Tag / Michael Nesmith

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Top 200 Albums: #11 – 20

itunes_imageWe 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.

It is our penultimate look at the albums I have listened to the most over the last 15 years. including three compilations, two comedy albums, two greatest hits collections, and a bootleg live performance.

#20: AC/DC – The Razors Edge
iTunes stats: 283 plays
Previous Ranking: 12

An eight-spot drop in the rankings, most likely thanks to a pandemic-shortened 2020 baseball season without crowds and the subsequent lack of playing my White Sox playlists.

#19: Various Artists – TV’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 7: Cable Ready
iTunes stats: 289 plays
Previous Ranking: 16

A 98-play increase for this collection of TV theme songs from shows like Mad About You, Saved By The Bell, and Blossom, among others.

#17: The Monkees – The Monkees Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 292 plays
Previous Ranking: 18

19 different tracks from the made-for-TV band, which is now down to just Mickey Dolenz following Michael Nesmith’s December death, saw a nearly 65% increase in listens over the past four years.

#17: Patton Oswalt– Feelin’ Kinda Patton
iTunes stats: 292 plays
Previous Ranking: 20

The first comedy album from Patton Oswalt sees an impressive 73% increase, which would be significantly higher if I were to ever sync my old iPhone 4s again.

#16: Elvis Presley – Elv1s 30 #1 Hits
iTunes stats: 312 plays
Previous Ranking: 15

This greatest hits package from the King of Rock & Roll uses 14 tracks to add an additional 119 listens over the past four years.

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by admin

Concert Flashback: The Monkees

01monkeesFollowing a resurgence in customer interest after their appearances on VH1’s Behind The Music and the E! True Hollywood Story, Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork decided to regroup (sans Michael Nesmith) and go on their first tour since 1997 as the Monkees.  Their Chicagoland appearance was a Sunday afternoon at the Star Plaza Theatre in beautiful Merrillville, Indiana.

To say this was unlike any other show I had been to would be a bit of an understatement.  For one thing, it was a Sunday afternoon.  Also, the average age of the crowd was about 75, give or take a decade.  Which meant that everyone stayed in their seats for the entire show.  Thirdly, there was no opening act.  Instead, the supporting act, the never heard of before or since group known as Natural, came out in the middle of the show to give the old timers a bit of a break.

According to the Interwebs, the trio hit all of the bands biggest hits, even those originally fronted by Nesmith.  I suppose a good time was had by all in attendance.