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 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 first song (as I recall) recorded off of B96, this protest anthem from 2 Live Crew, recorded after their previous album was declared obscene by a federal judge, increased its play total by 7 over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 plays | 8 plays | 15 plays, most recently on 8/22/2018 |
Poison – Unskinny Bop
The first single from Flesh & Blood , which peaked at #3 on the Billboard charts, managed to earn 3 additional plays since last time we did this check.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 8 plays | 11 plays, most recently on 12/4/2018 |
Poison – Nothin’ But A Good Time
Most likely originally recorded from The Blaze, the debut single from Poison’s previous album and arguably their second biggest hit, picked up an impressive 11 new listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 plays | 6 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 10/1/2018 |
MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her
The unlikely cover of the 1971 hit by The Chi-Lites doubled up its number of plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 4 plays | 8 plays, most recently on 10/27/2017 |
Cheap Trick – Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love
Cheap Trick’s last single to hit the top 40, the first release from their 11th studio album, which became “our song” between me and my first girlfriend, had a healthy increase of 6 listens over the last few years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 plays | 14 plays | 20 plays, most recently on 11/8/2018 |
Nelson – (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection
Matthew and Gunnar’s big hit, which topped the Billboard charts, nearly tripled its play total since 2015.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 plays | 4 plays | 11 plays, most recently on 11/19/2018 |
Warrant – Cherry Pie
Thanks to prodding from The Adam Carolla Show, Warrant’s strip club anthem increased by 14 listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 plays | 17 plays | 31 plays, most recently on 12/3/2018 |
Johnny Gill – Rub You The Right Way
The solo debut from the New Edition alumnus, ranked as the 23rd biggest hit of 1990, picked up 6 additional plats in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 plays | 10 plays | 16 plays, most recently on 4/12/2018 |
Side B
Poison – Every Rose Has It’s Thorn
Names as the #34 greatest song of the 1980s by VH1, Poison’s biggest hit picked up a mere 3 plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 8 plays | 11 plays, most recently on 12/20/2018 |
Poison – Something To Believe In
Peaking at #4 on the Billboard charts, the second release from Flesh & Blood added 6 new plays in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 8 plays | 14 plays, most recently on 9/17/2017 |
2 In A Room – Wiggle It
The dance hit, originally recorded from Z95, managed to triple its output over the last few years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 plays | 4 plays | 12 plays, most recently on 9/28/2018 |
Wilson Phillips – Impulsive
The 48th biggest hit of 1991, the third hit from Wilson Phillips, the first to feature Wendy Wilson as lead, increased more than threefold in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 play | 4 plays | 13 plays, most recently on 8/20/2018 |
Alias – More Than Words Can Say
The one-hit wonder, which peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts, nearly tripled its total over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 play | 4 plays | 11 plays, most recently on 12/5/2018 |
Stevie B – Because I Love You (The Postman Song)
Ranked as the #12 hit of 1991 and my junior prom theme, the track garnered 10 additional plays after not having been heard in over 2 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 4 plays | 14 plays, most recently on 12/6/2018 |
Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby
Originally released as the B-side to a different single and eventually the first hip hop song to hit #1 on the Billboard charts, the rap hit quadrupled its play total.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 play | 2 plays | 10 plays, most recently on 11/21/2018 |