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.
As of today, we are three quarters of the way through 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 three compilations, and music from the 60s, 80s, 90s, and beyond.
#60: Various Artists – Forrest Gump
iTunes stats: 166 plays
Previous Ranking: 73
A 93% increase for the soundtrack, featuring artists like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and CCR, from the Oscar-winning film.
#59: Bon Jovi – Cross Road
iTunes stats: 167 plays
Previous Ranking: 62
Ten of the band’s biggest hits earned an additional 66 plays over the last four years.
#56: The Beatles – Please Please Me
iTunes stats: 168 plays
Previous Ranking: 53
Seven tracks from this remastered version of the band’s 1963 debut album earned a 51% increase in plays.
#56: David Cross – It’s Not Funny
iTunes stats: 168 plays
Previous Ranking: 62
This 2004 comedy album from David Cross added 67 new plays, and that total would be significantly higher if I were to sync my old phone again, as I have listened to it while falling asleep plenty of times.
#56: Various Artists – Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Album
iTunes stats: 168 plays
Previous Ranking: 46
A drop of ten spots on the chart for this initial soundtrack album to the hit television series, featuring eight tunes by bands like Nerf Herder, Guided By Voices, and The Sundays.
#55: Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
iTunes stats: 176 plays
Previous Ranking: 49
This 2000 release, the third studio album from the controversial rapper, saw a 55% increase in plays for the seven songs in my collection.
#54: Taylor Swift – 1989
iTunes stats: 178 plays
Previous Ranking: 71
Released on my 40th birthday, this first pop album from the then-country star gained 87 new plays over these past four years.
#52: Journey – Journey’s Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 179 plays
Previous Ranking: 34
Four different tunes combined for this total, up nearly 30% in the past four years, although one of them contributes the vast majority of the listens thanks to its links to the 2005 World Series champions.
#52: David Cross – Bigger and Blackerer
iTunes stats: 179 plays
Previous Ranking: 41
This 2010 comedy album, the third released by Cross, added 52 new listens, leading to a 11-spot drop.
#51: Various Artists – Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)
iTunes stats: 180 plays
Previous Ranking: 23
The highest-ranking album whose total comes from a single song, which was formerly used as part of the White Sox pre-game video introductions, raised its total by a mere 8%.