After my tape deck crapped out in 1997, I was stuck listening to either the radio or full albums in whatever order the artist intended.  That all changed in 2001, when the new-fangled MP3 technology got combined with my new CD burner.

The first CD I burned, in January of 2001, had multiple versions, and this is the one I kept for myself.  It contains a mix of current and old hits, along with some radio bits.  Of course, my song selection was limited at the time to the CDs and few MP3s I had on hand.

Offspring – Original Prankster

The latest hit from the Offspring kicked things off for this disc.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 4/25/2011

Soul Coughing – Super Bon Bon

A minor hit from 1996 for the band from New York.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 9/24/2012

Mexican Cheerleader – Our Party

This tune was included to introduce my friend Scott to some local punk music.  I don’t think it did much for him.

iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 9/17/2011

Howard Stern Show Parody – Dancing In Their Sheets

There was a song parody contest on the Howard Stern Show in 2000 and this ode to racism was one of the finalists.

Crew Cuts – Sh-Boom

Seeing as how I just bought this song from the iTunes store last week, I have no idea where I had gotten it from nearly 12 years ago.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 11/5/2012

Faith Hill – Breathe

Country’s cross-over into pop was big early in the century, and this was one of the bigger hits.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 5/26/2012

The Corrs – Breathless

The lasses from Ireland had their first big American pop hit at the time.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 11/9/2012

Ohio Express – Yummy Yummy Yummy

The late 60s hit was the highest charting single from the house band of Super K Productions.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 10/5/2011

The Muffs – Courtney Love Message

The Muffs 2000 compilation album included this voice mail from Courtney Love regarding the origins of the baby doll dress style worn by the ladies of grunge.

The Muffs – Kids In America

That compilation album also included this cover of the Kim Wilde hit that was originally featured on the Clueless soundtrack.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 6/4/2012

Cypress Hill – Rock Superstar

Cypress Hill had a big hit with two versions of this song in 2000, one for rock stations and one for rap stations.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 10/20/2012

Monkees – All Of Your Toys

A song that I do not have on MP3 today.

Eric Cartman – Come Sail Away

The first South Park album contained this unique cover of the Styx classic.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 6/9/2012

DMX – Party Up

The party anthem from DMX reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2000.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 9/19/2011

DJ Gauffie – Oops! Slim Shady Did It Again

A mash-up of the latest singles from Britney Spears and Eminem.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 3/22/2012

Alice In Chains – Man In The Box

This 1991 hit from the Seattle rockers got a second life when the group turned grunge.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 7/13/2012

The Black Crowes – Hard To Handle

The band hit it big in 1990 with this cover of an old Otis Redding hit.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 7/23/2011

Prank Call – Chinese Chicken

A prank call that makes fun of workers at Chinese restaurants.

Love Spit Love – How Soon Is Now

This song served as the Wiccan song of the late 90s and early 2000s, appearing in The Craft and as the theme song for Charmed, which was in its 3rd season at the time.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 8/25/2012

Stealers Wheel – Stuck In The Middle With You

The 1973 song peaked at #6 on the Billboard charts and made a comeback in 1992 thanks to its inclusion on the Reservoir Dogs soundtrack.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 8/18/2011

The Buggles – Radio Killed The Video Star

Famous for being the first video shown on MTV.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/25/2012

Santo & Johnny – Sleepwalk

A favorite for ending mix tapes, thanks to it being the ending song of the Wendy & Bill radio show.

iTunes stats: 7  plays, most recently on 7/14/2012