We last counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library four years ago. Since that time, the world has literally changed, and my commute has decreased from 1+ hours each way to 25 steps. So, despite the decrease in potential listening time, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through the morning of January 1, 2022.
Today, we kick off the second half of our countdown with the next batch of ten albums that I have listened to the most over the last 15 years, breaking the triple digit total play plateau with four compilations, and music from the 60s, 80s, 90s, and beyond.
#100: The Beatles – Help!
iTunes stats: 115 plays
Previous Ranking: 94
A 55% increase in plays for the five of the fourteen tracks from this 1965 album, the band’s fifth, and the soundtrack to their same-named film.
#99: Various Artists – Saturday Morning Cartoons’ Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 117 plays
Previous Ranking: 165
This collection of cartoon theme songs from the 60s and 70s covered by some of the bigger alternative acts of the 90s, including Liz Phair, Material Issue, and Sponge, amongst others, saw an increase of 69 listens to jump 66 spots in the rankings.
#97: Various Artists – Rock N’ Roll Era: 1964
iTunes stats: 119 plays
Previous Ranking: 109
An 83% increase in plays over the past four years for this edition of the Time Life series, featuring songs by Chuck Berry, The Drifters, and Roy Orbison, among others.
#97: The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
iTunes stats: 119 plays
Previous Ranking: 127
The remastered version of this Beatles’ eighth studio album adds 40 new listens across the five songs out of thirteen in my collection.
#94: The Lonely Island – Turtleneck & Chain
iTunes stats: 120 plays
Previous Ranking: 79
A 48% increase for the four tracks from this second album from the SNL digital short maestros.
#94: Metallica – Metallica
iTunes stats: 120 plays
Previous Ranking: 94
Colloquially known as The Black Album, this self-titled fifth studio album saw a 62% increase in plays over the past four years.
#94: Various Artists – Private Parts: The Album
iTunes stats: 120 plays
Previous Ranking: 94
Released in 1997, the soundtrack to Howard Stern’s so-called cinematic love letter to his now wife, who he would divorce two years later, saw an additional 46 plays to its combination of music and movie clips.
#93: Cheap Trick – The Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 121 plays
Previous Ranking: 104
Five songs from the long career of Cheap Trick from their greatest hits compilation, which I purchased at Discount Den during my college days, parlayed a 78% increase in listens to jump 28 spots on the chart.
#91: Various Artists – Monsters of Rock
iTunes stats: 122 plays
Previous Ranking: 85
This compilation of 80s hair bands, like White Lion, Winger, and Firehouse, added 43 new plays to the eight different tracks in my collection over the past four years.
#91: Purdue “All-American” Marching Band – Stadium Echoes
iTunes stats: 113 plays
Previous Ranking: 64
Two tracks from the alma mater’s marching band, which currently includes Mr. Danny, somehow managed both a 23% increase in listens totaling 23 new listens.