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 3 picks up in mid-summer 1990 and takes us through late 1990 and into my junior year of high school.  Featuring another steady stream of hair metal, with small selections of pop, rap, R&B, and dance thrown in for good measure, volume 3 also overlaps with the start of my relationship with my first “real” girlfriend.

Side A

2 Live Crew – Banned In The USA

The protest anthem from 2 Live Crew, one of the few songs that I taped off of B96, increased slightly over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 6 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 10/23/2014

Poison – Unskinny Bop

The first single from Flesh & Blood managed to double it’s plays since last time we did this check.

2012 iTunes stats: 4 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 6/21/2014

Poison – Nothin’ But A Good Time

Arguably Poison’s second biggest hit, despite my not having listened to it, at least the studio version, in nearly 4 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 6 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 5/14/2011

MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her

The strange rap ballad doubled up its number of plays over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 8/13/2014

Cheap Trick – Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love

Cheap Trick’s hit, which turned into “our song” with my first girlfriend, had a healthy increase over the last few years.

2012 iTunes stats: 10 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 4/2/2015

Nelson – Love and Affection

Matthew and Gunnar’s big hit increased exponentially since 2012.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 6/21/2014

Warrant – Cherry Pie

Thanks to prodding from The Adam Carolla Show, Warrant’s strip club anthem increased by 9 listens over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 8 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 9/18/2014

Johnny Gill – Rub You The Right Way

A slight increase for the solo debut from the New Edition alumnus.

2012 iTunes stats: 7 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 4/24/2014

Side B

Poison – Every Rose Has It’s Thorn

Poison’s biggest hit doubled its plays over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 4 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 1/10/2015

Poison – Something To Believe In

Another Poison song with the same stats as the one we just looked at.

2012 iTunes stats: 4 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 4/5/2014

2 In A Room – Wiggle It

The dance hit managed the slightest of increases over the last few years.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 8/5/2014

Wilson Phillips – Impulsive

The third hit from Wilson Phillips had an exponential increase in the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 1/2/2015

Alias – More Than Words Can Say

The one-hit wonder shares the same exponential growth as the previous song.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 1/18/2015

Stevie B – Because I Love You (The Postman Song)

My junior prom theme doubled its number of plays, despite not having been heard in over 2 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 3/11/2013

Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby

The novelty rap hit doubled its play total thanks to a listen last month.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 3/9/2015