March 28 – White Sox Puffy Vest
April 11 – White Sox Hoodie
April 18 – Yoan Moncada Bobblehead
April 25 – TBD Bobblehead
May 2 – Lucas Giolito X-Wing Fighter Bobblehead
May 16 – 1960 Replica Scoreboard
May 29 – Fireworks
May 30 – Tim Anderson Batflip Bobblehead
June 6 – White Sox Hawaiian Shirt
June 26 – Fireworks
July 1 – Wrigley Field Scoreboard Replica
July 19 – TBD Bobblehead
August 28 – Elvis Night & Fireworks
September 20 – TBD Bobblehead
Tag / Elvis
Top 200 Albums – #11 – 20
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.
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.
Top 200 Albums – #101 – 109
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 wrap up the first half with the next batch of 10 albums ranked between #101 and 109, including 6 studio recordings, 2 live performances, and 2 greatest hit packages.
#109: Eminem – The Eminem Show
iTunes stats: 65 plays
Previous Ranking: 74
The fourth studio album from Eminem uses 5 tracks to make up this total.
#109: The Beatles – Abbey Road
iTunes stats: 65 plays
Previous Ranking: 100
7 songs make up this total for the remastered version of the last Beatles album ever recorded.
#108: Bush – Sixteen Stone
iTunes stats: 66 plays
Previous Ranking: 80
5 tracks from Bush’s debut album place it on the list, with only 24 additional plays.
#106: Offspring – Smash
iTunes stats: 67 plays
Previous Ranking: 100
4 tunes, and an increase of 30 listens, from this debut album from the California punk band make up this total.
#106: Cracker – Kerosene Hat
iTunes stats: 67 plays
Previous Ranking: 80
The second album from the Georgia rockers makes the list thanks to 3 songs.
2018 Games Of Interest
Due to some ill-conceived (in my opinion) changes to my ticket plan by the White Sox, there are a smaller number of games this year.
Fireworks Night
April 20
August 17 (Elvis Night)
September 7
Other Fun Stuff
April 7 – White Sox Winter Hat
May 5 – Los White Sox Soccer Jersey
May 19 – Star Wars Night and Hawk Solo Bobblehead
June 2 – 1983 Replica Road Jersey
June 6 – Wrigley Field Scoreboard Clock
June 16 – Hawaiian Floppy Hat
June 18 – Jason Heyward Bobblehead
July 23 – Javy Baez Bobblehead
August 11 – Jim Thome Bobblehead
iTunes Top 200 Artists: #11-20
3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 artists 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, expanding out the field to the top 200 artists, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2017.
In our penultimate trip through the chart, we crack the top 20 and hit some of the more popular bands and musicians on my phone..
#20: Nirvana
iTunes stats: 211 plays
Previous ranking: #20
97 new listens to the same 19 songs from the grunge masters enable them to stay even at #20.
#19: Bon Jovi
iTunes stats: 214 plays
Previous ranking: #21
The boys from New Jersey have racked up 101 new listens, including 5 new songs, to raise 2 slots in the rankings.
#18: Eminem
iTunes stats: 215 plays
Previous ranking: #14
The same 16 tunes provided only 79 new listens, causing the Detroit rapper to fall 4 slots from 3 years ago.
#17: Elvis Presley
iTunes stats: 226 plays
Previous ranking: #27
One additional song, plus a trip to Graceland, helped the King of Rock & Roll more than double his total from 3 years ago and leap 10 spots in the rankings.
#16: Poison
iTunes stats: 243 plays
Previous ranking: #13
30 tracks, 2 more than 3 years ago, accounted for their 99 additional listens, causing the quintessential glam rock band to drop 3 slots.
#15: Def Leppard
iTunes stats: 255 plays
Previous ranking: #15
The troubled band from Sheffield used 36 songs to increase their total by 122, enabling them to retain their ranking from 3 years ago.
#14: The Lonely Island
Continue reading →
She’s Only 17
Today marks Angelina’s 17th birthday, and her last here at home before going off to college. To celebrate, we have a photo of her in a mock phone booth in downstate Metropolis, where we stopped last year on the way home from our Elvis trip.
Cause It’s Summertime
2016 has hit its halfway point, and we mark the occasion with a picture of Angelina with the giant Superman statue in Metropolis, IL from last year’s Elvis trip.
iTunes Top 200: #41 – 46
3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs 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, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.
With 3/4ths of the rankings completed, we kick off the look at the final quarter today with the first 10 songs ranked from #46 through #41.
#46: Elvis Presley – An American Trilogy
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 12/3/2015
Previous ranking: #96
An impressive jump in the ratings for this medley of three 19th century songs: Dixie, a blackface minstrel song that became the unofficial anthem of the Confederacy since the Civil War; All My Trials, originally a Bahamian lullaby, but closely related to African American spirituals; and The Battle Hymn of the Republic, the marching song of the Union Army during the Civil War.
#46: Divinyls – I Touch Myself
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 9/28/2015
Previous ranking: #41
The sole US hit for the Australian band which formed in 1980.
#46: Color Me Badd – All 4 Love
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 10/3/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked
The highest ranking song that did not make the cut three years ago, thanks to its use as at bat music for former White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers.
#46: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – End Credits (Broom Dance/Grr Argh)
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 11/9/2014
Previous ranking: #41
A jazzed up version of the ending theme from the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
#46: The Beatles – Can’t Buy Me Love
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 9/17/2015
Previous ranking: #41
This 1964 hit had the biggest jump to number one (from #27) until Billboard began using SoundScan for their charts.
#44: Tegan and Sara – I Hear Noises
Continue reading →
May Flowers
As May rolls in, we turn back to last May’s trip to Graceland as Angelina sports a pair of Elvis-ish glasses in one of the many gift shops that support the Elvis Presley empire in the 21st Century.
2016 Calendar
Now that Christmas has come and gone, we can unveil the cover to this year’s calendar gift, given annually to my mom and sister, made up of pictures I have taken throughout the year. Once again. this year’s calendar was produced by the good folks at Shutterfly. As in year’s past, we will unveil each month’s photo on the first day of the month throughout 2015.
This year’s cover is made up of 12 pictures, each featuring some combination of Angelina, Danny, and Michael. We start with the shot above of all 3 riding a camel at the Memphis Zoo from our Elvis trip back in May.
Continuing counter clockwise is another shot of all 3 standing in front of the famous ivy on the outfield wall at Wrigley Field from the Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Day conducted by the Cubs this summer.