After my tape deck crapped out in 1997, I was stuck listening to either the radio or full albums in whatever order the artist intended.  That all changed in 2001, when the new-fangled MP3 technology got combined with my new CD burner.

This was the last CD of psudeo-new music that I burned.  Fall of 2005 was consumed with other activities and that Christmas, I got a Sirius satellite radio, at which point I pretty much stopped using the CD player in the car.  In fact, the CDs that were in the 5 disc changer at the time stayed there untouched for so long that, when I tried to put in something different, the new discs wouldn’t work.

Tom Petty – I Won’t Back Down

I just now realized that this was from Tom Petty’s solo album and was not a Heartbreakers track.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 8/6/2011

Foo Fighters – Best Of You

The latest from the Foo Fighters was the first single from In Your Honor.

iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 3/29/2012

Black Eyed Peas – Don’t Phunk With My Heart

The less successful follow up to the monster hit Let’s Get It Started.

iTunes stats: Never played

Def Leppard – No Matter What

A cover of the old Badfinger song done as a bonus track for their latest best-of release.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 9/28/2012

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Summertime

The Grammy winner for Best Rap single of 1991.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 6/26/2012

Ramones – Blitzkreig Bop

The debut single for the seminal American punk band.

iTunes stats: 1 plays, on 7/30/2012

Terror Squad – Lean Back

Spent three weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 charts in August of 2004.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 8/4/2011

Weezer – Beverly Hills

The latest single from Weezer was the first from their fifth album.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 10/11/2012

The McCoys – Hang On Sloopy

This is the official rock song of the state of Ohio.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 11/19/2012

Usher – Yeah!

Usher’s monster hit spent 12 weeks stop the Billboard Hot 100 in 2004 and was the #1 song of the year.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 10/23/2012

Righteous Brothers – You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling

BMI ranked the song as having had more radio and television play in the United States than any other song during the 20th century.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 5/26/2012

Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone

Originally written for Pink, the song was also turned down by Hilary Duff before being given to Clarkson.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 10/9/2011

Nine Inch Nails – The Hand That Feeds

The latest from Trent Reznor that I liked so much, I deleted the MP3.

10000 Maniacs – These Are Days (unplugged)

I had meant to put the original version on here but accidentally picked the unplugged version.

iTunes stats: Never played

Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams

The second release from Green Day’s latest album, American Idiot.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 7/31/2011

Gwen Stefani – Hollaback Girl

The biggest solo hit for the No Doubt singer.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 8/6/2011

Oasis – Wonderwall

I had a roommate in college who put this song on repeat and then got in the shower.  There is only so much Oasis one man can take before he goes insane.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 9/17/2011

Jane’s Addiction – Jane Says

The title refers to lead singer Perry Farrell’s ex-housemate, Jane Bainter, who was the muse, inspiration, and the namesake of the band.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 5/21/2010

Lustra – Scotty Doesn’t Know

The real band behind the song portrayed by a disguised Matt Damon in Eurotrip.

iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 9/6/2012

Veruca Salt – Number One Blind

The second single from the local Chicago group.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/1/2012