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 13 takes us into late spring of 1994 and my the end of my sophomore year of college. The song selection is now mostly completely alternative, with just one or two hip-hop hits to go along with it., with a little pop and Aerosmith on the side.
Side A
Alice In Chains – No Excuses
The first Alice In Chains song to top the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, originally acquired via 93.5 KHY in Lafayette, added 10 new plays over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 plays | 6 plays | 16 plays, most recently on 12/23/2018 |
Smashing Pumpkins – Disarm
The third single from the band’s breakthrough release Siamese Dream, which was banned by the BBC because of its lyrical content, more than doubled its output over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 7 plays | 15 plays, most recently on 12/17/2018 |
Counting Crows – Mr. Jones
The debut single from Counting Crows, which hit #2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, added an impressive 14 plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 plays | 3 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 9/17/2018 |
The Cranberries – Dreams
The first single from the band, which became a hit after Linger put them on the map, saw a 13 listen increase.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 plays | 9 plays | 22 plays, most recently on 7/12/2018 |
Jodeci – Cry For You
The 60th biggest hit of 1994 picked up 10 listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 play | 2 plays | 12 plays, most recently on 11/20/2018 |
Julianna Hatfield Three – Spin The Bottle
The track, featured on the Reality Bites soundtrack, added 8 additional plays over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 plays | 13 plays | 21 plays, most recently on 11/1/2018 |
Aerosmith – Deuces Are Wild
Aerosmith’s contribution to The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience compilation album, originally recorded for Pump, more than doubled its listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 6 plays | 14 plays, most recently on 5/30/2018 |
Gin Blossoms – Mrs. Rita
The minor Gin Blossoms, which peaked at #36 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, picked up a single new listen, 3 1/2 years ago.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 plays | 5 plays | 6 plays, most recently on 6/25/2015 |
Side B
Tori Amos – God
Hitting #1 on the Alternative Songs chart, the breakthrough hit for Tori Amos picked up 4 additional listens over the past 3 years, most recently over a year ago.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 plays | 14 plays | 18 plays, most recently on 12/20/2017 |
Snoop Dogg – Gin and Juice
Nominated for the 1995 Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, the second solo single from Snoop picked up a healthy 17 listen increase in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 plays | 20 plays | 37 plays, most recently on 11/21/2018 |
Pearl Jam – Glorified G
The Pearl Jam hit, which reached #39 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart without being released as a single, managed another 6 play increase over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 plays | 14 plays | 20 plays, most recently on 12/6/2018 |
Soundgarden – Spoonman
Hitting #3 on the Mainstream Rock chart, the debut single from Superunknown added 17 additional plays, most due to it being used as walk-up music for former White Sox catcher Kevan Smith.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 5 plays | 22 plays, most recently on 8/14/2018 |
Salt-N-Pepa – None Of Your Business
Winner of the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1995 Grammys, the hit for Salt-N-Pepa picked up 5 plays after going unlistened to for over 6 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 plays | 2 plays | 7 plays, most recently on 5/10/2018 |
Pearl Jam – Yellow Ledbetter
Ranked #95 on Guitar World’s list of 100 Greatest Guitar Solos, the incomprehensible B-side picked up 4 listens since 2015, the most recent well over a year ago.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 plays | 11 plays | 15 plays, most recently on 8/25/2017 |
The Breeders – Divine Hammer
Peaking at #28 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart, the less successful follow up added a mere 2 plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 10 plays | 12 plays, most recently on 9/8/2017 |
Collective Soul – Shine
The debut smash hit for Collective Soul, ranked as the 31st biggest hit of 1994, picked up 10 listens after having not been heard in nearly 4 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 4 plays | 14 plays, most recently on 12/18/2018 |