Tag / Mix Tape

by admin

iTunes Top 100: #70 – 75

itunes_imageMy 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, it is now time to look at digital music with the Top 100 songs that I’ve listened to as of 6/2/2013, according to iTunes. Today we look at the 6 songs tied for #70 with 17 overall plays.

#70: The Cast of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Something To Sing About

Another entry from the Buffy musical episode.

iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 1/2/2013

#70: Eminem – Cleaning Out My Closet

Peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and became one of the highest-charting singles of Eminem’s career.

iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 5/16/2013

#70: Hole – Celebrity Skin

Hole’s most commercially successful single, being the only one to reach #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

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

#70: Van Halen – Jump

For years, the song was used as the intro music as the Chicago Cubs took the field at their home games.

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

#70: Warren G – Regulate

This debut hit from Dr. Dre’s step-brother also appeared on Volume 14 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to three times since then.

iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 3/29/2013

#70: Young MC – Bust A Move

This Grammy winning hit also appeared on Volume 1 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to four times since then.

iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 2/21/2013

by admin

iTunes Top 100: #76 – 95

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, it is now time to look at digital music with the Top 100 songs that I’ve listened to as of 6/2/2013, according to iTunes. Today we look at the 20 songs tied for #76 with 16 overall plays.

#76: The Beatles – Eight Days A Week

Although it was a huge American hit, the group did not think highly of the song and they never performed it live.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 8/14/2012

#76: The Beatles – Paperback Writer

The single went to the number one spot in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, West Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 5/20/2013

#76: Bell Biv Devoe – Poison

This 1990 hit from New Edition spin-off also appeared on Volume 2 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to three times since then.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 5/16/2013

#76: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Overture/Going Through The Motions

Performed by series star Sarah Michelle Gellar at the beginning of the musical episode in season 6.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 4/28/2013

#76: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Under Your Spell

Amber Benson performs the song which writer Joss Whedon called “pornography” and “probably the dirtiest lyric I’ve ever written, but also very, very beautiful”.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 4/28/2013

#76: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Standing

Performed by Anthony Stewart Head as a ballad to Buffy that she does not hear, unlike the songs revealing truths elsewhere in the episode.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 5/15/2013

#76: Cracker – Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now)

Charted at number 1 on the US Modern Rock Tracks, arguably breaking Cracker into the mainstream.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 11/9/2012

#76: Darling Violetta – Angel Main Theme

The band performed 2 songs in a third season episode of Buffy before being tasked to perform the theme to the spin-off.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 5/16/2013

#76: Dr. Dre Feat RBX And Snoop Dogg – Let Me Ride

This 1994 Grammy Award winner for Best Rap Solo Performance also appeared on Volume 11 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to twice since then.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 2/5/2013

#76: Foo Fighters – Monkey Wrench

The first single from the band’s second album, the song chronicled the disintegration of singer/song writer Dave Grohl’s four-year marriage to Jennifer Youngblood.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 4/24/2012

Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 100: #96 – 118

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, it is now time to look at digital music with the Top 100 songs that I’ve listened to as of 6/2/2013, according to iTunes.  Today we look at the 23 songs tied for #96 with 15 overall plays.

#96: Aerosmith – Dude (Looks Like A Lady)

This 1987 hit from Aerosmith also appeared on Volume 2 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to twice since then.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 7/25/2012

#96: The Beatles – Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Recorded for the White Album in 1968, the song didn’t chart in the US until 1976.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 4/27/2013

#96: The Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night

From 1964, the song is the title track to both the album and the movie.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 4/27/2013

#96: Bloodhound Gang – Bad Touch

Ranked at No. 49 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever released in 2010 by AOL Radio.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 3/19/2013

#96: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – The Parking Ticket

Writer and producer Marti Noxon protests a parking ticket through song from the musical episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 11/1/2012

#96: Coolio featuring LV – Gangsta’s Paradise

This 1995 hit from Coolio also appeared on Volume 19 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to four times since then.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 5/31/2013

#96: Digital Underground – The Humpty Dance

This 1990 smash climbed all the way to #11 on the pop charts, #7 on the R&B charts, and #1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 4/27/2013

#96: Dr. Dre – Keep Their Heads Ringin’

This 1995 hit from the Friday soundtrack also appeared on Volume 17 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to three times since then.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 3/13/2013

#96: Dr. Dre – Forgot About Dre

Winner of the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 10/8/2012

#96: Elvis Presley – An American Trilogy

A medley of three 19th century songs: Dixie, a blackface minstrel song that became the unofficial anthem of the Confederacy since the Civil War; All My Trials, originally a Bahamian lullaby, but closely related to African American spirituals; and The Battle Hymn of the Republic, the marching song of the Union Army during the Civil War.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 5/8/2013

#96: Foo Fighters – Best Of You

This live version was recorded over the course of three shows in late August, 2006 at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 6/11/2012

#96: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Big Girls Don’t Cry

Spent 5 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1962.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 3/25/2012

Continue reading →

by admin

Mix Tape Monday – Live Tracks 4

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 fourth 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 the final disc in this collection: Live Music, volume 4.

Foo Fighters – Everlong

iTunes stats: Never played

No Doubt – Just A Girl

Recorded live on a German radio station and released as a bonus track on the Rock Steady album.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 5/3/2012

The Bangles – Hazy Shade Of Winter

From their 10/02/2000 concert at the House of Blues in New York.

iTunes stats: Never played

Avril Lavigne – Sk8r Boi

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 6/7/2011

Aerosmith – Dream On

iTunes stats: Never played

Garbage – Androgyny

Broadcast live on WXRT from an in-store appearance at Virgin Megastore in Chicago.

iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 8/22/2012

Soul Asylum – Runaway Train

iTunes stats: Never played

Stone Temple Pilots – Plush

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 5/20/2013

The Bangles – Manic Monday

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 11/19/2012

Continue reading →

by admin

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

Continue reading →

by admin

Mix Tape Monday – Female Alt Rock 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 alternative music created by females, or at least female fronted bands.  The 1990s were a great time for alternative music on the radio, especially that created by women.  As the decade came to an end, so did the welcoming arms of radio, as the trends moved towards nu-metal and its ilk.  So, without further ado, I bring you Female Alt Rock, volume 2.

Dido – Here With Me

Dido leads things off with the theme song from Roswell.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 4/29/2013

Tori Amos – Spark

Amos wrote the song after suffering a miscarriage.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 3/12/2013

Veruca Salt – Born Entertainer

The first single from Veruca Salt’s third album, presumed to be about the departure of founding member Nina Gordon.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 9/2/2011

Jill Sobule – Supermodel

The second hit from Jill Sobule was from the Clueless soundtrack.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 12/12/2012

Letters To Cleo – I Want You To Want Me

The cover of the Cheap Trick hit is from the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 1/22/2013

Tracy Bonham – Mother Mother

The one hit from Bonham reached the top of Billboard magazine’s Modern Rock Tracks chart.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 4/22/2013

Concrete Blonde – Joey

Became the group’s biggest hit, spending four weeks atop the Modern Rock Tracks chart, and crossing over to pop radio, reaching #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 2/16/2011

Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories – Stay

The song, from the Reality Bites soundtrack, earned Loeb the distinction of being the first artist to top the U.S. chart before being signed to any record label.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 4/13/2013

Belly – Gepetto

Though this follow-up did not match the success of “Feed The Tree” it charted on the Billboard Bubbling Under The Hot 100 Singles for 5 weeks in the late fall/winter of 1993.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 5/1/2013

PJ Harvey – Down By The Water

Extensive MTV rotation and college radio airplay gave Harvey her biggest radio hit to date, reaching #2 on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 3/14/2013

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 – Live Tracks 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 live music.  If one were to judge my enjoyment of these discs based on how often I listen to the same songs today, this would likely go down as my least favorite disc.  That probably says more about the audio quality of some of these bootlegs than the musical quality. So, without further ado, I bring you Live Music, volume 2.

Garbage – Vow

I have 6 different live versions of this song on MP3, so I’m not exactly sure which version this is.

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

Van Halen – You Really Got Me

I am led to believe that this version was from the early days of the band, before they had become the huge superstars they were destined to be.

iTunes stats: Never played

Aerosmith – Dream On

Performed live with an orchestra for MTV’s 10th anniversary special.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 8/31/2011

No Doubt – Don’t Speak

In 1997, the song was ranked at number 495 on Blender magazine’s “The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born”.

iTunes stats: Never played

Veruca Salt – Volcano Girls

The last hit featuring Nina Gordon as a member of the band.

iTunes stats: Never played

Mazzy Star – Fade Into You

Pitchfork Media placed the song at number 19 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.

iTunes stats: Never played

The Beatles – I Saw Her Standing There

In 2004, it was ranked #139 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

iTunes stats: Never played

Liz Phair – Polyester Bride

Recorded live at the Vic.

iTunes stats: Never played

Alanis Morissette – Uninvited

I have 2 live versions of this, one from MTV Unplugged and one from VH1 Storytellers.

iTunes stats: 1 play,  on 10/2/2008

Continue reading →

by admin

Mix Tape Monday – Rap 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 rap and hip hop music, with a very strong focus on the late 80s and early 90s.  So, without further ado, I present Rap, volume 2.

Positive K – I Got A Man

The one hit wonder peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1993.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 8/22/2012

Nelly – Ride Wit Me

This hit from 2001 has not aged particularly well.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 1/10/2009

Eminem – Lose Yourself

Spent 12 weeks at #1, won 2 Grammy awards, and won an Oscar.

iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 2/25/2013

Naughty By Nature – O.P.P.

According to Allmusic, “there was not a bigger, more contagious crossover radio smash in the autumn of 1991.”

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 3/29/2013

Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back

The video was briefly banned by MTV before it became a huge sensation.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 2/6/2013

Onyx – Slam

Released on May 11, 1993 it was Onyx’s breakthrough single, making it to #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was the group’s second straight single to make it to #1 on the Rap charts.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 2/18/2013

The Fat Boys and Chubby Checker – The Twist

The rap version of Chubby Checker’s hit song reached #2 in the UK, #16 in the US, and #1 in Germany and Switzerland.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 1/7/2011

Run-DMC – Walk This Way

The Aerosmith cover is often credited as helping break rap into mainstream pop music, as it was the first rap song to hit the Top 5 in The Billboard Hot 100,

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 2/21/2013

Coolio featuring LV – Gangsta’s Paradise

The biggest-selling single of 1995 was featured on the Dangerous Minds soundtrack.

iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 1/28/2013

Continue reading →

by jim

Mix Tape Monday – Undated 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 undated disc, which seems to contain mostly purchases I had made from iTunes, plus the then current Liz Phair single, which places the creation of this disc somewhere in late 2003 or early 2004.  So, without further ado, I bring you Undated, volume 2.

No Doubt – Just A Girl (Acoustic)

This bonus track from the digital version of the Rock Steady album was recorded live on German radio.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 5/3/2012

The Ataris – Boys Of Summer

A cover version of the Don Henley classic.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 1/22/2013

Tatu – All The Things You Said

I have not listened to this in the 2 months since it last appeared on one of these discs.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 8/10/2011

Avril Lavigne – Skater Boi (Live)

A live version of her hit song from an EP that seems to no longer be available on iTunes.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 6/7/2011

Avril Lavigne – Basket Case (Live)

A live cover version of the Green Day hit from an EP that seems to no longer be available on iTunes.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/24/2012

Ludacris – Stand Up

This song earned Ludacris a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance.

iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 2/21/2013

Continue reading →