Tiny Tiger and the Mix Tape Project

Some of you who have been around for a while will remember something called mix tapes. These were cassette tapes that we made of our favorite songs. Sorta like playlists, only not quite digital yet. I used to listen to them on a little Sony Walkman, which was my constant companion at one point in time.

According to essayist Geoffrey O'Brien, the mix tape, or mixtape, was "perhaps the most widely practiced American art form." I made quite a few mix tapes of my own back in the day. Above is a photo of Tiny Tiger and friends with several of my favorite ones. I actually made these tapes in the photo in the 90s, but most of them were compilations of favorite 80s tunes. 

I have owned several shelf type stereos over the years, with names like Aiwa and Fisher. They have usually had several CD players and two tape decks, so it was pretty easy to transfer music onto cassette tapes (Maxell XL II, of course, with Dolby noise reduction on). So that's what I used for making them.

I recently got the bright idea to make playlists based on some of my favorite mix tapes, and so on this day, I began by photographing the tapes I want to do this with. From the pictures, I'll make a list of the songs and begin compiling a playlist, using the original CDs these were made from. Let's see how it goes!

I am an 80s kinda gal and I thought it might be fun for me to show you the song lists from two of the best tapes, called (quite fittingly) 80s favorites #1 and 80s favorites #2. For the curious, those two lists appear below.

Music has always been a major source of joy in my life. It's what I celebrate with when I am happy. It's what I console myself with when I am sad. There is always a soundtrack that accompanies my entire life. And whenever I possibly can be, I am dancing!

The soundtrack song for this posting is Thank You, by Led Zeppelin. I'm also including a pretty great cover by Duran Duran.

80s favorites #1
Cyndi Lauper, Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Rush, Time Stand Still
ZZ Top, Gimme All Your Lovin'
Tom Petty, Don't Come Around Here No More
Blondie, Call Me
Bon Jovi, Runaway
Loverboy, Working for the Weekend
U2, Where the Streets Have No Name
10,000 Maniacs, Verdi Cries
Mike Reno and Ann Wilson, Almost Paradise
Air Supply, Making Love Out of Nothing at All
Guns n' Roses, Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police, Every Breath You Take
REO Speedwagon, Don't Let Him Go
Bruce Springsteen, Dancing in the Dark
John Cougar Mellencamp, Jack and Diane
Men at Work, Down Under
Toto, Africa
Toni Basil, Mickey
Go-Go's, We Got the Beat
Joan Jett, I Love Rock 'n Roll
Billy Joel, It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
Pat Benatar, Take It Anyway You Want It

80s favorites #2
Pat Benatar, Promises in the Dark
Rush, Freewill
Guns n' Roses, Paradise City
Asia, Heat of the Moment
Tommy Tutone, 867-5309/Jenny
Hooters, And We Danced
Soft Cell, Tainted Love
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Relax
The Buggles, Video Killed the Radio Star
Wall of Voodoo, Mexican Radio
Modern English, I Melt With You
Limahl, Never Ending Story
Power Station, Get It On (Bang a Gong)
Thomspon Twins, Lay Your Hands on Me
T'Pau, Heart and Soul
Missing Persons, Destination Unknown
Eddie Money/Ronnie Spector, Take Me Home Tonight
Bangles, Walk Like an Egyptian
Stevie Nicks, Talk to Me
Madonna, La Isla Bonita
REO Speedwagon, In My Dreams
Cyndi Lauper, True Colors