Rhino Records has done many fine things for music, not the least of which is the creation of the 70′s and 80′s Pop Culture Box Sets.
Debbie and I loved both, and went as far as creating an additional 3 CDs to fill in the gaps left by the 7 disc 80′s box.
We even discussed the idea of compiling a 90′s box set. Alas, Rhino beat us to it.
On July 26, the 7 disc 130 track Whatever: The 90′s Pop Culture Box Set is released. I’m going to get it the day it comes out, I assure you of that. Is it perfect? Far from it. You may be surprised at me saying this, but I think it tries to be too alternative. I like alternative/indie/non-mainstream rock more than most, but this box set should be the home of one-hit wonders, not obscure college radio hits.
Here’s the tracklisting of the Rhino set- I’ve taken the liberty to draw a line through those I feel need replacing, and where I would substitute a different song by the same band, it’s in orange:
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U CAN’T TOUCH THIS – M.C. Hammer |
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NOTHING COMPARES 2 U – Sinéad O’Connor |
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NO MYTH – Michael Penn |
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BALL AND CHAIN – Social Distortion |
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BIRDHOUSE IN YOUR SOUL – They Might Be Giants |
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GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT (EVERYBODY DANCE NOW) – C & C Music Factory |
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GROOVE IS IN THE HEART – Deee-Lite |
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RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW – Jesus Jones |
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NEW JACK HUSTLER (NINO’S THEME) – Ice-T |
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I TOUCH MYSELF – Divinyls |
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UNBELIEVABLE – EMF |
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HARD TO HANDLE – The Black Crowes |
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O.P.P. – Naughty By Nature |
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WALKING IN MEMPHIS – Marc Cohn |
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IT’S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE TO YESTERDAY – Boyz II Men |
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SILENT LUCIDITY – Queensrÿche |
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GIRLFRIEND – Matthew Sweet |
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I’M TOO SEXY – Right Said Fred (R*S*F*) |
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IT’S A SHAME ABOUT RAY – The Lemonheads |
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BABY GOT BACK – Sir Mix-A-Lot |
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THEY WANT EFX – DAS EFX |
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JUMP – Kris Kross |
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N.W.O. – Ministry |
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LITTLE MISS CAN’T BE WRONG – Spin Doctors |
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DIZZ KNEE LAND – dada |
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NEARLY LOST YOU – Screaming Trees |
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UNDER THE BRIDGE – Red Hot Chili Peppers |
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JUMP AROUND – House Of Pain |
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FREE YOUR MIND – En Vogue |
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RUMP SHAKER – Wreckx-N-Effect |
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INFORMER – Snow |
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CONNECTED – Stereo MC’s |
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DETACHABLE PENIS – King Missile |
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FREAK ME – Silk |
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ORDINARY WORLD – Duran Duran |
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IF I CAN’T CHANGE YOUR MIND – Sugar |
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THREE LITTLE PIGS – Green Jellÿ |
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START CHOPPIN – Dinosaur Jr. |
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MY NAME IS MUD – Primus |
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WHAT’S UP – 4 Non Blondes |
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WHOOMP! (THERE IT IS) – Tag Team |
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TRUST ME – Guru with N’Dea Davenport |
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GENTLEMEN – Afghan Whigs |
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HEY JEALOUSY – Gin Blossoms |
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MY SISTER – The Juliana Hatfield Three |
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WHATTA MAN – Salt-N-Pepa |
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BACK & FORTH – Aaliyah |
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IF THAT’S YOUR BOYFRIEND (HE WASN’T LAST NIGHT) – Me’Shell NdegéOcello |
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CUT YOUR HAIR – Pavement |
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MMM MMM MMM MMM – Crash Test Dummies |
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POSSESSION – Sarah McLachlan |
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SHINE – Collective Soul |
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YOU GOTTA BE – Des’ree |
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GIRL, YOU’LL BE A WOMAN SOON – Urge Overkill |
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SHE DON’T USE JELLY – The Flaming Lips |
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21ST CENTURY (DIGITAL BOY) – Bad Religion |
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MOCKINGBIRDS – Grant Lee Buffalo |
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WHAT’S THE FREQUENCY, KENNETH? – R.E.M. |
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BUDDY HOLLY – Weezer |
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HERE AND NOW – Letters To Cleo |
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GOOD – Better Than Ezra |
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RUN-AROUND – Blues Traveler |
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I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU (THEME FROM "FRIENDS" ) – The Rembrandts |
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TOMORROW – Silverchair |
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WONDERWALL – Oasis |
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CUMBERSOME – Seven Mary Three |
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ONE OF US – Joan Osborne |
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CAUGHT BY THE FUZZ – Supergrass |
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BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S – Deep Blue Something |
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IN THE MEANTIME – Spacehog |
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WOO HAH!! GOT YOU ALL IN CHECK – Busta Rhymes featuring Rampage The Last Boy Scout |
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WHO WILL SAVE YOUR SOUL – Jewel |
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STANDING OUTSIDE A BROKEN PHONE BOOTH WITH MONEY IN MY HAND – Primitive Radio Gods |
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WHAT I GOT – Sublime |
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VIRTUAL INSANITY – Jamiroquai |
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NAKED EYE – Luscious Jackson |
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OUTTASITE (OUTTA MIND) – Wilco |
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LOVEFOOL – The Cardigans |
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THE IMPRESSION THAT I GET – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones |
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BITCH – Meredith Brooks |
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MMMBOP – Hanson |
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BRIAN WILSON (Live) – Barenaked Ladies |
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BRICK – Ben Folds Five |
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SEX AND CANDY – Marcy Playground |
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WALKING ON THE SUN – Smash Mouth |
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TUBTHUMPING – Chumbawamba |
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LULLABY – Shawn Mullins |
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KISS ME – Sixpence None The Richer |
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STEAL MY SUNSHINE – LEN |
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WHAT IT’S LIKE – Everlast |
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NATURAL BLUES – Moby |
All told, not too many replacements. Rhino, not surprisingly, did a nice job. Some obvious rights conflicts (no U2, Madonna, etc.) and a crazy amount of grunge and its offshoots, but a solid set that should keep me away from the skip button most of the time.
The good folks at Stylus- who beat me to this exercize by several weeks- offer an alternate version of the box set- unencumbered by pesky things like actually getting the rights to include the song and sell it. Between the Rhino set and Stylus’ list, there’s a ton of songs- both good and bad- worth hearing again.