The Mixed Tape

Published on August 20, 2006 By InBloom In Blogging

I was cleaning out some stuff in my closet when I came upon an audio cassette that belonged to my sister (even after over a year of both of us having left home, I am still finding some of her stuff in mine). This tape was dedicated to her from a guy she used to go with in high school. It read something along the lines of “I thought of you when I put these songs together. Hope you like it and know how special you are to me.” Even though it sounded corny, I still thought it was sweet. I didn’t play the thing, but I am sure it was filled with syrupy songs of early 2000.

I know it might be an odd thing to have a thought about, but I actually wonder how many people out there have had the “Mixed Tape” experience ...whether it dealt with a romantic interest or a friend or family...or whether it was being the giver or the receiver.

One of the best memories I have of a mixed tape didn’t involve me at all. It involved my mother. She was a single mom in the 80s, and she asked a fellow (whom she just considered a friend) to make her a mixed tape of 60s music. Well, sure enough he did...but he added two songs that were SO out of place. First one was, “Didn’t mean to turn you on” by Robert Palmer and the second one was “Atomic Dog.”

We thought it the most hilarious thing to hear these two songs in the mix. We (my brothers and I) definitely thought he was sending a signal to my mom with the first song (‘What the hell is his problem trying to hit on our mom,’ we thought angrily, but amusingly at the same time). As for the second one, it is STILL a mystery to us.

As for my personal experiences with the mixed tape, I made one for someone only once ...for someone I liked very much (he ended up breaking my heart later on, but that’s another story). And although I only made one and was never given one, I made plenty for myself....which I still have. I told Chris that I one day hope to transfer them all to CD. He thinks it might be a better idea to just write down all the songs and download them when we get a better computer. But I still want to transfer them all...just for sentimental reasons (I do not know the exact technology I could use for this, but I am sure something exists for it).

I am not even sure the young ones out there know exactly what I am talking about (seeing as the mixed tape has evolved into the burned CD or the ipod shuffle), but I am sure some “old timers” out there know exactly what I am talking about.

(btw, Napoleon Dynamite may not have won the presidency for Pedro if it weren’t for the mixed tape).

Comments

Dr Guy

on Aug 20, 2006

The young ones! Loved that one! HOw about reel to reel? That dates me, but yes, we did that. I never did. But I helped friends do it.

yea, the iPod generation! Great call! now we know what to call the latest.

UBoB

on Aug 20, 2006

Oh yeah, I remember making many, many mixed tapes. Some were for parties, some for driving in the car, some for friends, some for family. They were always great fun to make and infinately more fun to listen to. I most enjoyed the ones I made for driving. Long, relaxing, meandering drives in the countryside with tunes along for the ride.

But I still want to transfer them all...just for sentimental reasons (I do not know the exact technology I could use for this, but I am sure something exists for it).

A cassette tape player, a good sound card in your computer, the right patch cables and any number of decent software programs, and you're in business.

InBloom

on Aug 20, 2006

Doc

~~yea, the iPod generation! Great call! now we know what to call the latest.~~

Yep, well at least as far as music goes.

As for the reel to reel, am curious to know more about that.

InBloom

on Aug 20, 2006

UBob
~~Some were for parties, some for driving in the car, some for friends, some for family. They were always great fun to make and infinately more fun to listen to. I most enjoyed the ones I made for driving. Long, relaxing, meandering drives in the countryside with tunes along for the ride.~~

I would spend nights after doing homework (or even putting off homework) just taping and taping. It was a HUGE hobby for me.

~~A cassette tape player, a good sound card in your computer, the right patch cables and any number of decent software programs, and you're in business.~~

I definitely want to look into this. Thanks for the info.

MasonM

on Aug 20, 2006

I loved my reel to reel machine. I was totally blown away when cassettes came out (wass never impressed by 8 tracks). When CDs came out I was enthralled. "A whole LP on this little thing? With lasers? Great sound!"

MP3 players will eventually be replaced by something even more cool.

Anyway, it's all off topic. Sorry.

KellyW0498

on Aug 20, 2006

I did this all the time too.

We made many of them and for different things. Car rides to the beach. Car rides going to the clubs. Boyfriend wishing tapes, hahaha. It's true. I forgot about doing them.

My sons and their friends do it too. They make song lists for making their skate videos, hanging around the house music and I am sure there are some I don't know about. They are just downloaded on to their MP3's, but the same idea.

Thanks for reminding me of this.

InBloom

on Aug 20, 2006

Mason

~~"I loved my reel to reel machine. I was totally blown away when cassettes came out (wass never impressed by 8 tracks). When CDs came out I was enthralled. "A whole LP on this little thing? With lasers? Great sound!""~~

I was awed at CDs as well when they arrived on the scene.

~~MP3 players will eventually be replaced by something even more cool.~~

Oh yeah...I'm sure that will be coming up pretty soon!

Kelly
~~We made many of them and for different things. Car rides to the beach. Car rides going to the clubs. Boyfriend wishing tapes, hahaha. It's true. I forgot about doing them.~~

lol. yeah...I have several tapes full of lovey dovey songs....I remember listening to them and daydreaming about my school crushes.

Dr Guy

on Aug 21, 2006

I was totally blown away when cassettes came out

I never got into the 8 tracks either, but the hiss on cassettes kept me away from them.

InBloom

on Aug 21, 2006

~~I never got into the 8 tracks either, but the hiss on cassettes kept me away from them.~~

I remember that hiss...and I remember them sometimes getting "eaten up" by the tape machine...I'd freak and try to rewind the tape back into the cassette to save my songs...lol.

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