The Gap Playlists Journey

The most recent Gap Playlist I received was February 1996. Check it out!

The Gap In-Store Playlists blog has had insane traffic lately even though I have not been publicizing it anywhere for a few weeks.

This Summer I started a Gap Playlists account on Instagram but it was so much work tagging artists and hash tagging plus links do not work, so people have to cut and paste and no one wants to do that.

Here's an alternative!

BTW, I'm going to be interviewed this Fall on a high profile podcast about my Gap Playlists Journey, but I can't stand hearing the sound of my recorded voice, so I may not share a link here when it it posted.

I recently posted this comprehensive gallery of the images used in the very successful WHO WORE KHAKIS campaign of 1993 and 1994 at Gap.

[QUOTE] but I can't stand hearing the sound of my recorded voice

why? Do you have Gay Voice?

Hey Gap Playlist Guy -- Are you familiar with the Details Matter promotional CDs of the early '90s? They are an eclectic compendium of tunes from that era.

I just checked and they are still available for purchase on Amazon.

Gitch-u-sum!

[quote]Do you have Gay Voice?

Yes.

I'm sure I'm the only guy on DataLounge with Gay Voice.

R8, I wish Gap had released more CDs.

Check out the 1990 GAP ACT training video!

The actor who plays the customer is SO cute!

20 Years Ago: Everybody In Cords!

20 Years Ago: Everybody In Leather!

Legendary ad from April 1999:

I loved the Gap Band!

14 Years Ago: The well-sequenced August 2005 GAP In-Store Playlist!

Check out these awesome GAP In-Store Playlists from Early 1994!

This two-year old article suddenly produced a lot of hits on the blog today!

I now have over 3/4th of the year 2002 complete for Gap and GapKids. Check out this folder for great music of the era!

So many great playlists form 2004 are in here!

Check them out!

I'm amazed at the amount of views to my chronology article about re-acquiring the Gap In-Store Playlists!

Read it, if you haven't:

If you worked at Gap from 1992 to 2006 and saved the paper playlists that came with each month's CD/tape, would you please share them with me?

My email address is on the blog:

Check out the November 2000 GAP In-Store Playlist for a chilly Pre-Holiday mix!

Any help in deciphering this song?

Who is the artist and what is the title?

I found some more images of cute guys from 2001 Gap ads to add to the blog!

If you worked at Gap from 1992 to 2006 and saved the paper playlists that came with each month's CD/tape, would you please share them with me?

Contact info is on the blog.

Thanks!

ALL of 1997's GAP In-Store Playlists have been recovered and are on the blog!

Patti Page's 1954 hit "Cross Over The Bridge" was on the March 1994 GAP In-Store Playlist, one of my favorites!

July 1996 is one of the best!

OP’s perseverance is really formidable.

Thank you!

"I Want Candy" and "Leave It Up To Me" by DL Fave Aaron Carter are on the April 2003 GapKids In-Store Playlist!

Here's what the GAP website looked like in 1997!

No one likes the sound of their own voice, GapPlaylistsGuy.

The September 1996 GAP In-Store Playlist is one of my favorites, full of Electronica, Acid Jazz, Trip Hop, Pop, and much more!

As the month winds down, check out the August 1997 Gap In-Store Playlist for a very cool sampling of sounds of the era!

The first August 1999 GAP In-Store Playlist had to be revised and sent back to stores because it didn't contain the two songs from that month's TV ads: "Mellow Yellow" by Donovan & "Dress You Up" by Madonna!

Thank you for your tireless efforts, sir. I’m not being snarky. I really admire your work.

You're welcome and thank you, R39.

Of course, I am doing this for my own benefit to try to find others who saved the paper playlists at Gap, but I also do it to spread Gap history and so that other former employees can find the songs they loved from when they worked at Gap.

Follow the journey:

[quote]The chronicling of my journey to re-obtain all of the Gap In-Store Playlists from 1992 through 2006 requires just a little bit of backstory. I began working at the Gap at Highland Park Village in Dallas on October 17, 1992. Immediately, I was overwhelmed by the music played in the store during business hours. At the time, my main musical passions were the songs of Stevie Nicks and Kate Bush, as well as dance music played in clubs. Gap exposed me to different kinds of Techno, plus Alternative Rock, Modern R&B, Acid Jazz, and so much more. From that very first day, I was captivated by all of this new music and wanted to purchase much of it for my own enjoyment at home, in the car, etc.

[quote]When I started at Gap, the music was on four-hour cassette tapes made by AEI Music. In an eight-hour shift, you would usually hear all of the songs twice a day. By March 1998, Gap had switched over to four-hour CDs for the music, still created by AEI. In April 1999, Gap began using Muzak as the company’s music service, again with four-hour CDs. Eventually, both AEI and Muzak would be acquired by Mood Media.

[quote]When each tape/CD arrived at the store each month, a paper playlist insert was included which listed all of the songs and artists on that month’s tape/CD. Most stores posted the playlists either at the cash wrap or in the backroom for employees who were interested in the songs as well as to be able to answer customers’ questions about the music.

[quote]New tapes usually arrived the last week of each month. While the old tapes and CDs were required to be mailed back to AEI back then, the playlists did not have to be sent back. Therefore, most playlists piled up in the backroom or were discarded. Because of my interest in the music on the tapes, I asked my manager at Highland Park Village if I could take each old playlist at the end of the month when the new tape arrived. Thus started my collecting of the Gap In-Store Playlists!

MORE at the blog...

From 20 years ago, check out the September 1999 Gap In-Store Playlist!

26 Years Ago: The September 1993 Gap In-Store Playlist!

Norma Jeane Wore Khakis.

The January 1999 Gap In-Store Playlist is still one of the best!

Cher AND Courtney Love are on it, gays!

GPG, why did you quit your job at the Gap, given that working there was apparently the highlight of your existence?

I chose to take care of my grandmother in the final months of her life.

After that, life took me in a different direction, which I am fine with.

I treasure the years I was at Gap. I still have connections with the company, but I would not want to go back to retail at this point of my life.

Still love Gap!

Gap was definitely a highlight of my life. I was amazed to discover my talent for Visual Merchandising, which gave me a lot of personal satisfaction.

But there are many other highlights "of [my] existence."

this is admirable.. i like this dedication to music, a story, a narrative of time and place.

Thanks, R50! That is exactly what it's meant to be.

Yes, I want to regain all of the playlists that I lost, but this is also about celebrating a special time at Gap. Gap's most successful and high profile years just happen to be the same time I was working there. The blog with the playlists and photos is meant to recapture a bit of that era.

Gap has no online archives. Their recent Gap History "museum" display in San Francisco was riddled with mistakes as far as dates. Hopefully, people can scroll through the blog and be reminded of something that they really loved at Gap.

I've also been thanked by many, many people who are part of the playlist community. They didn't work at Gap but they enjoy seeing actual playlists of the different months and years, rather than a playlist made today that was meant to reflect music from back then.

Of course, I still need more playlists! Help me if you can!

HOW

DO

YOU

WEAR

IT?

August 2004

Enjoy Being A Girl!

SPRING 2005

From the October 1992 Gap In-Store Playlist:

Fall 1993 Gap Fashion Show!

Y2K Gap In-Store Playlists!

20 Years Ago: The September 1999 Gap In-Store Playlist!

Check out the March 2003 In-Store Playlists for Gap, GapKids and babyGap for a glimpse into the sounds of Spring 2003!

The September 2001 GapKids In-Store Playlist is especially memorable.

If you worked at Gap from 1992 to 2006 and saved the paper playlists that came with each month's CD/tape, please share them with me.

Contact info is on the blog:

Autumn's nearness reminds me of the September 1997 Gap In-Store Playlist.

Check it out!

The November 2002 Gap, GapKids and babyGap In-Store Playlists really capture the sound of the era!

Well, good for you. Now can you keep your GAPing hole shut on the other threads? We are all tired of reading moving stories on threads, of say, of 911 survivors horrifying tales, only to have you barge in asking what songs were playing on store on that tragic day.

There's I've said it.

Check out the September 2001 Gap Kids In-Store Playlist!

I still need many more Gap In-Store Playlists from 2004.

If you worked at Gap and saved them, please share with me.

Re-obtaining any of the 1992 Gap In-Store Playlists would be a dream come true!

I've got to find other former Gap employees who saved the playlists.

"Beautiful Stranger" by Madame X is on the July 1999 Gap In-Store Playlist!

From April 1999:

R68: that’s a cool ad.

From 26 years ago, the September and November 1993 Gap In-Store Playlists!

The November 2002 Gap, GapKids and babyGap In-Store Playlists really capture the sounds of the era.

The May 2005 Gap and GapKids In-Store Playlists are really, really awesome!

Another great pair are the October 1999 Gap and Gap Kids In-Store Playlists!

Gap models for 2001, Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes!