by artmaven, Ventnor, New Jersey

One of my most memorable music moments is making mix tapes from the Gene Shay Show on WIOQ. I don’t think I was ever happier. When I first started hearing Gene, I hated the show. Sunday night, I’d go to my room to start the homework that I’d avoided all weekend. WIOQ was always on in my room whether I was in it or not. Every Sunday night, I’d open my bedroom door and immediately pitch a fit because I’d forgotten Gene was on the air. I hated the stuff he played. How was I gonna do all that homework listening to that stuff?

I clearly remember standing in the middle of the room when the ton of bricks hit me over the head. I didn’t like the music because I didn’t know it or understand it. I decided, no matter how painful it would be, to give the music a chance and listen to what Gene was saying about it. I started writing down songs and artists I liked or who influenced artists I liked. My biggest joy came from what I started calling low down ‘n’ dirty Mississippi Delta blues, the older and scratchier the performance, the better. Eventually, I kept a music journal (still do) and took notes during the show.

Then . . . I started taping every Sunday in case I missed anything Gene, or his guest artists, had said. It blossomed from there. I bought cassettes by the case. I bought a second cassette deck, upgraded cassette decks and experimented with brands of tapes. Maxell only. Memorex sucked. It became a ritual and a passion.

Sun: tape, listen, take notes

Mon: listen to tape, note fave artists/songs, note background info/history/influences, note set list of in-studio guests

Tue-Sat: carefully label “the master cassette” in detail, make an edited cassette of the show, hunt down killer segues, make Mix Tapes combining everything I’d learned to love

I knew no one who liked this or found it even mildly acceptable . . . until I got to art school in Philly. My love of music that no one else knew was suddenly celebrated. I was more than a few years older than the other kids and they treated me like I was their obscure music guru. My cassettes were a hot commodity. One of the guys even used them to choose the music he played at his wedding reception. His guests were bewildered. I was so proud.

I’m not sure there’s anything that means more to me than the Mix Tape. I used to live to make the perfect one. Don’t get near enough time, now. When I get anywhere close to either making or listening to a perfect Mix Tape (now a CD), I’m euphoric . . . most especially if I’ve made it. It actually makes me think twice about that seat waiting for me in hell because Heaven has just gotta be all about making Mix Tapes.

Thanks for the education and passion, Gene. I never did finish that homework but hundreds of music journals, hours of radio, Mix Tapes and CDs later; I sure learned a helluva lot.