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 2 picks up in early 1990 and takes us through early summer, book-ended by Roxette hits and featuring another steady stream of hair metal and pop, with a little rap and R&B thrown in for flavor.
Side A
Roxette – Dangerous
Originally recorded from American Top 40, the fifth and final single from Roxette’s second album added 5 listens to its play total over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 plays | 12 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 12/18/2018 |
Skid Row – Youth Gone Wild
The first release from Skid Row, which peaked at #99 on the Billboard charts, picked up 5 new plays over the past 4+ years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 8 plays | 13 plays, most recently on 10/3/2018 |
Biz Markie – Just A Friend
Ranked #81 on VH1s list of Greatest One Hit Wonders, Biz Markie’s smash more than doubled its listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 plays | 12 plays | 25 plays, most recently on 11/8/2018 |
Mötley Crüe – Without You
Peaking at #8 on the Billboard charts, the ballad, said to be about drummer Tommy Lee’s relationship with Heather Locklear, picked up 6 additional spins since 2015.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 plays | 11 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 11/26/2018 |
Aerosmith – What It Takes
Aerosmtih returns to my charts with this smash hit, which peaked at #9 on the charts and picked up a mere 3 plays over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 plays | 12 plays | 15 plays, most recently on 8/14/2018 |
MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This
The first rap song to be nominated for the Record of the Year Grammy, MC Hammer’s signature tune more than doubled its play total over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 plays | 6 plays | 13 plays, most recently on 12/15/2018 |
Aerosmith – Rag Doll
A 1988 hit from Aerosmith, which makes an appearance on this tape thanks to my absconding my friend Scott’s cassette of their previous album, also more than doubled its play total in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 plays | 6 plays | 13 plays, most recently on 10/2/2018 |
