Mixtape Monday: "K"

If you've been following along with HERC's alphabetical mixtape series (and chances are if you're reading this you have been following) you probably guessed what today's mixtape is and what kind of songs are gonna be on it, after all as the the saying goes, "every kiss begins with K."

Surprise!  None of the songs have the word "kiss" in the title and the band Kiss is nowhere to be found.  Looks like Mr. Predictable, ol' Mr. Reliable, the Man With Two or Three Boring As Hell Nicknames aka your boy HERC missed an opportunity here, folks.  He is almost certain he made this mixtape in late January or early February 1985 which explains the inclusion of the traditional Valentine's Day song "Never Say Never" by Romeo Void.  As for the rest of the song selection, all he can do is scratch his head.

Blasts from the past on tape "K" are Cashmere's "Can I" which mysteriously failed to burn up the charts in 1984 yet still sounds as fresh and vibrant today as it did back then and Joe Jackson's "Memphis" which as derivative as it is, can still cause some spontaneous dancing and shouting around the Hideaway.

The future MRS. HERC was even courteous enough back then to note that two tracks from the B Side of the tape - Glenn Frey's "The Heat Is On" and Harold Faltermeyer's "Axel F" - were from (B.H.C.) better known as the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack.  Other popular songs from the soundtrack include "Neutron Dance" by the Pointer Sisters and "New Attitude" by Patti LaBelle.  She also noted the inclusion of four 12" versions though in actuality there are five as noted by the blue splats (*) in the chart below.  (The over six minute version of Cashmere's "Can I" on the tape is the album version.  There is a 12" single for the song though it includes the album version, a slightly shorter "no rap" version and the sub-four minute radio version.)

		SIDE A		46:01
1983	*	Owner Of A Lonely Heart (Extended Remix)	Yes	07:03
1982		Words	Missing Persons	04:28
1983		Can I	Cashmere	06:20
1984	*	Tenderness (Longer Version)	General Public	05:55
1984	*	Blue Jean (Extended Dance Mix)	David Bowie	05:18
1979		Born To Be Alive	Patrick Hernandez	03:08
1981		Read 'Em and Weep	Meat Loaf	05:24
1984		Mistake Number 3	Culture Club	04:36
1985		Easy Street	David Lee Roth	03:49
		SIDE B		45:38
1982	*	Never Say Never (12" Single Version)	Romeo Void	06:06
1983		Crumblin' Down	John Mellencamp	03:34
1973		Takin' Care Of Business	Bachman-Turner Overdrive	04:50
1981		Edge Of Seventeen	Stevie Nicks	05:30
1984		The Heat Is On	Glenn Frey	03:46
1983		Memphis	Joe Jackson	04:00
1985	*	When The Rain Begins To Fall (12" Version)	Jermaine Jackson with Pia Zadora	05:27
1984		Can't Fight This Feeling	REO Speedwagon	04:55
1983		Total Eclipse Of The Heart (Single edit)	Bonnie Tyler	04:30
1985		Axel F.	Harold Faltermeyer	03:00