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.
Side A
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
Side B
REM – Losing My Religion
The first hit from Out Of Time certainly fits in the timeframe of the original series of cassettes, but somehow did not make the cut.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 9/7/2011
Bell Biv Devoe – Do Me!
The follow up to Poison certainly should have made it to the main series.
iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 6/27/2012
Green Jelly – 3 Little Pigs
I could have sworn that this song was on the other collection, but apparently not. Maybe the novelty hit qualities it possessed made me think twice about including it.
iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 10/19/2012
Vince Neil – You’re Invited (But Your Friends Can’t Come)
The brief breakup between Vince and the rest of Motley Crue didn’t really do any favors for either side, which is likely why they quickly got back together. I think this song, in addition to being the lead track from Neil’s solo album, was also featured in Encino Man.
iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 10/5/2011
Belly – Feed The Tree
Another example of a debut hit that I ended up really liking but didn’t make the cut of the main series.
iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 9/7/2011
Skid Row – Wasted Time
Skid Row’s follow-up to their self titled debut never really went anywhere, which may explain why this ended up where it did.
iTunes stats: 1 play, on 1/7/2009
Depeche Mode – Enjoy The Silence
If you gave me a million dollars to guess which songs were on this tape before I had relistened to it, I definitely would have lost thanks to this entry right here.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 12/16/2010
Danzig – Mother
The only song I know by the supposed tough guy of rock.
iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 4/23/2012
AC/DC – You Shook Me All Night Long
I want to say that I taped this off of my junior year roommate’s cassette. I remember the song better than I remember him, or at least his name. He was from New Jersey and somehow ended up and Purdue instead of Rutgers, where all of his friends and his girlfriend were.
iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 7/28/2011
Candlebox – Far Behind
This song probably ended up where it did because I never really did like it all that much. Which explains why I never listen to it today.
iTunes stats: Never played
Nine Inch Nails – Closer
This definitley should have made the cut to appear on the main tapes of favorite songs.
iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 7/9/2011