80’s Flashback: My Personics Mixed Tape

Everybody reading this post has downloaded an individual song from iTunes. And if you haven’t, you either don’t have an iPod, you don’t listen to music, or you’re lying. We take this ability for granted today. We hear a song we like, find out what it’s called (whether using Shazam, googling the lyrics or asking a friend) and go right to iTunes. Since we don’t want to invest in the whole album, $.99 (or in some cases $1.29) and a minute later, we’ve got our song.

Oh if only iTunes — or something like it — had existed 20 years ago. I would have saved a whole lot of money, since I bought all kinds of albums and cds just for one or two songs. So much money that I don’t even want to think about it. Ok, moving on. But here’s the crazy thing – there was an iTunes-like service back then. It was called Personics.

What was Personics?

An excellent question. And some of you my age might actually know the answer. But most of you have no idea. And rightfully so, since it wasn’t around that long. But when it existed, it was awesome. In short, it was the first on-demand custom music service. Introduced way back in 1986.

At select music store chains (yeah, that’s how long ago this was – there were large music store chains), you went to the Personics kiosk. Once at the kiosk, you’d preview songs, select them to create a custom mixed tape, and purchase the songs for $.75-$1.00 each. 15 minutes later you’d have a customized mixed tape with your favorite songs. Was every song available? Of course not (those damn record labels). But enough were available that this was a truly valuable service.

Why Am I Writing About Personics?

Funny you should ask. The other night, for reasons that I can’t even really remember and probably aren’t very important, I dug through my old storage box filled with cassette tapes. (Yes, I have a storage box of cassette tapes, ok?) I was searching for a bootleg copy I made of R.E.M.’s now legendary appearance on MTV’s Unplugged in 1991. (To see why this performance was so legendary, check out this video of Mikey Mills’ absolutely crushing a fantastic cover of Love Is All Around). Sadly, I didn’t find that cassette.

But I did find this item pictured below: Yes, that is my actual Personics cassette that I had made. When? Based on evidence gleaned from the songs, it would appear to be some time in late 1988- early 1989. Why is it called Total Bull? You’ll never know. It’s far too incriminating.

Until I found this cassette a few nights ago, I had completely forgotten about Personics or that I had ever had a tape made. But looking back, it’s not surprising. Consider this:

I used to tape songs off the radio. I bought 45 RPM singles of my favorite Top 40 songs. I bought albums just to have one or two songs (sound familiar?).  Of course I would have paid $15 for a custom cassette of my favorite songs at the time.

When I picked up the tape, I immediately looked at the playlist. It’s the musical equivalent of a time capsule. What songs was I listening to back in 1988? What were some of my favorite classics?

Let’s take a look at what’s on that tape.

Amanda’s Personics Tape: Total Bull

Side A

1. Paradise by the Dashboard Light – Meatloaf. Still one of my favorites, and not just because Phil Rizzuto makes a cameo. Just a classic song.

2. Twisting by the Pool – Dire Straits. I remember how much I loved this song back then. Let’s just say that it has not withstood the test of time.

3. Cats In the Cradle (Live) – Harry Chapin. Good grief – what was a downer song like this doing on an otherwise upbeat mixed tape? A great song and certainly a classic. But I have no idea why it was on there. It just makes me cry.

4. New Song – Howard Jones. Classic early 80’s song.  I had forgotten about it until I heard it last month on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. And downloaded it from iTunes. And put it on my Playlist of Awesome. We’ve come full circle, haven’t we?

5. Werewolves of London – Warren Zevon. Well didn’t I have excellent taste? Another classic.

Side B

1. Reap the Wild Wind – Ultravox. How excited was I to see this song on the Personics tape? i immediately bought it on iTunes. And have listened to it countless times since then. In fact, I’m listening to it now.

2. Do You Love Me – The Contours. I loved the movie Dirty Dancing, ok? This song is a fail. That is all. Let’s move on.

3. American Pie – Don McLean. Look at me with two songs of at least 8 minutes on my Personics tape. Talk about getting your money’s worth. This is another classic. I know all the words, and thanks to my parents, I even know what all the references to all the characters mean.

4. I Love L.A. – Randy Newman. The Lakers had just won back-to-back NBA titles. I guess I was a little excited about that and wanted to honor it by putting their theme song on my tape. I was young. Forgive me.

5. Always Something There To Remind Me – Naked Eyes. Another classic from the 80’s that I’m always happy to hear.

In fact, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go download that from iTunes now.