February 25, 2019January 9, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 7

20 years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I put together the first of what would become a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. We last looked back at all 20 volumes three years ago to see which of my “favorite” songs still resonated in today’s digital world. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how, or if, things have changed in the past 3 years.

Volume 7 covers the fall of 1992 and the end of the first semester of my freshman year of college. We are treated to the last gasps of hair metal and pop, with a little dance, alternative and hip-hop thrown in for good measure.

Side A

Guns N’ Roses – November Rain

The longest song ever to crack to top 10 on the Billboard charts, peaking at #3, the opus, which checks in at 3 seconds shy of 9 minutes, picked up 7 new plays in the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	5 plays	12 plays, most recently on 11/14/2018

Def Leppard – Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad

The 86th biggest hit of 1992 picked up a mere 2 listens since 2015 and only 4 since 2012.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	6 plays	8 plays, most recently on 12/5/2018

Toad The Wet Sprocket – All I Want

Topping out at #15 on the Billboard charts, the first hit from Toad the Wet Sprocket only picked up 4 new listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
10 plays	17 plays	21 plays, most recently on 12/9/2018

Tesla – Signs

The live track, which I once owned on CD before trading it in for LL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You Out, gained a mere 4 new listens, with the last one coming only 2 weeks after I bought the band’s namesake car.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	5 plays	9 plays, most recently on 7/13/2017

Soup Dragons – Divine Thing

The alternative dance single that became a moderate hit in the US gained 9 additional listens.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
9 plays	14 plays	20 plays, most recently on 9/23/2018

Ugly Kid Joe – Neighbor

Ugly Kid Joe, who debuted much too late for their 80s hairband style, saw a five-fold increase in the amount of plays this first single from their first full length album.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
1 plays	2 plays	10 plays, most recently on 11/12/2018

The Heights – How Do You Talk To An Angel

The theme song from the short-lived FOX show The Heights, nominated for the 1993 Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics Emmy, picked up 6 new plays.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	8 plays	14 plays, most recently on 7/14/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

February 18, 2019January 17, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 6

Volume 6 takes us through the end of high school, through the summer, and into the beginning of my freshman year of college. Sadly, this is not the original version of volume 6, which was lost after being borrowed by my sister for a party. The steady stream of hair metal and pop starts to become overtaken by alternative and hip-hop.

Side A

Genesis – I Can’t Dance

The second single from the 14th studio album from Genesis, which received a 1993 Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, nearly doubled its number of listens in the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
2 plays	7 plays	13 plays, most recently on 8/6/2018

Ugly Kid Joe – Everything About You

Hitting #9 on the Billboard charts, the first hit for the California band put together a decent increase of 16 spins over the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	6 plays	22 plays, most recently on 9/17/2018

Joe Public – Live and Learn

Ranked 16th on complex.com’s list of the best new jack swing songs of all time, the tune managed to double its plays since our last check.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	6 plays	12 plays, most recently on 9/5/2018

Boyz II Men – Please Don’t Go

The final single from Cooleyhighharmony, which failed to crack the top 40, finally got a listen or 8 over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
0 plays	0 plays	8 plays, most recently on 8/3/2018

Def Leppard – Make Love Like A Man

The second single from Adrenalize, and the first video with new guitarist Vivian Campbell, nearly managed to double its plays over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	6 plays	11 plays, most recently on 8/30/2018

Guns N’ Roses – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

After going over 3 years without hearing the Bob Dylan cover, it picked up 5 new listens in the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
7 plays	7 plays	12 plays, most recently on 9/1/2018

Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Under The Bridge

The first appearance of “alternative” music on these collections, which became the 8th biggest single of 1992, nearly doubled its play total.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	6 plays	11 plays, most recently on 12/14/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

February 11, 2019January 6, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 5

Volume 5 takes us from the end of my junior year of high school, through the summer, and all the way to spring of my senior year, from mid 1991 through early 1992, and once again features a healthy dose of hair metal and pop. It also covers the acquisition of my first CD player, a Christmas gift in 1991.

Side A

Firehouse – Don’t Treat Me Bad

Peaking at #19 on the Billboard charts, the first hit from Firehouse picked up 7 new listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	5 plays	12 plays, most recently on 12/2/2018

Color Me Badd – I Wanna Sex You Up

Featured on the soundtrack for New Jack City, the first single from the R&B boy band nearly tripled its spins over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
2 plays	5 plays	14 plays, most recently on 9/3/2018

Boyz II Men – Motownphilly

The debut release from the Philadelphia crooners, which hit #3 on the Billboard charts, had a healthy 15 play increase since last we checked.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
1 plays	4 plays	19 plays, most recently on 11/8/2018

Mötley Crüe – Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

The fourth single off of Dr. Feelgood, originally recorded off 103.5 The Blaze, gets a nice 8 listen increase to keep it in the running for one of the most listened to songs.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
18 plays	22 plays	30 plays, most recently on 9/1/2018

Slaughter – Fly To The Angels

The second single from the band’s debut album, which peaked at #19 on the Billboard charts, more than doubled its plays in the last 3 years..

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	6 plays	13 plays, most recently on 8/21/2018

Boyz II Men – It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye

A cover of song originally written for the film Cooley High, the song saw a 20 spin increase over the past 3 years, covering both the radio and album versions of the tune.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
17 plays	28 plays	48 plays, most recently on 12/18/2018

Salt-N-Pepa – Let’s Talk About Sex

Nominated for the 1992 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy, the tune nearly doubled its output over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	9 plays	17 plays, most recently on 10/20/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

February 4, 2019January 5, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 4

Volume 4 places us smack dab in the middle of my junior year of high school, from late 1990 and into 1991, and, s quite possibly, the worst entry in this series. Judging solely from this tape, you would have no idea that Nirvana’s Nevermind would be released later this year.

Side A

Damn Yankees – High Enough

Peaking at #3 on the Billboard charts, the one big hit from the supergroup featuring right-wing douchenozzle Ted Nugent added only 4 new plays and hasn’t shown up in rotation in over a year.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	6 plays	10 plays, most recently on 11/21/2017

Sweet Sensation – If Wishes Came True

The #25 hit of 1990 added 8 additional listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
2 plays	5 plays	13 plays, most recently on 8/17/2018

Poison – Fallen Angel

Poison’s hit from 1988, the only single from Open Up and Say… Ahh! to not crack the top 10, got 9 additional listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
11 plays	13 plays	22 plays, most recently on 12/3/2018

Simpsons – Do The Bartman

The first single from the animated TV family, which went to #1 in 5 countries but wasn’t officially released as a single in the US, added 7 new listens over the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
0 plays	1 play	8 plays, most recently on 11/19/2018

Roxette – The Look

Ranked as the #17 single of 1989, the hit for the Swedish duo gained a mere 3 new spins over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
1 play	8 plays	11 plays, most recently on 7/10/2018

Poison – I Won’t Forget You

The fourth single from Poison’s debut album, originally taped off a mixtape I “borrowed” from my friend Mike’s sister, tripled its output over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
1 play	3 plays	9 plays, most recently on 9/6/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

January 21, 2019January 5, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 3

Volume 3 picks up in mid-summer 1990 and takes us through late 1990 and into my junior year of high school. Featuring another steady stream of hair metal, with small selections of pop, rap, R&B, and dance thrown in for good measure, volume 3 also overlaps with the start of my relationship with my first “real” girlfriend.

Side A

2 Live Crew – Banned In The USA

The first song (as I recall) recorded off of B96, this protest anthem from 2 Live Crew, recorded after their previous album was declared obscene by a federal judge, increased its play total by 7 over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
6 plays	8 plays	15 plays, most recently on 8/22/2018

Poison – Unskinny Bop

The first single from Flesh & Blood , which peaked at #3 on the Billboard charts, managed to earn 3 additional plays since last time we did this check.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	8 plays	11 plays, most recently on 12/4/2018

Poison – Nothin’ But A Good Time

Most likely originally recorded from The Blaze, the debut single from Poison’s previous album and arguably their second biggest hit, picked up an impressive 11 new listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
6 plays	6 plays	17 plays, most recently on 10/1/2018

MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her

The unlikely cover of the 1971 hit by The Chi-Lites doubled up its number of plays over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
2 plays	4 plays	8 plays, most recently on 10/27/2017

Cheap Trick – Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love

Cheap Trick’s last single to hit the top 40, the first release from their 11th studio album, which became “our song” between me and my first girlfriend, had a healthy increase of 6 listens over the last few years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
10 plays	14 plays	20 plays, most recently on 11/8/2018

Nelson – (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection

Matthew and Gunnar’s big hit, which topped the Billboard charts, nearly tripled its play total since 2015.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
1 plays	4 plays	11 plays, most recently on 11/19/2018

Warrant – Cherry Pie

Thanks to prodding from The Adam Carolla Show, Warrant’s strip club anthem increased by 14 listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
8 plays	17 plays	31 plays, most recently on 12/3/2018

Johnny Gill – Rub You The Right Way

The solo debut from the New Edition alumnus, ranked as the 23rd biggest hit of 1990, picked up 6 additional plats in the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
7 plays	10 plays	16 plays, most recently on 4/12/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

January 14, 2019January 5, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 2

Volume 2 picks up in early 1990 and takes us through early summer, book-ended by Roxette hits and featuring another steady stream of hair metal and pop, with a little rap and R&B thrown in for flavor.

Side A

Roxette – Dangerous

Originally recorded from American Top 40, the fifth and final single from Roxette’s second album added 5 listens to its play total over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
7 plays	12 plays	17 plays, most recently on 12/18/2018

Skid Row – Youth Gone Wild

The first release from Skid Row, which peaked at #99 on the Billboard charts, picked up 5 new plays over the past 4+ years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	8 plays	13 plays, most recently on 10/3/2018

Biz Markie – Just A Friend

Ranked #81 on VH1s list of Greatest One Hit Wonders, Biz Markie’s smash more than doubled its listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
6 plays	12 plays	25 plays, most recently on 11/8/2018

Mötley Crüe – Without You

Peaking at #8 on the Billboard charts, the ballad, said to be about drummer Tommy Lee’s relationship with Heather Locklear, picked up 6 additional spins since 2015.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
10 plays	11 plays	17 plays, most recently on 11/26/2018

Aerosmith – What It Takes

Aerosmtih returns to my charts with this smash hit, which peaked at #9 on the charts and picked up a mere 3 plays over the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
8 plays	12 plays	15 plays, most recently on 8/14/2018

MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This

The first rap song to be nominated for the Record of the Year Grammy, MC Hammer’s signature tune more than doubled its play total over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	6 plays	13 plays, most recently on 12/15/2018

Aerosmith – Rag Doll

A 1988 hit from Aerosmith, which makes an appearance on this tape thanks to my absconding my friend Scott’s cassette of their previous album, also more than doubled its play total in the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	6 plays	13 plays, most recently on 10/2/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

January 7, 2019January 4, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 1

Volume 1, again, was started in 1989 when I was a sophomore and stretches to early 1990. It features a steady stream of hair metal, with a smattering of pop, rap and dance, with a morning zoo radio bit thrown in for good measure.

Side A

Warrant – Heaven

The biggest hit from Warrant, which I most likely originally recorded from Z95, peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts. It has more than doubled its number of plays over the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	6 plays	13 plays, most recently on 12/4/2018

Young MC – Bust A Move

One of the first tunes I bought on cassingle, this one hit wonder won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1990. It had another impressive increase, gaining 6 plays since 2015.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
13 plays	20 plays	26 plays, most recently on 9/17/2018

New Kids Got Run Over By A Reindeer

Thanks to YouTube, I just finally tracked down this parody song that I originally heard on the Welch & Woody morning show on Z95. I may even listen to it next Christmas.

Bon Jovi – You Give Love A Bad Name

Originally written by Desmond Child for Bonnie Tyler, the song was rewritten and became the first single from Bon Jovi’s third album in 1986. After a dry spell between 2012 and 2015, it has more than doubled in the 3 years since.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
5 plays	6 plays	14 plays, most recently on 12/11/2018

B-52s – Love Shack

I’m still hoping to acquire the full version of the song on MP3, which I had originally taped off the radio. In spite of that, I’ve more than tripled the number of listens over the last three years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
2 plays	3 plays	13 plays, most recently on 10/2/2018

Paula Abdul – The Way That You Love Me

After stalling out on the Billboard charts on its original release in 1988, the song, along with a video by future Academy Award nominee David Fincher, was re-released the following year, making it up to #3. Despite barely hearing the song for years, it’s added 7 new plays in the past three years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
0 plays	1 play	8 plays, most recently on 11/6/2018

Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting

The #1 hit, the third consecutive for Marx, was the second single from his second album. After a dry spell between 2012 and 2015, it has more than tripled in the 3 years since.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
1 play	3 plays	10 plays, most recently on 12/12/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

December 30, 2018December 2, 2018 by admin

2018: The Year In Music

I managed to see 4 different concerts last year, across 3 states. This is the story of those shows.

The first show was in Las Vegas back in March. In conjunction with the IBM Think conference, the Barenaked Ladies were performing on the beach at Mandalay Bay. IBM had hooked one of my co-workers up with a cabana for the show, due to her being a legitimate superfan of the band, which the rest of us got to crash. The group cycled through their hits, including the theme song to The Big Bang Theory, which was a nice surprise. I don’t think you could ask for much more out of a free show attached to a tech conference.

The next night, there were two shows going on. We had our choice of Train or The Chainsmokers, and I went with option 2. The show was at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and it was not quite what I was expecting. In my defense, I am an old and thus was not up to speed on the nature of the Chainsmokers, so I should have been more familiar with the type of music the band would be performing. While the two guys I were with decided to bail after a half hour or so, I decided to stick it out and was genuinely entertained, if not in the manner I was expecting. I can’t say it is something I would want to see again, but I’m glad I did so at least once. And, hey, you can’t beat the price.

In August, Pearl Jam came to Wrigley Field for 2 shows and I attended the first one. It’s been a long time since I considered myself a Pearl Jam fan, and the show, while entertaining, certainly dragged for long periods between songs that I knew.

Finally, in October, I traveled to Boston to, on top of Angelina related things, see Garbage at the House of Blues. The 20 Years Paranoid tour, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of Version 2.0, had played in Chicago the week before, but I’ve already done that a time or 5. With Game 1 of the World Series taking place across the street at Fenway Park, Garbage put on another fine show, ripping through the entirety of their second album, along with some covers and special treats.

And that does it. Time will tell what 2019 has in store and I look forward to finding out.

June 11, 2018April 16, 2018 by admin

Top 200 Albums – #1 – 10

Nearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We finish things off today with the final batch of 10 albums, ranked between #1 and 10, including 4 comedy albums, 4 compilations, 1 greatest hits package, and 1 bootleg live performance.

#10: Patton Oswalt – Werewolves and Lollipops
iTunes stats: 213 plays
Previous Ranking: 13

This total for Patton Oswalt’s standup set would be significantly higher if I were to ever sync my old iPhone 4s again.

#9: The Lonely Island – Incredibad
iTunes stats: 218 plays
Previous Ranking: 3

7 tracks from the groups debut album, most of which originated as digital shorts on SNL, did not rack up the listens and suffers a large drop.

#8: Various Artists – Living In The 90’s
iTunes stats: 224 plays
Previous Ranking: 22

A whopping 22 songs, from bands like The Proclaimers, EMF, and Roxette, make up the total for this compilation of early 90s hits.

#7: Garfunkel and Oates – Slippery When Moist
iTunes stats: 236 plays
Previous Ranking: 10

The entire album, which I got thanks to High 5 iTunes gift cards, added well over 100 listens since last time around.

#6: George Carlin – Complaints and Grievances
iTunes stats: 239 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

The highest ranking debut is this 2001 comedy album, taped shortly after 9/11.

Continue reading →

June 4, 2018April 28, 2018 by admin

Top 200 Albums – #11 – 20

The penultimate grouping has the nearly final batch of 10 albums, ranked between #11 and 20, including 3 compilations, 2 comedy albums, 2 studio albums, 2 greatest hits package, and, finally, 1 bootleg live performance.

#20: Patton Oswalt – Feelin’ Kinda Patton
iTunes stats: 169 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

This total for Patton Oswalt’s standup set would be significantly higher if I were to ever sync my old iPhone 4s again.

#19: Garfunkel and Oates – All Over Your Face
iTunes stats: 170 plays
Previous Ranking: 27

10 tunes from the musical comedy duo contribute to this total.

#18: The Monkees – The Monkees Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 177 plays
Previous Ranking: 14

19 different tracks from the made-for-TV band make up this total.

#17: Garbage – One Mile High… Live
iTunes stats: 184 plays
Previous Ranking: 63

The audio rip of the band’s live video release makes the list thanks to 21 different tracks.

#16: Various Artists – TV’s Hits Vol. 7: Cable Ready
iTunes stats: 191 plays
Previous Ranking: 12

This collection of TV theme songs, mostly from the early to mid 90s, uses 13 different tunes, from shows like Mad About You, Saved By The Bell, and Blossom.

Continue reading →

Learning Turkey

Dropping steaming piles of wisdom

Category / Music

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 7

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 6

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 5

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 4

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 3

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 2

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 1

Side A

Side B

2018: The Year In Music

Top 200 Albums – #1 – 10

Top 200 Albums – #11 – 20