You would sit by the radio for hours with your finger on the record button, waiting for your song to come on. When it finally did, you had about half a second to hit Record before you missed the intro.
The DJ always talked over the beginning. Always. You would get the perfect recording and then hear 'That was Bon Jovi on K-Rock 101' right over the first verse.
Making a mixtape for someone was an act of devotion. You had to plan the order, time each side to exactly 45 minutes, and write the track list on the little card insert with your best handwriting. If someone made you a mixtape, that meant something.