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.

  1.  “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” by Hall and Oates
  2. “Sowing The Seeds of Love” byTears For Fears
  3. “Pretty in Pink” by The Psychedelic Furs
  4. “The Great Gig in the Sky” by Pink Floyd
  5. “Moondance” by Van Morrison
  6. “The Loved Ones” by Elvis Costello and the Attractions
  7. “London Calling” by The Clash
  8. “In My Life” by The Beatles
  9. “Rockaway Beach” by The Ramones
  10. “Hey Nineteen” by Steely Dan
  11. “In Between Days” by The Cure
  12. “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” by Arcade Fire
  13. “White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes
  14. “It’s Only Life” by The Shins
  15. “Human” by The Killers
  16. “All Your Favorite Bands” by Dawes
  17. “I Will Possess Your Heart” – Death Cab For Cutie
  18. “Make You Better” by The Decemberists
  19. “Rivers and Roads” by The Head and the Heart
  20. “Dear Life” by Beck

2018

Becca Sisson in a black and white photograph

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. 1.“Love for Me” by Empress Of
  2. “1950” by King Princess
  3. “Thank u next” by Ariana Grande
  4. “Curious” by Hayley Kiyoko
  5. “Never Be the Same” by Camila Cabello
  6. “Pirates” by Brazilian Girls
  7. “Spooky” by Ashleigh Murray
  8. “Television Romance” by Pale Waves
  9. “Night Signs” by The Ophelias
  10. “Bones” by Little Fevers
  11. “Babe I know” by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
  12. “Someone New” by Hozier
  13. “Sick of Losing Soulmates” by Dodie
  14. “Faded Heart” by BØRNS
  15. “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying” by Sabrina Carpenter

2013

Oliver Horowitz '13 on the air at WGSU

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.

  1. “My Girls,” by Animal Collective
  2. “Lisztomania” by Phoenix
  3. “Walk In The Park” by Beach House
  4. “Round And Round” by Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
  5. “Feel It All Around” by Washed Out
  6. “Neu Chicago” by Clive Tanaka y Su Orquesta
  7. “Desire Lines” by Deerhunter
  8. “All My Friends” by LCD Soundsystem
  9. “Mistaken For Strangers” by The Nationa
  10. “At the Bottom of Everything” by Bright Eyes
  11. “Diplomat’s Son” by Vampire Weekend
  12. “Maple Leaves” by Jens Lekman
  13. “Last Donut Of The Night” by J Dilla
  14. “Debaser” by The Pixies
  15. “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

  1. “Would?” by Alice in Chains
  2. “Hello City” by Barenaked Ladies
  3. “Where It’s At” by Beck
  4. “Hook” by Blues Traveler
  5. “Cannonball” by The Breeders
  6. “The Gentle Art of Making Enemies” by Faith No More
  7. “Burnout” by Green Day
  8. “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine
  9. “Two Princes” by Spin Doctors
  10. “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails –
  11. “Heart-Shaped Box” by Nirvana
  12. “Sample in a Jar” by Phish
  13. “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” by R.E.M.
  14. “Somebody to Shove” by Soul Asylum
  15. “Undone (The Sweater Song)” by Weezer

1990s

Joey Guisto '94 standing in the WBER studio where he now works.

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.

  1. “Gray Cell Green” by Ned’s Atomic Dustbin
  2. “Rush-Roll” by The Bones
  3. “Digging In The Dirt” by Peter Gabriel
  4. “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” by R.E.M.
  5. “Feel Us Shaking” by The Samples
  6. “Been Caught Stealing” by Jane’s Addiction
  7. “All This Time” by Sting
  8. “Ultra Violet (Light My Way)” by U2
  9. “Web In Front” by Archers Of Loaf
  10. “Release” by Pearl Jam
  11. “A Good Idea” by Sugar
  12. “Debonair” by Afghan Whigs
  13. “A Small Victory” by Faith No More
  14. “A Letter To Elise” by The Cure
  15. “Don’t Cry Baby” by Inxs

1980s

Michael Saffran '85 getting ready for an interview

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.”

  1. “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)” by AC/DC
  2. “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls
  3. “Soul Survivor” by Asia
  4. “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits
  5. “Kayleigh” by Marillion
  6. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” by Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers)
  7. “You Got Lucky” by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
  8. “Send Me An Angel” by Real Life
  9. “Red Barchetta” by Rush
  10. “Major Tom (Coming Home)” by Peter Schilling
  11. “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell
  12. “My Kinda Lover” by Billy Squier
  13. “Voices Carry” by ‘Til Tuesday
  14. “Eminence Front” by The Who
  15. “Changes” (1983) by Yes
wgsu-photo

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.

  1. “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield
  2. “Get Together” by Youngbloods
  3. “White Room” by Cream
  4. “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly
  5. “Woman, Woman” by Gary Puckett and The Union Gap
  6. “Leaving On A Jet Plane” by Peter, Paul and Mary
  7. “The Worst That Could Happen” by Brooklyn Bridge
  8. “Lady Madonna” by The Beatles
  9. “Cracklin’ Rosie” by Neil Diamond
  10. “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
  11. “Sunday Will Never Be The Same” by Spanky and Our Gang
  12. “Grazing In The Grass” by Friends of Distinction
  13. “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” by Blood, Sweat, and Tears
  14. “Give Me Just A Little More Time” by The Chairmen Of The Board
  15. “I’m A Man” by Spencer Davis Group