50 Years Of Music – 1974

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We begin our look back at the music of my lifetime with 1974, the year of my birth.  Given my late-October birthday, I only was around for a little over two months, so I have no knowledge of these songs from their original release.  Only 17 of the Hot 100 are familiar to me now, with only seven of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#94: The First Class – Beach Baby
iTunes stats: 22 plays

The band’s sole hit, it peaked at #4 on the Hot 100 at the end of summer, just months before my birth.

#76: Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff
iTunes stats: N/A

Originally written and released by Bob Marley in 1973, this cover provided Clapton with his sole US #1 single.

#72: Elton Jon – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
iTunes stats: N/A

Released in 1973, it was certified gold in January of 1974 and, in 2010, it was ranked #390 in Rolling Stone’s list of 500 greatest songs of all time.

#64: Golden Earring – Radar Love
iTunes stats: N/A

Considered “a rock masterpiece,” the song by the Dutch band peaked at #13 on the US singles chart.

#63: Bachman-Turner Overdrive – Takin’ Care Of Business
iTunes stats: 19 plays

Recorded in late 1973, the tune, originally conceived when Randy Bachman was still a member of The Guess Who, spent 20 weeks on the Billboard charts.

#56: Rufus & Chaka Khan – Tell Me Something Good
iTunes stats: N/A

Written by Stevie Wonder, the song has gained a second life in recent times at sports arenas thanks to the proliferation of replay reviews.

#44: Brownsville Station – Smokin’ In The Boys Room
iTunes stats: 12 plays

Peaking at #3 on the charts, the song is more well known in my world thanks to the 1985 cover by Motley Crue, their first Top 40 hit.

#40: Steve Miller Band – The Joker
iTunes stats: N/A

Released in October of 1973, the song reached the top of the US charts in early 1974.

#39: Carpenters – Top of the World
iTunes stats: 21 plays

Originally recorded for the band’s 1972 album, the song was re-recorded and released as a single following the success of a cover by country artist Lynn Anderson.

#37: Billy Preston – Nothing From Nothing
iTunes stats: 13 plays

The song, which found a second life on the Elf soundtrack, hit the top of the charts in October of 1974.

#28: Paul Anka – (You’re) Having My Baby
iTunes stats: N/A

Anka’s first #1 since the 50s, I’m more familiar with the version on Piranha Man’s album.

#22: Paul McCartney & Wings – Band on the Run
iTunes stats: N/A

Released as a single in April of 1974, the song became the third non-Beatles American chart-topping single for Paul McCartney.

#20: Blue Swede – Hooked On A Feeling
iTunes stats: 18 plays

This cover by the Swedish pop group reached #1 in 1974 and continues to be relevant today, thanks to its inclusion in Reservoir Dogs, Ally McBeal, and Guardians of the Galaxy.

#17: David Essex – Rock On
iTunes stats: 22 plays

Peaking at #5 on the US singles chart, I became familiar with the tune thanks to the 1989 cover by Michael Damian.

#12: Kool & The Gang – Jungle Boogie
iTunes stats: 10 plays

The tune peaked at #4 on the Hot 100 charts and #2 on the Hot Soul singles chart.

#9: Elton John – Bennie and the Jets
iTunes stats: N/A

The third Elton John track to make the year-end list, it is perhaps best known locally thanks to a cover version by the former Mrs. Ben Zobrist, which was used as Zobrist’s walk-up music while he was with the Cubs.

#1: Barbara Streisand – The Way We Were
iTunes stats: N/A

Debuting on the charts in late November, 1973, the sing eventually topped the charts twice in February of 1974, eventually spending 23 consecutive weeks on the Hot 100 chart.

Good Friday Playlist

To celebrate Good Friday and the whole Easter season, I put together a special playlist for the non-podcast part of my commute home Friday night.  Can you find the theme?

 

One of Us Joan Osborne Relish 4/18/2014 3:37 PM
God Tori Amos Under the Pink 4/18/2014 3:41 PM
Connecticut’s For F*cking Jesus H Christ and The Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse Jesus H Christ and The Four Hornsmen Of The Apocalypse 4/18/2014 3:45 PM
You’re a God Vertical Horizon Everything You Want 4/18/2014 3:49 PM
Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand Primitive Radio Gods Rocket 4/18/2014 3:55 PM
Personal Jesus Depeche Mode Violator 4/18/2014 3:59 PM
Right Here, Right Now Jesus Jones Living In The 90’s (Disc 1) 4/18/2014 4:02 PM
Personal Jesus Johnny Cash American IV – The Man Comes Around 4/18/2014 4:05 PM
Just Like Heaven The Cure Greatest Hits 4/18/2014 4:09 PM
Heaven Warrant Monster Ballads (Disc 1) 4/18/2014 4:13 PM
Tears in Heaven Eric Clapton Unplugged 4/18/2014 4:18 PM

Goodbye, iPhone 4S – Music Edition

A little more than a week ago, I upgraded my phone from the iPhone 4S to the newly released iPhone 5S.  The biggest difference, aside from a slightly bigger screen, is the jump from 3G (or 4G, if you believe AT&T’s hype) to LTE.  I had the 4S for a little under 2 years, and in that time, we traveled the world together (well, at least going back to the UK) and have listened to a lot of podcasts and music. Here is every song (all 2079 of them) I’ve listened to on the phone, with some (ok, very little) bonus commentary.  Godspeed.

 

Let’s Go-Go-Go White Sox Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers 33
He’s a Pirate Klaus Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) 32
Take Me Out To The Ballgame Harry Caray 31
Thunderstruck AC/DC The Razors Edge 31
Gordon Beckham Intro 29
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Steam Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969 29
Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey Journey’s Greatest Hits 27
sox05_montage 27
We Are The Champions Queen Queen: Greatest Hits I & II 27
Your Love The Outfield Play Deep 27
2008 White Sox Central Division Champs Montage Chris Tannehill WSCR 670 The Score 25
Take Me Out To The Ballgame Nancy Faust 25
Harvester Of Sorrow Metallica …And Justice For All 20

You would hope that these numbers would have been higher, but this past season’s miserable performance by the White Sox has put the songs on their playlist out of mind more often than not.

Cannonball The Breeders The First 1000 Years- Rock 19
Man Or Muppet Jason Segel The Muppets 15
It’s Time For Our Song Miss Piggy The Muppets 14
Get Out There And Help Those Guys Jason Segel The Muppets 13
Main Title LOST Soundtrack LOST Soundtrack 13
Are You A Man Or A Muppet? Amy Adams The Muppets 12
How Charming, A Finale Uncle Deadly The Muppets 12
I’m On A Boat (ft. T-Pain) The Lonely Island Incredibad 12
Down At The Ole Barbershop Kermit The Muppets 11
Me and Drugs David Cross Bigger and Blackerer 11
The Antichrist Howard Stern Private Parts: The Album 11
Continue reading →

Goodbye, iPhone 3G – Music Edition

As I wait for tomorrow’s delivery of my new iPhone 4S, it is time to say goodbye to the 3G that has been my trusty companion for nearly the past 3 1/2 years.  We’ve traveled the world together (well, at least Canada and the UK) and have listened to a lot of music.  Here is every song (all 1597 of them) I’ve listened to on the phone, with some (ok, very little) bonus commentary!

He’s a Pirate Klaus Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) 100
Gordon Beckham Intro 91
Let’s Go-Go-Go White Sox Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers 87
Thunderstruck AC/DC The Razors Edge 84
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Steam Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969 83
sox05_montage 75
We Are The Champions Queen Queen: Greatest Hits I & II 73
Boom P.O.D. Satellite 70
Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey Journey’s Greatest Hits 69
2008 White Sox Central Division Champs Montage Chris Tannehill WSCR 670 The Score 65

No surprise that the top 10 are all part of (or were part of) my White Sox victory playlist.  This gets played on the way home from every White Sox winner, plus the occassional ride to a game.  Continue reading →