Mix Tapes

Studio 360 on NPR mentioned mix tapes. The person talking about them said it's not the same with them on an iPod but that he'd give someone a CD because to give someone a mix tape shows he took time and did it with love. I'd have my record albums (LP's) all around, push the play and record buttons at the same time, pause, and then carefully place the stylus on the record and try to push the pause button at just the right time. I'd test it earlier to make sure all the settings on the tape deck were right and sounded the way they needed to when I played the tape. It was an intricate and precise endeavor! I'd spend hours making the tape.

This made me think about the mix tapes I made. Most of them were to listen to favorite songs. Some I made for special men. Sometimes it's easier to let someone know how you feel with songs. Do you think anyone has made a break-up mix tape? That's a lot of trouble to go to for that, but I know some good songs for one. The best one is definitely "Positively 4th Street" by Bob Dylan. I've wanted to say all of those words to someone! My favorite line from it is, "I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes, and just for that one moment I could be you. Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes, and you'd know what a drag it is to see you." Yes, I can be mean! A few others are Bob Seger's "Still the Same," Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good," and Townes Van Zandt's "The Tower Song." Check those out if you don't remember them. They're probably all on YouTube.

The good thing about singling out certain songs is that they (and we) still think of that person when we hear the song again. Unfortunately some songs have been ruined for me because of that. I still associate songs with various memories. It's like having a soundtrack to your life. I think about songs that would be on the soundtrack of my life even while some of it is happening. Do any of you, or is that just me?

What memories do you have about mix tapes?