Tag / Lita Ford

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #150-159

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 artists in my iTunes library, featuring the songs I have listened to the most since 2007.  It is time to do so again, seeing which performers still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray.  So, without further ado, here are my most listened to artists, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2026.

We continue today with our next batch of ten artists, covering the genres of pop, alternative rock, and rap, plus some Saturday morning cartoon symmetry to round things out.

#159: B.J. Thomas
iTunes stats: 71 plays
Previous ranking: #154

A 16-play increase for the Oklahoma-born pop singer, who passed away in 2021.

#159: Poe
iTunes stats: 71 plays
Previous ranking: #152

The trippy singer, who became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2014, scores with four different songs to add fifteen listens over these past five years.

#157: KC & The Sunshine Band
iTunes stats: 72 plays
Previous ranking: #171

The disco stalwarts, founded in 1973 in Florida, added 21 new plays to the four songs they have in my collection.

#157: 2Pac
iTunes stats: 72 plays
Previous ranking: #140

The slain rapper, whose murder remains unsolved nearly 30 years later, picked up twelve new listens while dropping 17 spots in the rankings.

#154: Lita Ford
iTunes stats: 73 plays
Previous ranking: #176

The former Runaways guitarist moves up the list with thirteen new plays, driven mostly by her 1989 duet with Ozzy Osbourne, who passed last year.

#154: Lily Allen
Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200: #89 – 99

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library, featuring he songs I have listened to the most since 2007.  It is time to do so again, seeing which older songs still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray.  So, without further ado, here are my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2025.

Today, we kick off the second half of the countdown this week with the final two songs tied for 99th place with 41 plays apiece before starting the first group tied for 89th with 42 plays since my stats began in late 2007.

#99: Biz Markie – Just a Friend
iTunes stats: 41 plays, most recently on 6/20/2024
Previous ranking: #144

Ranked as the 81st greatest one-hit wonder of all-time by VH1 in 2000, the track picked up ten new listens over the past five years.

#99: The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour
iTunes stats: 41 plays, most recently on 9/25/2024
Previous ranking: #79

The sole title track from one of the group’s movies to not be released as a single in the US.

#89: Travis – Baby One More Time
iTunes stats: 42 plays, most recently on 2/24/2024
Previous ranking: #89

This live cover from the Scottish band was released as a bonus track on their 1999 single Turn.

#89: Tegan and Sara – I Hear Noises
iTunes stats: 42 plays, most recently on 8/26/2024
Previous ranking: #79

This track was my introduction to the twin Canadian songstresses, thanks to the occasional appearance on WXRT and an MP3 from a friend.

#89: N.W.A. – Fuck Tha Police
iTunes stats: 42 plays, most recently on 3/24/2024
Previous ranking: NR

A high debut for the song that Rolling Stone ranked as the tenth best protest song of all-time earlier this year. Continue reading →

by jim

Fifty Years Of Music – 1989

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 continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 1989, the year I finished my freshman year of high school and started my sophomore year.  Z95 and B96 continued to be the hit stations in Chicago and provided the majority of the soundtrack of that year.  At 68 songs, we are nearing 70% of the Hot 100 that remain familiar to me today, with 44 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#99 Don Henley – The End of the Innocence
iTunes stats: N/A

The Eagles drummer and sometimes singer reached #8 with the title track from his third solo album.

#93 Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal
iTunes stats: N/A

The sixth top-ten single from Jackson’s Bad album, this track peaked at #7.

#91 Alice Cooper – Poison
iTunes stats: 18 plays

Hitting #7, it was Cooper’s fist top ten hit in a dozen years.

#88 Rick Astley – She Wants to Dance with Me
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from Astley’s sophomore effort, it became his fourth consecutive top ten hit, peaking at #6.

#87 Samantha Fox – I Wanna Have Some Fun
iTunes stats: 24 plays

Reaching #8, the title track for the former Page 3 model was her third, and final, US top ten hit.

#86 Guns N’ Roses – Paradise City
iTunes stats: 14 plays

Ranked by VH1 as the 21st greatest metal song of all time, the final single from the group’s debut album rose to #5 on the Hot 100.

#84: Edie Brickell & New Bohemians – What I Am
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The group’s only Top 40 hit, it reached #7.

#82: Bon Jovi – Lay Your Hands on Me
iTunes stats: 11 plays

The fourth and final top ten hit from New Jersey, it peaked #7.

#81: Aerosmith – Love in an Elevator
iTunes stats: 18 plays

The band reached #5 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart with their lead single from Pump, their tenth studio album.

#77: Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne – Close My Eyes Forever
iTunes stats: 25 plays

The highest-charting solo single for both Ford and Osbourne, it peaked at #8.

#76: REM – Stand
iTunes stats: 33 plays

The future theme song of the Chris Elliot vehicle Get a Life, the song hit #6, giving the band their second top ten hit.

#74: Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
iTunes stats: 17 plays

Named the second greatest metal song by VH1 in 2008, it peaked at #7 on the Hot 100.

#71: Guns N’ Roses – Patience
iTunes stats: 26 plays

Reaching #4, the song is thought to be about the troubled relationship between singer Axl Rose and his ex-wife.

#68: The Cure – Lovesong
iTunes stats: N/A

The group’s only top ten hit on the Hot 100, it rose to #2 In October of 1989.

#66: Bangles – In Your Room
iTunes stats: 19 plays

The lead single from the band’s third album, it peaked at #5 in January of 1989.

#65: Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina
iTunes stats: 20 plays

The second and final Top 40 hit for the rapper and producer, it reached #3 and became just the second ever platinum-certified rap single.

#61: Skid Row – 18 and Life
iTunes stats: 8 plays

The band’s biggest hit, it reached #4 on the Hot 100 and #11 on the Album Rock Tracks chart.

#60: White Lion – When the Children Cry
iTunes stats: 18 plays

Written by the group’s lead singer about his childhood with a single mother, it made it to #3 on the Hot 100.

#59: Madonna – Cherish
iTunes stats: N/A

Peaking at #2, it gave Madonna the record for the most consecutive top-five singles with 16.

#58: Tears For Fears – Sowing the Seeds of Love
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from the group’s third studio album, it reached #2, becoming their fourth and final top ten hit.

#57: Donny Osmond – Soldier of Love
iTunes stats: N/A

Originally unreleased in the US since Osmond didn’t have a record deal, it eventually topped out at #2, becoming Osmond’s sixth and last top ten hit.

#55: Madonna – Express Yourself
iTunes stats: 17 plays

Accompanied by a music video directed by David Fincher, it peaked at #2.

#54: Richard Marx – Satisfied
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from his second album, it became the second of three consecutive #1 singles for Marx.

#53: Def Leppard – Armageddon It
iTunes stats: 29 plays

The sixth single released off of Hysteria, it went to #3, becoming the band’s third top ten hit.

#52: New Kids on the Block – You Got It (The Right Stuff)
iTunes stats: N/A

Peaking at #3 in March, it was the second single released from the group’s second album.

#51: Love and Rockets – So Alive
iTunes stats: 16 plays

Easily the band’s biggest US hit, it reached #3 on the Hot 100 and spent five weeks at #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Continue reading →

by admin

Top 200 Albums: #41 – 50

We last counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library four years ago. Since that time, the world has literally changed, and my commute has decreased from 1+ hours each way to 25 steps. So, despite the decrease in potential listening time, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through the morning of January 1, 2022.

Today, we kick off the final quarter of our countdown with the next batch of ten albums that I have listened to the most over the last 15 years, breaking the triple digit total play plateau with three compilations, and music from the 60s, 80s, 90s, and beyond.

#50: The Beatles – The Beatles
iTunes stats: 182 plays
Previous Ranking: 48

Colloquially known as The White Album, the band’s ninth studio album, released in 1968, garnered a nearly 52% increase in plays.

#48: George Carlin – You Are All Diseased
iTunes stats: 183 plays
Previous Ranking: 79

The comedian’s eleventh HBO special, recorded in 1999, added 102 listens to jump 31 spots in the rankings.

#48: Various Artists – Monster Ballads
iTunes stats: 183 plays
Previous Ranking: 55

This compilation of love songs from hair bands, featuring artists such as Warrant and Cinderella, added 74 new plays to the five different tracks in my collection.

#47: Garfunkel and Oates – Secretions
iTunes stats: 188 plays
Previous Ranking: 79

The latest offering from musical comedians Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci saw a 132% increase in listens.

#46: Van Halen – The Best of Both Worlds
iTunes stats: 190 plays
Previous Ranking: 56

This greatest hits compilation saw an increase of 83 listens thanks to eight tracks, split between David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar.

Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #171-178

It’s been 4 years since we last counted down the Top 200 artists in my iTunes library.  Since my iTunes stats are still intact, across multiple PCs, iPods, iPads, and iPhones, I figured it was time to take another look at the artists that have entertained me the most based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2021.

We continue today with our next batch of 10 artists, the remaining 3 tied for 178th place, 2 tied for 176th, and the 5 tied for 171st, and zoom past the half a century mark in plays.  Once again, 5 of these bands and/or performers are newcomers to this list.

#178: Depeche Mode
iTunes stats: 49 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

Members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2020, the English band makes their debut by picking up 26 additional plays of their 3 songs in my collection.

#178: Coolio
iTunes stats: 49 plays
Previous ranking: #123

The 2 hit wonder, who won the 1996 Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, drops 55 slots after parlaying those 2 hits into just 14 new listens over the past 4 years.

#178: Stan Bush
iTunes stats: 49 plays
Previous ranking: #159

The star of the TransFormers: The Movie soundtrack has 2 tracks comprise his total.

#176: Dean Martin
iTunes stats: 50 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

More than doubling his previous total gives the deceased Rat Packer a decent debut on the chart.

#176: Lita Ford
iTunes stats: 50 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The former Runaways guitarist jumps onto the list mostly due to now getting credit for her 1989 duet with Ozzy Osbourne.

#171: K.C. & The Sunshine Band
Continue reading →

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #41 – 49

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.

With 3/4 of the list completed, we start the home stretch with the next batch of 10 albums ranked between #41 and 49, including 3 greatest hit collections, 2 studio recordings, 2 comedy albums, 1 compilation, 1 soundtrack, and 1 live performance.

#49: Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
iTunes stats: 113 plays
Previous Ranking: 42

7 tracks make up the total for this breakthrough album.

#49: George Carlin – Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics
iTunes stats: 113 plays
Previous Ranking: 57

If I remember correctly, this special was my first introduction to George Carlin as a young man back in the late 80s. The whole album makes up its total.

#48: The Beatles – The Beatles (White Album)
iTunes stats: 120 plays
Previous Ranking: 33

This remastered version of the classic double album has 8 songs that make up its total.

#47: Various Artists – Monster Madness
iTunes stats: 121 plays
Previous Ranking: 46

9 tracks, from exciting artists like Faith No More, Lita Ford, and Nelson, make up the total for this hair metal compilation.

#46: Various Artists – Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Album
iTunes stats: 122 plays
Previous Ranking: 34

The soundtrack album to the hit television series, featuring bands like Nerf Herder, Guided By Voices, and The Sundays, had 8 songs make up its total.

Continue reading →

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #46 – 53

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, after months of counting down, we crack the top 50 of the list and look at the 8 albums ranked between 53 and 46 with 58-65 listens.

#46: Various Artists – Monster Madness
iTunes stats: 65 plays
9 tracks, from exciting artists like Faith No More, Lita Ford, and Nelson, make up the total for this hair metal compilation.

#46: Various Artists – The Transformers: The Movie
iTunes stats: 65 plays
6 tunes, from the likes of Stan Bush and Weird Al Yankovic, make up the total for this soundtrack from the animated TransFormers film from the mid-80s.

#48: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 64 plays
10 of Tom Petty’s biggest hits make up the total for this greatest hits compilation.

#49: Various Artists – ’90s Style
iTunes stats: 62 plays
9 tracks, from exciting 90s artists like Jill Sobule, Green Jelly, and MC Hammer, make up the total for this compilation album.

#50: Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle
iTunes stats: 59 plays
Snoop Dogg’s debut album uses 5 songs to make up this total.

#50: Various Artists – Millenium Rock N’ Roll Party
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
Continue reading →
by admin

Mix Tape Monday – Hair Bands 2

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 second disc covering the world of hair bands.  Because even though the calendar said it was the early 21st century, one edition of spandex and hair spray infused rock and roll would not suffice. So, without further ado, I bring you Hair Bands, volume 2.

Firehouse – When I Look In Your Eyes

The last hit for Firehouse hit #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1992.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 4/22/2011

Motley Crue – Kickstart My Heart

Nikki Six wrote the song about his overdose where he was declared clinically dead before 2 adrenaline shots to the heart brought him back to life.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 2/15/2013

Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne – Close My Eyes Forever

The duet with Ozzy peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 8/14/2012

Skid Row – 18 And Life

Named the 60th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 12/15/2012

Slaughter – Fly To The Angels

The second release by Slaughter peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 12/3/2012

Warrant – Sometimes She Cries

The fourth single from Warrant’s debut album charted at #11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 6/16/2012

White Lion – Wait

Released on June 1, 1987, but did not make waves until MTV began airing the video in January 1988, pushing the single to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 7/21/2010

Bon Jovi – Never Say Goodbye

Left off the North American release of the band’s first greatest hits package.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 11/17/2012

Continue reading →

by admin

Mix Tape Monday – Hair Bands

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 occassional 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 first disc covering the rock music of the 1980s that was defined more by the amount of hair spray and spandex employed by the bands than by their musicianship or talent.  I now bring you Hair Bands, volume 1.

Alice Cooper – Poison

While Alice Cooper is mostly thought of as an artist of the 70s, he did have a comeback with this song in 1989, which became his biggest US hit.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 6/12/2012

Damn Yankees – High Enough

The supergroup, featuring Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, and Ted Nugent, formed in 1989 and hit big thanks to this ballad.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 5/30/2012

Danzig – Mother

Glenn Danzig’s band recorded this song for their first album in 1988, but it didn’t become a hit until 1993.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 4/23/2012

Firehouse – Love Of A Lifetime

At the 1992 American Music Awards, FireHouse beat out Nirvana and Alice In Chains for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 9/6/2011

Great White – Once Bitten, Twice Shy

A cover of the minor Ian Hunter hit turned into gold for Great White, peaking at No.5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 9/6/2012

Lita Ford – Kiss Me Deadly

After several commercial failures following her break from The Runaways, Ford recorded a more radio-friendly album in 1988 and hit it big.  VH1 named this song as the 76th greatest hard rock song of all time.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 12/11/2012

Living Colour – Cult Of Personality

The first single from their debut album, it reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 andwon the Grammy award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1989.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 7/14/2012

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

The fourth single from Motley Crue’s fifth album peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 6/2/2012

Continue reading →