How To Make The Perfect Mixtape - 80s Inspired

+ Why it's still important in the digital age!

Jun 18, 2024

My son rode along with me on Fathers Day to pick up some Mexican food and wouldn’t you know it, my Spotify DJ (‘X’) started playing Def Leppard’s ‘Hysteria’. I said, this song has made it on virtually every mixtape I’ve ever made for someone I was crushin’ on.

My son, being inquisitive, asked, “Where do you place it? The song is not really slow or fast, so does it go in the middle?” That’s an excellent question, actually. Kid’s a thinker.

So what you’re about to get is a fast and hard lesson on my philosophy of making the perfect mixtape. You might think, what does it matter when everything is digital? Well it does matter. Look, I understand that unlike today, where digital playlists are compiled with a few taps, crafting a mixtape required time, effort, and a deep understanding of the music and the recipient back in the 80s, 90s, and even into the 2000s. Still, you can still make a mixtape on a digital playlist and share it with your crush. Of course, I recommend burning your list on a CD at the very least, but hey, I if you don’t have the hardware, you can still learn a thing or two about compilating the tracks themselves.

The art of the perfect mixtape requires years of practice, experimentation, feedback from the receivers, and the desire to create a moving compilation of songs that conveys a special message to the one you are creating it for. Making a mixtape is a ritual of love and dedication. Back in my time, if you got a mixtape from me, you were someone special. You would have been a girl I had a major crush on and the mixtape I was creating for you was unique to you and you alone. I would have taken the time to learn about you and what kind of music you liked. I would have asked a friend of yours, hoping, on the off chance, she would mention that I asked about you. Every dude reading this right now is picking up what I’m putting down.

STEP ONE of FIVE

You'd begin by carefully selecting a blank cassette or, later, a CD. Let’ stick to cassette tapes because they have more character than CDs. The cassette tape you selected was your canvas. I liked using gray or black cassette tapes because I could use a black or white marker to decorate it. I also made sure the cassette came with the insert so I could write out the track list. Special note: There were times I wrote notes on the insert rather than the track list in order to surprise the girl I was giving the mixtape to. This way, I could add a little of my artistic side to it, or a special note, letting her know a few things I liked about her. Other times I would only write her name and that it was from me. That way she would have no clue what she was about to hear, and the track list would say it all.

[Sample Playlist Included Below]

STEP TWO

It was time to curate a collection of songs that resonated with with your feelings. Now here’s the trick, it’s crucial you balance your list with modern or current hits as well as include hidden gems. This shows that you have a sophisticated listening palette. This process is like foreplay, you don’t want to rush it. Every track is telling a story.

STEP THREE

The process started with rifling through stacks of cassettes you’ve already made and finding the songs you had selected. If you didn’t have the song, guess what, you were patiently waiting by the radio with a finger poised over the record button. You were also praying the station DJ would shut up and let the song play with any voiceover interruption. Once you had all your songs ready, it was time to arrange the songs in the perfect order.

Now, here’s the thing, and this is really important… never take for granted the first track. That first track was crucial; it had to grab her attention and set the tone. Here’s an example of great “first tracks” to kick your mixtape off:

1/ 1980s - Just Like Heaven by The Cure

2/ 1990s - Wonderwall by Oasis

3/ 2000s - We Belong Together by Mariah Carey*

*Special note for the dudes: Always make sure to add tracks from lady singers/songwriters. The girl you’re giving the mixtape to likely listens to female artists over male artists. So mix it up.

STEP FOUR

Now it’s time to execute. In a quiet room, you'd sit by your dual cassette deck or CD burner, meticulously arranging the songs in the perfect order. We know the first track was crucial, but the following songs built upon that foundation of the narrative you wanted to weave; the connection you wanted to make.

Recording was a delicate dance. You pressed record, pausing just at the right moment to avoid awkward silences or abrupt transitions. Sometimes, you'd have to rewind and try again— it was a labor of love, and you could not risk having the listener assume the list was over.

STEP FIVE

The first part was done, and now, some would argue, could be the hardest part of this entire endeavor… giving the mixtape to your crush!

The mixtape was a tangible gift, a physical manifestation of your feelings. You decorated the cover with care ✔️, writing out the track list in your best handwriting ✔️, adding doodles, stickers, or heartfelt notes ✔️.

Presenting the mixtape was a moment filled with anticipation. Would they understand the message woven through the songs? Would they feel the same rush of emotions that you did while creating it? It was a leap of faith, a hope that your carefully crafted compilation would be met with appreciation and reciprocation.

Ideas for gifting a Mixtape:

Tape it to her locker
If the slot was large enough, drop the mixtape in her locker
Pass it to her in class. Tap her on the shoulder and let her know you made her a mixtape of songs you thought she would like
If you’re trying to surprise her, wrap the mixtape with a special note and place it in her desk. Remember these desks? You could place the mixtape in the seat cubby and watch her pick it up when she was reaching for her book or pencil case!
For the really brave — Give her the mixtape on the playground or during lunch.
For the really shy — Give the mixtape to a friend you mutually know and ask them to pass it along to her.

In High School we had desks like these…

Btw, I made mixtapes into college, how about you?

Now here’s the thing, part of giving a mixtape to a crush is being prepared for rejection. When we were growing up there were a few ways to tell if all of the love you poured into a mixtape was worth it. If the person you gave the mixtape to was not interested, you could likely tell from the look on their face. There was a risk of rejection certainly, but that never really stopped us from trying. One of the ways we knew that person liked us back is if they told us the next day that they loved the mixtape, or, and this was the best thing that could happen to you, they made a mixtape for you within a few days or after the weekend!

Mixtapes in the digital age

Can you really call a digital playlist a ‘mixtape’? Sure you can. I think young people today should make digital mixtapes for each other as a way to pass a message like we did. It’s not their fault physical media and the electronics needed to create the mixtape are more difficult to source today.

Whether it’s for a crush or a friend, digital playlists are a great way to curate songs from a specific year. I’ve got playlists from practically every year since I can remember, especially the Limewire and and Bearshare days! 😆 The thing I really enjoy doing sometimes is scanning back to a specific year to see what I was listening to. Believe me, music takes you back in the most nostalgic of ways!

For anyone creating a digital mixtape, here’s a great reference for you as an example. This is straight from a mixtape I’ve created in the past! Enjoy!!

Side A

"In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel
"Take On Me" by a-ha
"Every Breath You Take" by The Police
"Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper
"With or Without You" by U2
"True" by Spandau Ballet
"Drive" by The Cars
"Careless Whisper" by George Michael
"Is This Love" by Whitesnake
"Hysteria" by Def Leppard

Side B

"Wonderwall" by Oasis
"Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls
"Crazy for This Girl" by Evan and Jaron
"First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes
"Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia
"She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals
"Crash Into Me" by Dave Matthews Band
"I’ll Be" by Edwin McCain
"Missing You" by John Waite
"Crazy for You" by Madonna

I hope you enjoyed this post. Please let me know if you’re still creating mixtapes in the comments below, or share a personal story with me about a mixtape you once made. Stay rad!

~ John