Day’s contribution to the Angus soundtrack was taped off the radio, likely Q101.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 10/11/2011
Alanis Morissette – Hand In My Pocket
The second release from the juggernaut that was Jagged Little Pill was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 8/31/2011
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 18 covers the summer of 1995 and the lead up to the first of my two senior years of college.
Stone Temple Pilots – Dancing Days
The Led Zeppelin cover was taped off the radio courtesy of, I assume, Q101.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/30/2012
PJ Harvey – Down By The Water
The surprise mainstream hit for the indie darling was taped off the radio from Q101.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/15/2012
REM – Strange Currencies
The latest from the Athens, GA boys was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Live – All Over You
Live’s latest was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/15/2011
Soul Asylum – Misery
The latest from Soul Asylum was taped off the radio from Q101.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 9/2/2011
Collective Soul – December
Collective Soul’s latest was also recorded from Chicago’s new rock alternative.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 6/24/2010
Elastica – Connection
Elastica’s hit was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/25/2012
Juliana Hatfield – Universal Heart-Beat
The solo release from Juliana Hatfield was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 9/22/2010
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 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.
Hole – Doll Parts
The latest from Courtney Love and company was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 5/24/2012
Live – I Alone
The Live hit was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 5/24/2012
Deadeye Dick – New Age Girl
The one hit wonder was acquired via Lafayette’s hit music station, 96.5 WAZY.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 5/15/2012
Nirvana – About A Girl
The unplugged performance was also recorded from the good folks at WAZY.
iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 5/17/2012
Aerosmith – Blind Man
The extra B-side thrown onto Aerosmith’s latest greatest hits package was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/9/2011
Real McCoy – Another Night
The international dance hit was taped off the cassingle.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 1/11/2009
Warren G – Do You See
The Warren G release was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Urge Overkill – Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon
The Neil Diamond cover was taped off the cassingle.
iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 5/13/2011
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 15 takes us into through the summer of 1994 and into the fall and my junior year of college. The song selection is, again, mostly alternative with some west coast gangsta rap.
Frente! – Labour Of Love
The hit from Marvin! The Album was recorded via Chicago’s new rock alternative, Q101.
iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 4/20/2012
Mazzy Star – Fade Into You
The mesmerizing tune from Hope Sandoval and company was taped off WKQX Chicago.
iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 5/11/2012
Nirvana – Verse Chorus Verse
The posthumous B-side from the trio from Seattle was, again, obtained from Q101.
iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 6/1/2012
Warren G – This D.J.
The follow up to Regulate was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Cracker – Eurotrash Girl
The hidden track was taped off Q101.
iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 9/1/2011
Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song
STP’s latest was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 1 play, on 10/3/2010
Gin Blossoms – Allison Road
The Gin Blossoms latest was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 3/19/2012
Weezer – Undone (The Sweater Song)
The debut hit from Weezer was taped off Q101.
iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 5/3/2012
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 10 covers the spring and summer of 1993, following my freshman year of college, and features the top rap and alternative hits of the summer, along with some pop and the last remnants of hair metal.
Pearl Jam – Black
The first song from Pear Jam’s post-video phase was taped from the CD.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 3/11/2012
Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind
The big hit from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bomb Last Action Hero was taped off the radio from 103.5 The Blaze during a nightly song battle where listeners would call up and vote as two songs “battled” against each other.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 3/24/2011
UB40 – Can’t Help Falling In Love
The big hit from the Sliver soundtrack was taped off the radio from Lafayette’s hit music station, 96.5 WAZY.
iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 5/1/2012
Aerosmith – Cryin’
The first installment of Alicia Silverstone’s video trilogy was taped from the CD.
iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 6/7/2011
TLC – Get It Up
The “hit” from the Poetic Justice soundtrack was taped from the cassingle.
4 Non Blondes – What’s Up?
The ubiquitous hit was taped off the radio from Q101.
iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 10/2/2011
Tag Team – Whoomp! (There It Is)
The unofficial theme to the Bulls third straight NBA championship was taped off the radio from what appears to be B96, as number 5 in the nightly countdown of most requested songs.
iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 3/30/2012
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 9 places us squarely in the early months of 1993, overlapping with the second semester of my freshman year of college. The hip hop and pop are rounded out with some alternative and what passes for hair metal in the post-grunge era.
Dan Baird – I Love You Period
The only solo hit from the Georgia Satellites rocker was taped off the radio, namely 96.5 WAZY.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 5/5/2011
Ugly Kid Joe – Cats In The Cradle
The cover of the Harry Chapin hit was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 8/23/2011
Arrested Development – Mr. Wendal
The story of a wise homeless man was taped off the radio, likely WAZY.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 6/12/2011
Naughty By Nature – Hip Hop Hooray
The hip hop anthem was taped off of the cassingle.
iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 7/25/2011
Positive K – I Got A Man
The one hit for Positive K was taped off the radio, likely B96.
iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 8/1/2011
REM – Man On The Moon
The tribute to Andy Kaufman was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 9/21/2011
Aerosmith – Livin’ On The Edge
The first hit from the Get A Grip album was taped off the radio from The Best of Rock, 103.5 The Blaze.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 12/7/2010