In the 1980s and 1990s, people created mix tapes to share music with friends, woo crushes and form bonds over new and favorite artists. Playlists shared via smartphone or text have made music sharing easier. In celebration of the tradition, we asked WGSU DJs and staff and students from the 1960s through 2019 to share an “epic playlist of music from their era.”
Read the story about mix tapes traditions morphing into playlists in the Scene.
2019
Scene student contributor Isabel Keane ’19 and her father introduce each other to favorite classics and new music. Here are some of their favorites to listen to on car rides.
- “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” by Hall and Oates
- “Sowing The Seeds of Love” byTears For Fears
- “Pretty in Pink” by The Psychedelic Furs
- “The Great Gig in the Sky” by Pink Floyd
- “Moondance” by Van Morrison
- “The Loved Ones” by Elvis Costello and the Attractions
- “London Calling” by The Clash
- “In My Life” by The Beatles
- “Rockaway Beach” by The Ramones
- “Hey Nineteen” by Steely Dan
- “In Between Days” by The Cure
- “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” by Arcade Fire
- “White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes
- “It’s Only Life” by The Shins
- “Human” by The Killers
- “All Your Favorite Bands” by Dawes
- “I Will Possess Your Heart” – Death Cab For Cutie
- “Make You Better” by The Decemberists
- “Rivers and Roads” by The Head and the Heart
- “Dear Life” by Beck
2018

Becca Sisson ’20
“These are the songs that get me through the whole year: the good, the bad, and the late nights,” says Becca Sisson ’20, WGSU new-media director and musicologist.
- 1.“Love for Me” by Empress Of
- “1950” by King Princess
- “Thank u next” by Ariana Grande
- “Curious” by Hayley Kiyoko
- “Never Be the Same” by Camila Cabello
- “Pirates” by Brazilian Girls
- “Spooky” by Ashleigh Murray
- “Television Romance” by Pale Waves
- “Night Signs” by The Ophelias
- “Bones” by Little Fevers
- “Babe I know” by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
- “Someone New” by Hozier
- “Sick of Losing Soulmates” by Dodie
- “Faded Heart” by BØRNS
- “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying” by Sabrina Carpenter
2013

Oliver Horowitz ’13 on the air at WGSU.
Created by Oliver Horowitz ’13, who was a WGSU disc jockey, assistant music director, traffic director and music director.
- “My Girls,” by Animal Collective
- “Lisztomania” by Phoenix
- “Walk In The Park” by Beach House
- “Round And Round” by Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
- “Feel It All Around” by Washed Out
- “Neu Chicago” by Clive Tanaka y Su Orquesta
- “Desire Lines” by Deerhunter
- “All My Friends” by LCD Soundsystem
- “Mistaken For Strangers” by The Nationa
- “At the Bottom of Everything” by Bright Eyes
- “Diplomat’s Son” by Vampire Weekend
- “Maple Leaves” by Jens Lekman
- “Last Donut Of The Night” by J Dilla
- “Debaser” by The Pixies
- “Take Care” by Yo La Tengo
2000s
Eileen Gorman ’03 created this ultimate playlist with her group of friends who attended Geneseo at the same time.
1. “Living on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
2. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey
3. “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix A Lot
4. “Like A Prayer” by Madonna
5. “The Thong Song” by Sisqo
6. “Sorry Ms. Jackson” by Outkast
7. “Ride Wit Me” by Nelly
8. “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks
9. “Get Low” by Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz
10. “Wasn’t Me” by Shaggy
11. “Big Pimpin” by JayZ
12. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
13. “Only the Good Die Young” by Billy Joel
14. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def Leppard
15. “Anything” by Mary J Blige
1990s
Created by Brad Riter ’96
- “Would?” by Alice in Chains
- “Hello City” by Barenaked Ladies
- “Where It’s At” by Beck
- “Hook” by Blues Traveler
- “Cannonball” by The Breeders
- “The Gentle Art of Making Enemies” by Faith No More
- “Burnout” by Green Day
- “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine
- “Two Princes” by Spin Doctors
- “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails –
- “Heart-Shaped Box” by Nirvana
- “Sample in a Jar” by Phish
- “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” by R.E.M.
- “Somebody to Shove” by Soul Asylum
- “Undone (The Sweater Song)” by Weezer
1990s

Joey Guisto ’94 in 2019.
Created by Joey Guisto ’94, WGSU’s music director in 1994 and now program director of WBER-FM 90.5 in Rochester, N.Y.
- “Gray Cell Green” by Ned’s Atomic Dustbin
- “Rush-Roll” by The Bones
- “Digging In The Dirt” by Peter Gabriel
- “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” by R.E.M.
- “Feel Us Shaking” by The Samples
- “Been Caught Stealing” by Jane’s Addiction
- “All This Time” by Sting
- “Ultra Violet (Light My Way)” by U2
- “Web In Front” by Archers Of Loaf
- “Release” by Pearl Jam
- “A Good Idea” by Sugar
- “Debonair” by Afghan Whigs
- “A Small Victory” by Faith No More
- “A Letter To Elise” by The Cure
- “Don’t Cry Baby” by Inxs
1980s

Michael Saffran ’84 on the WGSU beat
Lecturer in Communication Michael Saffran ’85 has been the WGSU faculty director since 2012 and as a student was an assistant news director, news director, program director and co-station manager.
“It’s striking how the ‘thread’ of music, especially from the 1980s to today, is so strong,” he says. “A strong ’80s influence is present in much of today’s alternative music, particularly synth-pop songs that are part of WGSU’s current alt-pop format.”
- “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)” by AC/DC
- “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls
- “Soul Survivor” by Asia
- “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits
- “Kayleigh” by Marillion
- “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” by Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers)
- “You Got Lucky” by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
- “Send Me An Angel” by Real Life
- “Red Barchetta” by Rush
- “Major Tom (Coming Home)” by Peter Schilling
- “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell
- “My Kinda Lover” by Billy Squier
- “Voices Carry” by ‘Til Tuesday
- “Eminence Front” by The Who
- “Changes” (1983) by Yes

Dave Slade in his WGSU days
1960s
Created by Dave Slade ’71,who was on WGSU-FM and WGSU-AM as a disc jockey, program director and supervisor, and did basketball and football play-by-play.
“Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, The Brooklyn Bridge, Neil Diamond, Spanky and Our Gang, The Friends of Distinction, and The Spencer Davis Group all appeared on campus during my time at Geneseo,” he says.
- “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield
- “Get Together” by Youngbloods
- “White Room” by Cream
- “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly
- “Woman, Woman” by Gary Puckett and The Union Gap
- “Leaving On A Jet Plane” by Peter, Paul and Mary
- “The Worst That Could Happen” by Brooklyn Bridge
- “Lady Madonna” by The Beatles
- “Cracklin’ Rosie” by Neil Diamond
- “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
- “Sunday Will Never Be The Same” by Spanky and Our Gang
- “Grazing In The Grass” by Friends of Distinction
- “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” by Blood, Sweat, and Tears
- “Give Me Just A Little More Time” by The Chairmen Of The Board
- “I’m A Man” by Spencer Davis Group