I have noticed limited cassette releases at shows in the last year or so and heard news of the Sony breakthrough. I’m glad this article addresses both.
My favorite part, “ The act of listening to a cassette mixtape, however – that required dedication. You couldn’t easily skip from track to track without erratically fast-forwarding or rewinding; you basically had to sit through it.”
This is one of the first mix tapes that I received circa 1997. It is extremely warbled and several of the songs are from old records so the pops and clicks of the vinyl are very evident.
This is tape 2 of a 3 tape set. I chose to start with this one because it had the greatest variety of artists compared to the other mixes. Also, the digital site I upload music to has a two song per artist restriction…so until I find a different solution some tapes will be omitted from this project.
Curator: TR
Date: ~ 1997
(Links to streaming playlist can be found by clicking on Side A or Side B. Links to videos mentioned in the text are underlined. )
This tape starts with my favorite B-52's song Rock Lobster. I woke up to this song in the middle of the night after falling asleep with the radio on. I was 12 or 13, it was equally exciting and confusing, but mostly it seemed unreal. I had a mild obsession with this self-titled record and purchased it before I owned a record player. Additionally, I had a friend in junior high who unquestionably respected my musical taste until I mentioned my love for this band…then he became suspicious.
Stagger Lee was my introduction to Nick Cave and I loved every graphic moment of it! Also, I found a video.
The Clash songs are classic and are great to sing along to.
Beat’s So Lonely was too 80’s for me in 1997 but this track grew on me as did most 80’s pop.
Hot Child in the City is my favorite of the 80’s block on this tape. I need to look into other Nick Gilder songs. (I’m not sure why I haven’t done that yet.)
I think I am only beginning to understand and appreciate Gene Loves Jezebel. However, I can totally see the curator rocking out to this band. I also really like the selections of Desire followed by Heartache. The themes seem to go hand-in-hand.
Current Stand was a really difficult song to find. The iTunes store sells it to Papua New Guinea…but not in the US. Is there a huge cult following for Kids in the Kitchen there?
The only other A-ha song I know….besides you know “the one.” I feel like this was in a film but a quick search only yielded The Power of Ninjitsu. The opening scene showcases the instrumental portions of The Sun Only Shines on T.V. (I’m quite sure I’ve not seen this film…but now I’m intrigued with the conspicuous yellow outfit that is plainly labeled Ninja on the headband.) Also, I just found our that this band is Norwegian.
Someone Saved My Life reminds me of walking in the downtown of IF and getting yelled at by a stranger sitting on an apartment balcony, “Hey, Elton John called…and he wants his sunglasses back.” I didn’t know what to say so I kept walking.
Here is a photo of my sunglasses that Elton John presumably wanted back. (I am on the roof of the building where the heckler lived.)
The Cramps were introduced to me via the curator of this tape. Several of their songs, from this tape, made it onto other mixes I made.
I never really liked songs about rock n’ roll…they always seem really disingenuous and frankly….not rock n’ roll. However, I really like Rock Around the Clock….maybe because it has strong swing elements?
Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop is a really fun song. It showcases the vocal talent of Little Anthony and it may be the first time I heard a man sing like this…besides Prince of course.
Man…or Astroman? was also introduced to me by the curator of this tape. I was so impressed by the surf style, antics of the live performance, and marketing choice to only release records. I thought I would never see them because I thought the transition to CD’s would be the end of them…but I found out recently they are on tour and releasing new material…with a new lady guitarist. I am very excited about this!!
I had no idea how prolific the song Famous Blue Raincoat was or who Leonard Cohen was. I loved Tori Amos at this time….either you loved her or you hated her…there was no middle ground. Just today I learned that the line “Did you ever go clear?” refers to a scientology….I had no idea. I still have no idea.
(Bad Girl was omitted from this mix due to the two song per artist limit. See Mix 1 if you would like to hear it.)
Sheena’s in a Goth Gang was my jam. I was goth kid at the time…I’m sure that’s why this song was included.
I think my love for Adam Ant started with Strip. He went on tour last September (2013). It was a weird mix of nostalgia and sadness for aging pop stars…time had not been good to his looks or his dance moves. However, his was voice was great on the songs I was most excited for.
Jeff Buckley is the only musician I have ever really fallen for completely. His voice is mesmerizing and the music perfectly compliments the clever lyrics. Mr. Buckley…I would have come over.
Over a decade after I received this tape (9/1/04), I still love it. I dug it out of my glove box just today (9/27/2014), which means it was still regularly listened to when my car tape deck died around 2009.
Curator: AM
Date: Sept 1, 2004
(Links to streaming playlist can be found by clicking on Side A or Side B.)
Side A: Bran is Bland for Sad Lads
This mix opens with Credit in the Straight World, which I had only known and loved as a song by Hole. The original is clean and subdued.
Receptacle for the Respectable has so many awesome elements of songs that I enjoy: handclaps, falsetto, harmonizing back-up singers and pseudo-doom vox.
XTC always has great pop sensibility and this particular song is good for singing along.
No Self Control, I enjoy the overall construction of this song with a slow build-up and slow release. Bonus: Kate Bush!
Air has always been tied to Sexy Boy first and foremost and The Virgin Suicides secondly. I did not connect them to this song…I always assumed it was t.A.T.u. (I’m sure I can’t be the only one to make this mistake…Unless the flute is a dead give-away.)
Stockholm Monsters - Flutes and hand-claps…maybe they cancel one another out?
The Way Young Lovers Do struck a chord with me and still remains one of my favorite tracks from this mix. I think it’s the paring of really odd upright base and trumpets. (I have always wondered if the bass player was present at the recording session.)
Tomahawk - I think at this point most of my friends were in love with Mike Patton and his various projects.
They Might Be Giants - This band somehow slipped by my radar. However, this song always reminds me of this: http://tmbw.net/wiki/Dial-A-Song
BOC - Aside from matricide and domestic violence themes this song is pretty awesome, or maybe it’s the absurd lyrics that makes it awesome. (I hate them dames.)
This may be my favorite song by Momus. It’s somber, clever and beautiful.
I still sing Baby’s on Fire every time I drive by Juanita St. which is quite often. (I just noticed the scramble made with his name…”Ina Boner” So good!)
Thank you Bauhaus for conjuring the imagery of goth dudes dressed up in silver sparkly glam rock attire while trying to maintain morose and somber expressions…while wolves howl.
Side B: The Bland Bland Bland Bands
This Why? track always reminds me of Daniel Johnston.
I enjoy the full creep that emerges from Moribund the Burgermeister.
Thank you Mr. Gabriel.
What’s Inside a Girl embodies the classic Cramps flavor, sweet surf licks and genuine confusion of female parts. (I only had access to the studio version.)
Eno attempts to answers the question posed above in China My China.His main contribution…Girls have fingers to make percussion over solos. Also, I do adore the droning guitars.
W.O.R.K. became my unofficial daydream theme as I maintained 2-3 jobs and full-time school schedule. Maybe Bow Wow Wow had it figured out?
My love for Sitars waxes and wanes but Love You To has always stood out. I thought of it as a glimpse into the “free love” movement and the obsession with Eastern culture.
Harry Nilsson has a strong association with my HS English teacher. She gave me a book of his poetry and drawings…I’m still not sure why. This song is no exception.
We all know that Love is Strange but did you also know that Love will make you Fail in School…which may lead one to believe that Mickey & Sylvia:
Aside from these fundamental truths, I still really enjoy this song. (Sylvia…are you doing your homework tonight?)
Any Birthday Party with Nick Cave is alright with me.
Satellite of Love seems like the perfect karaoke song. I’m not sure why I haven’t sang it yet. I certainly sang along to it often while driving.
Eating Noddemix always seemed like the more interesting version of Tom’s Diner by Suzanne Vega that expands on the commotion unfolding in the background in a really subtle way.
Watching Water seems particularly dense after the minimalist song it follows. My favorite excerpt is, “I wish sometimes I wouldn’t reminisce so much. Such things tend to make one reflect and dissect situations to an extreme. Hard now to redeem what was there before. No more. Gone are those days and ways have parted. Gone from feeling solid trust to outsmarted.”
The Chameleons UK remind me of AM, the curator of this tape, and Salt Lake City. I can’t explain why…it’s just in there.
Warm Bodies is funny because it divides women into seasons…binders might be useful here.
In general, the focus of this blog is to revisit old cassettes that were given to me. In this case, I recently acquired the track list for a mix I made for my first break-up. What better way to start a mix-tape blog? For context…it was 1998, I was 14, and our relationship lasted about 2 weeks. So, enjoy my awkward attempt at expressing my emotions with music. (Side A and B are linked to a streaming playlist.)
