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. Three years ago, we looked back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listened to. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how things have changed in the last 3 years.
Volume 8 covers the winter and spring of 1993 and the second semester of my freshman year of college. The alternative influence starts to become more noticable, as both Pearl Jam and Nirvana make their first appearances alongside old mainstays like Poison, Bon Jovi, and Def Leppard. Besides that, we are treated to a lot of hip-hop and hair metal, with a small sampling pop, as always.
Side A
Bell Biv Devoe – Gangsta
The intended first single from the second Bell Biv Devoe record, which flopped, was dropped from the album, and now is lost to history.
Pearl Jam – Jeremy
The first appearance on these tapes by Pearl Jam, the song had a modest increase over the past 3 years.
2012 iTunes stats: 6 plays
2015 iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 8/29/2014
Wreckx-N-Effect – Rump Shaker
The biggest song for butts since Sir Mix-A-Lot had a healthy 5 play increase.
2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays
2015 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 3/11/2015
Boyz II Men – In The Still Of The Night
The cover of the old doo-wop classic more than doubled its plays in the last 3 years.
2012 iTunes stats: 4 plays
2015 iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 4/10/2015
Arrested Development – People Everyday
The second hit for Speech and company had a healthy doubling of its plays.
2012 iTunes stats: 7 plays
2015 iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 2/14/2015
Nirvana – In Bloom
The first appearance of Nirvana on these tapes, the song more than doubled its plays in the last 3 years.
2012 iTunes stats: 6 plays
2015 iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 4/1/2015
TLC – What About Your Friends
The final hit from TLC’s debut album doubled its lowly total over the past 3 years.
2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays
2015 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 9/16/2014