Anatomy of the Mix Tape
October 21st, 2008
I love mix tapes.
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I grew up in Chicago and the mix tape was the bond that held most high school relationships together, such time and energy, hours of pondering and pontification, toiling and trauma. Into each cassette classic was a plagiarized journal of a million random artists who happened to be the right track at the right time. We balanced ourselves through the lines of lyrics, in the length of composition, the accuracy or individual ownership of a cover song. We found our strength in the power of song and the humbling but calming feeling that we were not alone in our joy, our pain, our confusion.
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Where I came from, a mix tape meant the world. When communication was awkward, we could let Patty Smith or Jeff Buckley help to bare our souls. It was the one chance for the nerd with great audio taste to whoo the pom poms off a varsity cheerleader. It was once explained to me that there is a solid template to which mix tapes need adhere. Remember, a mix tape was a statement, a plea… a last resort. Since this was our most naked moment, it needed to perfectly reflect the overwhelming (and most probably overstated) message in out heart and head.
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The parameters of the mix tape.
1) Before ever hitting record, it was important to list off the songs in an emotional order. This will take some time. The collage needs to share a theme. You have to imagine the recipient, what you want of that recipient, focus on what the first note might be that could control their attention.
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2) All the songs must flow into and out each other seamlessly. It seems self defeating to make a “break up” mix tape consisting of Peter Murphy, The Cure and This Mortal Coil but then add Cinderella into the mix. Its faux pas to make a Party mix that had The Sex Pistols, the Damned and the Dead Kennedy’s but then add the Carpenters half way through it. Think like a “DJ to an audience of one” and not like an “agenda to THE CAUSE”.
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3) NEVER SPEAK INTO THE RECORDER FOR ANY REASON!!!! No explaining. Vague is your precision - interpretation your box of candy.
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4) While recording the mix tape but sure to draft cover art that is unique to your vision. Collages of Rolling Stone images, National Geographic and other prime pictorial work very well, just keep the images ambiguous. Never send a girl a “I want to get to know you” mix tape with collaged images that include anything semi or totally naked. (Unless you’re courting THAT girl..) Also, never include images with anything phallic, like bananas, cucumbers, Dutch Fire hydrants or singular skyscrapers. Sometimes a banana is just a banana, but never in high school.
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5) Also, draft a catchy name for the mix tape and a well written catalog for the songs. Add your name somewhere so that credit is given correctly.
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I know there are many out there who were creators and recipients Mix Tapes. Everyone has a tale about one in particular. I am comfortable saying that my virginity was lost to a girl who made a mix tape as the soundtrack to the entire fumbled experience. She actually halted our special moment until Peter Gabriel’s “In your eyes”, graced the speakers of her mom’s Taurus. Yep… true story.
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Got a Mix tape story..?
October 21st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Blood Red Dancers said:
Our band/friendship would not have happened if Kevin’s older brother had not made a certain mix tape for him when he was just a wee one.
This mix tape featured Smog, The Smiths, Magnetic Fields, Sunny Day Real Estate and Radiohead just to name a few.
This tape basically changed our music tastes and outlook over night, and brought us all together a few years later.
It was also maybe the reason why we all grew up to be miserable alcoholics, but hey what can you do.
-Julian-
p.s how about everyone doing a mix tape trade at the next Subsonic happy hour in december?
October 21st, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Jules said:
I was a total perfectionist when it came to the mix tape, god forbid I leave a song to get cut off at the end of the tape. I always had to find the perfect 2 minute and 10 second song just to fit in at the end. Or worst yet, when the beginning of a song crept in after the song you wanted. I remember it taking many tries just to get some songs perfect.
The last mix tape was given to me by my dog walker when I left Chicago. It was punk rock themed. I think he actually drew some cover art on the front of the letter he folded up inside with the track listings. Awww, I think he had a crush on me. I still have that tape too! (If Cr8g is reading this… you know what I’m talking about)
I’m all for a mix tape swap however we might have to make that a mix cd as I no longer have a tape player.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 am
chris Morales said:
Jules, what about this…
Everyone brings a mix tape to the next happy hour. NO LABELS and NO AUTHORS
Those CDs are then given out randomly.
All those CDs are then critically looked at by others who have also labored over the mix tape process.
Post results here
Interesting?
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Ahndrea Wilson said:
wow, nice timing! i literally JUST made a mix tape not 3 weeks ago for my friend’s b-day (who recently purchased an old car with a tape deck. The tape was provided as an emergency stash of tunes should the ipod ever get left behind). I didn’t even know i still owned a device that could record a tape, it’s been YEARS! Luckily, i still own a little sony cd/tape alarm clock that did that the trick. What fun it was to labor and ponder and perfect a flowing, thematic, a-propos playlist for each side. Definitely brought back memories to high school without doubt. THe mix tape was one of the most prized gifts you could receive, it was intangible, irreplaceable, and reflective of the very person who gave it to you.
Ah, memories. Had it not been for the mix tape I’m not sure I would have been properly exposed to the goodness of Velvet Underground or Paul Westerberg…
Count me in - i’ll bring my newly created mix tape to the next HH :)
October 24th, 2008 at 11:04 am
chris Morales said:
I would recommend burning it to a disk.
After writing this, an old friend in Chicago told me they had burned all their mix tapes onto MP3’s. It sounds really OCD, but he actually wanted to retain the hiss and fuzz of the tape quality.
He asked me if I wanted copies for myself, I said no, I already have enough Sammy Van Halen Material…
October 24th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Kevin Ledoux said:
Heh. B2 here, Kevin is logged in on my computer and I’m in a sunny state of mind and can’t seem to logout. So, I’m ghost writing for Kevin. I say YES to the mixed “tape” idea. I think give aways at the next happy hour with peoples favorite music is a great way for people to discover new bands, and get a flavor of this whole subsonic scene. loves it.
October 24th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Not Kevin said:
Or is it…!?!? whoa!
Thought I’d freak you guys out a little seeing it’s the freak out season.
Oh, yes this time it really IS Kevin… I’ve got circuity embedded in my brain and I can command the computer to log me in as ANYONE MOOOHAHAHAAHA!
OK, I’m totally down with the mix tape party. Anyone and everyone bring one. We’ll play swapsies and rank them or something. I think it should be encouraged that people include fantastic drawings/collages and song titles though.
October 24th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
chris Morales said:
Yes, but don’t make a mix tape of just your favorite songs… it needs to be in the tradition of mix tapes. THEME!!!
Title your disc and make the body of music match that title.
October 24th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Kevin leDoux said:
Ab-so-fuggin-lutely!!
Theme is a must.
October 25th, 2008 at 11:19 am
chris Morales said:
Let me ask all of you a question?
So, if we make these mix tapes, make cover art, add a theme and title….
How would you feel if we do not include the authors name?
You see, the mix tape has always been the sort of thing that stood on its own and to title it to ‘creator’ is adding it back into the popularity topic!
What if we leave the mix tapes nameless, exchange them at the happy hour, everyone then has to listen to them, we make a blog entry and everyone posts their personal impressions of the mix tape they receive.
Tie the three characteristics together, Title, Theme, and body of work?
November 19th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Kevin leDoux said:
Alright guys,
I feel like we kinda let this one slip off the radar. At least I did.
As it sits, this is a plan hatched out of post comments and is far from all inclusive. I move that we have a discussion at the Nov Happy Hour (tomorrow Nov 20th) regarding the outlining rules for our mixed tape swap. We can even establish themes or better yet… droaw themes at random.
All in favor?
November 20th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Blood Red Dancers said:
I’m in favor let’s make this happen.
November 21st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
chris Morales said:
I got the Email today. About making the mix tape becoming permanent…
Brilliant… I am glad to be of inspiration.
Next… the manufacture.