Mix Tape Monday – Live Tracks 3

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.

In addition to the occasional series of CDs I had burned in order to keep abreast of new music, I had created a bunch of genre-specific mixes that could be used both in the car and at the gym. This week we will take a look at the third disc covering the world of live music. One of the best things about the confluence of music and the internet in the early 21st century was the availability of bootleg live performances that, at one time, would have been available only to serious collectors or the lucky few to attend the concerts. In fact, there was so much of it that this was the only collection to go beyond 2 discs. So, without further ado, I bring you Live Music, volume 3.

Garbage – Wild Horses

Recorded for Re:Covered, a BBC Choice music show where contemporary artists performed their new single and an old classic.

iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 8/9/2012

No Doubt – Obladi, Oblada

Recorded at The Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim in Anaheim, California on May 31, and June 1, 1997 and released on video on November 11, 1997.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 2/15/2013

Soundgarden – Helter Skelter

Likely recorded during their 1996 West Coast tour, where they played the song often.

iTunes stats: Never played

Jewel – Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Jewel eventually covered the Wizard of Oz classic for her Lullaby album.

iTunes stats: Never played

REM – I Am Superman

Potentially recorded live in Holland in 1987.

iTunes stats: Never played

Alice Cooper – School’s Out

From his 1995 best of compilation from his association with Epic records.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 1/9/2013

Aerosmith – What It Takes

From their Little South Of Sanity live album, recorded between 1993 and 1998.

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

Nirvana – About A Girl

iTunes stats: Never played

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Mix Tape Monday – Tape #1

Earlier this year, we looked at the 20 volumes of mix tapes that I had made between 1989 and 1995, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD.  In addition to those, I had 2 tapes that consisted of songs that I liked, but, for differing reasons, did not make it to the main set.  I thought it would be fun to take another look back at those two cassettes, how much I listen to those songs now, and why they did not qualify for the main set of mix tapes.

 

Side A

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Soul To Squeeze

This song was from the Coneheads soundtrack, released in 1993.  I’m not sure what held the song back, as it ranks high today in my list of favorite Chili Pepper songs.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 8/29/2011

Aerosmith – Sweet Emotion

At some point, I stopped putting old songs on the main series of mix tapes and shunted them off to this collection.  This Aerosmith hit, originally released in the 70s, was re-released as the single from the Pandora’s Box boxset.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 6/17/2012

EMF – Unforgettable

The one hit from EMF certainly should have made it to the main series of tapes.  Maybe I just never got it recorded until it was too late?

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 9/1/2011

REM – Drive (Live)

This live version of the debut single from Automatic For The People was recorded for Greenpeace.

Stone Temple Pilots – Plush

One thing I did notice was that for bands I ended up reallly liking, like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and STP, their first breakthrough hit did not make it on to my favorites tapes.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 10/13/2010

Motley Crue – Kickstart My Heart

Again, not sure why this wouldn’t have made it to the main tapes, unless it came out before those tapes started.  The timing would have been close.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 6/17/2012

REM – Stand

The title song from the Chris Elliot show Get A Life would have pre-dated the other collection of favorite songs.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 7/13/2012

Guns N’ Roses – Patience

With the overwhelming success of Appetite For Destruction, a quickie EP was released with previously released material and this song, which would have come out right around the time the other series of tapes was starting off.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 8/15/2011

Van Halen – Jump

Since this song came out in 1984, it was relegated to this backup tape as opposed to the main stream.

iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 10/2/2012

Def Leppard – Bringin’ On The Heartbreak

This Def Leppard song easily pre-dates my collection of favorite songs, as it came out in the early 1980s.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/25/2012

Side B

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Mix Tape Monday Roundup

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together 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. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.

Last week, we finished up the last of the 20 volumes.  The 287 songs from 144 different bands or performers have been played an average of just over 5 times each, according to my iTunes stats. Let’s take one final look back at the bands and songs that made up my youth.

Most Played Song

25 – Veruca Salt – Seether

19 – Motley Crue – Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

18 – The Breeders – Cannonball

18 – Cher with Beavis and Butthead – I’ve Got You Babe

17 – Great White – Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Most Represented Band

11 – Poison

10 – Aerosmith

10 – Pearl Jam

7 – Def Leppard

7 – Guns N’ Roses

Most Played Tape

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Mix Tape Monday – Volume 12

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together 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. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.

Volume 12 covers the summer of 1993 and into the fall and my sophomore year of college.  Alternative has mostly taken over, although there’s still a small smattering of pop and hair metal, or whatever we were calling Def Leppard and Guns ‘N Roses back then.

Side A

10,000 Maniacs – Because The Night

The unplugged hit was taped off the radio from Chicago’s new rock alternative, Q101.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 8/26/2011

Cracker – Low

The first hit from Cracker’s sophomore effort was also taped from Q101.

iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 5/1/2012

Def Leppard – Miss You In A Heartbeat

The ballad was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 8/18/2011

Cher w/ Beavis & Butthead – I Got You Babe

The remake from the animated duos hit film was taped off Lafayette’s hit music station, 96.5 WAZY.

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

Guns N’ Roses – Estranged

The GnR opus was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 8/1/2011

Lemonheads – Into Your Arms

The big hit for Evan Dando and the boys must have been taped off of a cassingle.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 7/22/2011

Side B

Continue reading →

Mix Tape Monday – Volume 9

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together 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. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.

Volume 9 places us squarely in the early months of 1993, overlapping with the second semester of my freshman year of college.  The hip hop and pop are rounded out with some alternative and what passes for hair metal in the post-grunge era.

Side A

Dan Baird – I Love You Period

The only solo hit from the Georgia Satellites rocker was taped off the radio, namely 96.5 WAZY.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 5/5/2011

Ugly Kid Joe – Cats In The Cradle

The cover of the Harry Chapin hit was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 8/23/2011

Arrested Development – Mr. Wendal

The story of a wise homeless man was taped off the radio, likely WAZY.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 6/12/2011

Naughty By Nature – Hip Hop Hooray

The hip hop anthem was taped off of the cassingle.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 7/25/2011

Positive K – I Got A Man

The one hit for Positive K was taped off the radio, likely B96.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 8/1/2011

REM – Man On The Moon

The tribute to Andy Kaufman was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 9/21/2011

Aerosmith – Livin’ On The Edge

The first hit from the Get A Grip album was taped off the radio from The Best of Rock, 103.5 The Blaze.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 12/7/2010

Side B

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Mix Tape Monday – Volume 7

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together 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. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.

Volume 7 covers the fall of 1992 and the end of the first semester of my freshman year of college.  Once again, we are treated to a dose 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 mega-hit from GnR was taped off the radio, but I have no idea which station.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 10/11/2011

Def Leppard – Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad

The big ballad from Adrenalize was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 3/17/2012

Toad The Wet Sprocket – All I Want

The first hit from the Toadsters was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 10/12/2011

Tesla – Signs

The live hit from Tesla was taped off the CD, which I then quickly traded in for LL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You Out.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 5/4/2011

Soup Dragons – Divine Thing

The first hit from the Soup Dragons was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 10/12/2011

Ugly Kid Joe – Neighbor

The follow up from Ugly Kid Joe was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 1 play, most recently on 2/11/2009

The Heights – How Do You Talk To An Angel

The theme song from the short-lived show was taped off what sounds like a CD or cassette.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 6/11/2011

Side B

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Mix Tape Monday – Volume 6

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together 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. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.

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 last hit for Genesis was taped off of a radio station that is not distinguishable from the information at hand.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 8/12/2011

Ugly Kid Joe – Everything About You

Coming at the end of hair metal’s dominance, Ugly Kid Joe’s big hit sounds like it came from a CD or cassette.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 3/15/2012

Joe Public – Live and Learn

Joe Public’s only hit also sounds like it came from a CD or cassette.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 12/17/2010

Boyz II Men – Please Don’t Go

The final release from Cooleyhighharmony was taped off of the CD.

iTunes stats: Never Played

Def Leppard – Make Love Like A Man

The second hit from Adrenalize was also taped off of the CD.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 4/16/2010

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

The cover from Use Your Illusion II was also taped off of the CD.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 3/31/2012

Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Under The Bridge

The breakthrough hit for the Chilli Peppers was taped off the radio, possibly the first appearance of Q101.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 8/10/2011

Side B

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Mix Tape Monday – Volume 5

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together 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. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.

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 includes the appearance of my first CD player, a Christmas gift in 1991.

Side A

Firehouse – Don’t Treat Me Bad

The first hit from Firehouse was taped off the radio from an indistinguishable station.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 7/1/2011

Color Me Badd – I Wanna Sex You Up

The boy bands first hit was taped from the cassingle.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 3/11/2009

Boyz II Men – Motownphilly

The debut hit from Philadelphia crooners was taped off the radio, most likely from the good folks at Hot 94.7.

iTunes stats: 1 play, most recently on 12/12/2008

Motley Crue – Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

The latest hit off of Dr. Feelgood was taped off the radio, from what I can only imagine was The Blaze.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 3/12/2012

Slaughter – Fly To The Angels

The old hit was taped off the radio from “The Best of Rock, 103.5 The Blaze.”

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 9/10/2011

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

The follow-up hit was taped off the radio from Hot 94.7.

iTunes stats (Radio version): 11 plays, most recently on 3/16/2012

iTunes stats (Album version): 6 plays, most recently on 3/30/2012

Salt-N-Pepa – Let’s Talk About Sex

The big hit from the first ladies of rap was taped off the radio, most likely, again, from Hot 94.7.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 3/7/2012

Side B

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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 →