Tag / Howard Stern

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #140 – 147

itunes_imageNearly 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 continue things with the next batch of 10 albums that rank between #140 and 147, including 5 studio recordings, 2 compilations, 1 live performance, 1 CD single, and 1 comedy record.

#147: The Beatles – With The Beatles
iTunes stats: 52 plays
Previous Ranking: 158

This album, like all of the Beatles studio albums, would be much higher, but I lost all of the old counts for their albums when I upgraded to the remastered versions in 2009.

#147: Garbage – Shut Your Mouth EP
iTunes stats: 52 plays
Previous Ranking: 100

Live versions of Wild Horses and Only Happy When It Rains make up the total from the CD single for Shut Your Mouth.

#147: Gin Blossoms – New Miserable Experience
iTunes stats: 52 plays
Previous Ranking: 87

The debut album for the alt rock band lands on this chart thanks to 4 different tunes.

#147: AC/DC – AC/DC Live
iTunes stats: 52 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

9 tracks from this live album, helped somewhat by my seeing them in concert in Toronto a few years back, makes for a nice debut.

#143: Bangles – Bangles: Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 54 plays
Previous Ranking: 172

5 of the Bangles biggest hits, which notched 30 additional listens, contribute to this total for their greatest hits album.

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by admin

Prolific Authors 2017

Way back in December of 2011 (and again in the Decembers of 2013 and 2015), we took a look at the authors I have read the most, dating back to high school. Since our last check-in, I’ve read an additional 60 books from 47 different authors. There shouldn’t be much movement over the past 2 years, but it’s time to take another look and see if my “favorite” authors have changed much in that time span. Once again, we will be limiting ourselves to the now 54 authors from whom I have read more than one book.

Author Name Current Total 2015 Total Difference
Nancy Holder 15 13 2

A new leader in the clubhouse, as Nancy Holder adds 2 new additions over the past 2 years to put her out front.

Richard Castle 14 9 5

The second largest increase (or largest for someone I had read before) goes to the writer (or writers) using the nom de plume of the main character from the television show Castle.  I’m guessing this total will stay pretty static, with the show off the air for over a year now.

Greg Rucka 13 13 0
Christopher Golden 12 12 0
Stephen King 12 12 0

These three round out the top 5 with absolutely no movement over the past 2 years.

Brad Meltzer 11 9 2
Jeffery Deaver 8 5 3

Slight increases for both of these authors, with more to come.  Meltzer’s next book is already pre-ordered, while there are a few unread Deaver works on my Kindle. Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #167-179

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.

After a brief hiatus, we pick up this week with the final 2 bands/performers tied for 179th place and the first 8 tied for 167th, including a few radio personalities.

#167: Fall Out Boy
iTunes stats: 27 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

1 song from Fall Out Boy, used as the intro music for the White Sox in 2015, drives their inclusion on this list.

#167: Gnarls Barkley
iTunes stats: 27 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The collaboration between CeeLo Green and DJ Danger Mouse has 2 songs to make up their total.

#167: Live
iTunes stats: 27 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The Pennsylvania band used a pretty even split amongst 3 different tunes to mark their spot on the chart.

#167: Mott The Hoople
iTunes stats: 27 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

One track, featured on the Juno soundtrack and written by David Bowie, makes up the total for English rock band.

#167: Naughty By Nature
iTunes stats: 27 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

2 mega-hits from the hip hop trio make up their total.

#167: Nerf Herder
iTunes stats: 27 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The band, who got their name from a Princess Leia quote in Star Wars, contributed the theme song to Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

#167: OutKast
Continue reading →

by admin

Book 20 (of 52) – They Call Me Baba Booey

They Call Me Baba Booey - Gary Dell'Abate and Chad Millman

They Call Me Baba Booey – Gary Dell’Abate and Chad Millman

In 2010, Gary Dell’Abate, long time producer of the Howard Stern show and known to millions as Baba Booey, released a memoir about growing up with a mentally ill mother.  Thanks to a recent price reduction on the Kindle store, I was finally able to pick it up and reintroduce myself to a world I had abandoned a few years back.  Gary details growing up with his mother’s mental illness, the death of his brother due to HIV, and the beginnings of his tenure on what would become the biggest radio show in the world.

Mental illness seems to be a theme for me lately.  Thankfully, Gary doesn’t go too deep in to his mother’s illness, instead focusing on its effects on him growing up.  I had a much easier time getting through that then I did the story of his brother’s illness and subsequent death.  This happened well before I started listening to the Stern show, so, while I knew it had happened, the details were not something I was familiar with.

Of all the people on the show, Gary always seemed the most well-adjusted.  You’d almost have to be to put up with the abuse he does on a daily basis and still be able to come back for more.  This book gives a good insight into his background and how he became the Baba Booey we all know and love today.

by admin

Prolific Authors 2015

bookshelfWay back in December of 2011 and again in December of 2013, we took a look back at the authors I have read the most, dating back to high school.  Since our last check-in, I’ve read an additional 51 books from 42 different authors.  There shouldn’t be much movement over the past 2 years, but it’s time to take another look and see if my “favorite” authors have changed much in that time span.  Once again, we will be limiting ourselves to the now 54 authors from whom I have read more than one book.

Author Name Current Total 2013 Total Difference
Nancy Holder 13 13 0
Greg Rucka 13 12 1

Greg Rucka moves into a tie for my most-prolific author, thanks to his latest which I read last year.  Assuming he stays on the same schedule, he should take the lead by himself sometime next year.

Christopher Golden 12 12 0
Stephen King 12 10 2

After years of being ignored, Stephen King adds 2 new titles to his total over the past 2 years.

Richard Castle 9 5 4
Brad Meltzer 9 8 1

The top 5 rounds out with Brad Meltzer and Richard Castle, who put up the largest increase in the last 2 years. Continue reading →

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #65 – 73

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today, we crack the top 70, looking at the 9 albums that rank between 73 and 65 with 46 to 51 listens.

#65: David Cross – It’s Not Funny
iTunes stats: 51 plays
This 2004 comedy album from David Cross would be significantly higher if I were to sync my old phone again, as I have listened to it while falling asleep plenty of times.

#65: Various Artists – Millennium Hip-Hop Party Vol. 2
iTunes stats: 51 plays
7 tracks, from artists like Coolio, Naughty By Nature, and Paperboy, make up the total for this turn-of-the-century compilation.

#67: Tegan and Sara – Sainthood
iTunes stats: 50 plays
11 of the 13 tracks on this album make up the total.

#68: Various Artists – The First 1000 Years- Rock
iTunes stats: 48 plays
7 songs, from artists like The Breeders, Everclear, and Jane’s Addiction, make upthe total for this MTV sponsored compilation.

#68: Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds
iTunes stats: 48 plays
This greatest hits compilation makes the list thanks to 8 tracks, split between David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar.

#70: Various Artists – Private Parts: The Album
iTunes stats: 47 plays
The soundtrack to Howard Stern’s love letter to his now ex-wife uses 6 tracks, 2 of which are clips from the movie, to make up its total.

#70: The Beatles – Past Masters, Vol. 1 [2009 Stereo Remaster]
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by admin

Top 200 Albums – #74 – 83

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today, we look at the 10 albums that I have listened to 41 – 45 times.

#74: Eminem – The Eminem Show
iTunes stats: 45 plays
The fourth studio album from Eminem uses 5 tracks to make up this total.

#74: Various Artists – Monsters Of Rock
iTunes stats: 45 plays
This compilation of 80s hair bands, like White Lion, Winger, and Firehouse, makes up this total thanks to 8 different tracks.

#76: Nirvana – Nevermind
iTunes stats: 44 plays
The world’s introduction to grunge, and death knell to hair metal, had 5 songs make up this total.

#77: Weezer – Weezer
iTunes stats: 43 plays
4 tunes from Weezer’s debut, known as the Blue Album, place it on the list.

#77: The Lonely Island – Turtleneck & Chain
iTunes stats: 43 plays
The second album from the SNL digital short maestros make the list thanks to 4 different tracks.

#77: Dr. Dre – The Chronic
iTunes stats: 43 plays
Dr. Dre makes the list for the second week in a row with his smash solo debut, whose total is made up by 3 songs.

#80: Bush – Sixteen Stone
iTunes stats: 42 plays
5 tracks from Bush’s debut album place it on the list.

#80: Cracker – Kerosene Hat
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by admin

Prolific Authors 2013

bookshelfWay back in December of 2011, I took our first look back at the authors I have read the most dating back to high school.  Since that time, I’ve read 34 books from 31 different authors.  I don’t think there is going to be much movement since then, but it’s time to take another look and see if my “favorite” authors have changed much in that time.  Once again, we will be limiting ourselves to the now 47 authors from whom I have read more than one book.

Author Name Current Total 2011 Total Difference
Nancy Holder 13 13 0
Christopher Golden 12 12 0

No change to these two, who owe their totals mostly to Buffy and Angel tie-in novels.

Greg Rucka 12 11 1
Stephen King 10 9 1

Both of these long time favorites increased their total by one book.  Rucka’s newest is due out next summer and is already pre-ordered.

Michael Jan Friedman 8 8 0
Brad Meltzer 8 7 1

Brad Meltzer pulls into a tie for the top 5 with another author of tie-in novels, mostly Star Trek: TNG and Lois & Clark. Continue reading →

by admin

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
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by jim

iTunes Top 100 Artists: #72-80

itunes_image

My latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 2 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 100 artists that I’ve listened to as of 8/21/2013, according to iTunes. Today we look at the the the next batch, numbers 72-80, which includes a few comedians along with the usual favorites.

#72: Smash Mouth

iTunes stats: 33 plays

4 songs make up this total for the band from northern California.

#72: The Strokes

iTunes stats: 33 plays

The alternative band from New York makes the list thanks to 5 songs, including one mash-up with Christina Aguilera.

#74: The Rolling Stones

iTunes stats: 32 plays

The boys from Britain use 9 different tunes to make up this total.

#74: Warrant

iTunes stats: 32 plays

The hair band superstars use 6 different songs to make the list.

#76: Fiona Apple

iTunes stats: 31 plays

The first appearance by someone I have seen perform live, Apple makes the list thanks to 5 different songs.

#76: The Crystal Method

iTunes stats: 31 plays

The theme from Bones places the Crystal Method this high all by its lonesome.

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