Tag / Nirvana

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Yet Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 12

33 years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I put together the first of what would eventually become 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.  Today, we revisit those mix tapes for the fourth time and see how, or if, the soundtrack of my youth still resonates in today’s digital world and how much has changed over the past four years.

Both Def Leppard and Guns ‘N Roses make their final appearance on this entry.  By 1993, alternative music had taken over the rock world and these two stalwarts from the 80s were holding on in similar ways: both had released long-awaited albums during my senior year of high school and both followed those up quickly with either an album of covers (GnR) or a compilation of B-sides (Def Leppard).  Both made their first appearance, back to back, on Volume 5 and each ended up with seven tracks overall on these tapes.

From this point on, there are no more entries from 80s rock bands.  No more Poison.  No more Bon Jovi.  No more Slaughter or Great White.  And no more Def Leppard or Guns ‘N Roses.  Following volume 12, which covers the summer of 1993 and into the fall and my sophomore year of college, my tastes turned towards the alternative, with hip hop and the occasional pure pop song still making an appearance.

Side A

10,000 Maniacs – Because The Night
iTunes stats: 34 plays, most recently on 7/5/2022

The Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith written hit, from the group’s MTV Unplugged appearance which was Natalie Merchant’s swan song with the group, picked up just four plays over the past four years.

Cracker – Low
iTunes stats: 38 plays, most recently on 2/26/2022

The first single from Kerosene Hat, which reached #3 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, picked up six listens in the last four years.

Def Leppard – Miss You In A Heartbeat
iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 3/1/2022

Just four new plays for the final US top 40 hit for the band, which peaked at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Cher w/ Beavis & Butthead – I Got You Babe
iTunes stats: 38 plays, most recently on 7/9/2022

Cher’s threesome with the animated duo, from the hit film Beavis & Butthead Do America, earned a small four play increase over these past four years.

Guns N’ Roses – Estranged
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 9/8/2022

The nearly 9 1/2 minute opus, which hit #16 on the Mainstream Rock chart, picked up five new listens over the past four years.

Lemonheads – Into Your Arms
iTunes stats: 29 plays, most recently on 12/23/2021

The only Lemonheads track to appear on the Billboard chart, peaking at #67, the tune added ten additional plays over the last four years.

Side B

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Yet Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 11

33 years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I put together the first of what would eventually become 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.  Today, we revisit those mix tapes for the fourth time and see how, or if, the soundtrack of my youth still resonates in today’s digital world and how much has changed over the past four years.

Back before the days of internet shopping and streaming music, there were mail order music clubs.  One of the biggest was Columbia House, founded in 1955 as the Columbia Record Club.  By the early 90s, records and 8-tracks had given way to CDs and, at its peak, mail order music clubs were responsible for over 15% of annual CD sales.

The concept was pretty simple: get a handful of albums (six?  eight?) for a penny while promising to purchase a set number of records at full retail price plus shipping down the line.  Once you were enrolled, you would get a new album every month, which you could either purchase or send back.  Once you met your obligation, you could leave the club.

Around the timeframe covered by this cassette, my sister and I decided to go in on a membership.  I know two of the free albums I received were Achtung Baby by U2 and Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? by The Cranberries.  I remember getting stuck with the self-titled release from Alice In Chains as part of the backside of the deal.  If you played by the rules, it was a complicated way to get a few CDs at what turned out to be a slight discount.  If you cheated the system, which many people did, you got the free ones and never paid up on the flip side.  By the end of the decade, these clubs were on the decline, thanks to Amazon and Wal-Mart offering CDs at discounted prices.

Volume 11 takes us late into 1993 and my sophomore year of college.  It features mostly alternative and hip-hop hits, with a little pop and Aerosmith on the side.

Side A

Shai – Baby I’m Yours
iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 7/28/2022

The second, and final, top 10 hit for the R&B quartet picked up five more plays in the last four years.

Tears For Fears – Break It Down Again
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 6/16/2022

Topping the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the comeback hit for the 80s sensations added four plays since 2018, most recently on the night I saw them in concert.

Bell Biv Devoe – Something In Your Eyes
iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 11/23/2022

The only single from the band’s sophomore effort to chart, peaking at #38, the tune managed to pick up six additional listens over the last four years.

4 Non Blondes – Spaceman
iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 4/5/2022

Ten new listens for the band’s second single, which hit the Top 20 in Austria, Iceland, Italy and Switzerland.

Pearl Jam – Go
iTunes stats: 33 plays, most recently on 7/28/2022

Used as Paul Konerko’s walkup music during his final season with the White Sox, the first single from Pearl Jam’s sophomore effort picked up nine new listens in the past four years.

Nirvana – Heart-Shaped Box
iTunes stats: 28 plays, most recently on 11/26/2021

Nirvana’s first release from their final studio album, ranked as the 10th greatest rock track ever by Kerrang! magazine, added five additional plays since 2019.

Radiohead – Stop Whispering
iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 11/10/2022

Peaking at #23 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the lesser known follow up to the smash Creep more than doubled its plays over the last four years.

Side B

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Yet Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 8

33 years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I put together the first of what would eventually become 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.  Today, we revisit those mix tapes for the fourth time and see how, or if, the soundtrack of my youth still resonates in today’s digital world and how much has changed over the past four years.

Volume 8 features the first appearances on these cassettes by Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Metallica.  All three should have shown up much sooner.  Metallica’s self-titled album, known colloquially as the Black Album, was released in August of 1991.  Five singles were released, from July of 1991 through February of 1993.  All of which should have made their way to these collections.  But for whatever reason, only the last one made it.  By that time, it was ok for me to admit that I liked a Metallica song, even though I already owned the CD.

A similar situation occurred with Nevermind, the second album from Nirvana.  Released in September of 1991, it took until the fourth single to make it on to these cassettes, despite the fact I was rocking out to Smells Like Teen Spirit alongside everyone else.  The same thing happened with Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten, which split the middle, being released in August of 1991.  The first two singles somehow never made it here, despite being listened to more than some of the songs that did.  I don’t really have a good reason as to why I excluded them, or why, with this volume, I decided it was the time to let them all in.

Anyway, here we cover the winter and into the spring of 1993 and the second semester of my freshman year of college. The alternative influence starts to become more noticeable alongside old mainstays like Poison, Bon Jovi, and Def Leppard. Besides that, we are treated to a lot of hip-hop and hair metal, with a small sampling of pop, as always.

Side A

Bell Biv Devoe – Gangsta

The intended first single from the second Bell Biv Devoe record, which flopped so bad it was dropped from the album and now is lost to history.

Pearl Jam – Jeremy
iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 1/4/2022

The belated first appearance on these tapes by Pearl Jam, the song, which VH1 ranked as the 11th greatest song of the 90s, saw a modest 3 listen increase over the past four years.

Wreckx-N-Effect – Rump Shaker
iTunes stats: 31 plays, most recently on 9/8/2022

Charting as the ninth biggest hit of 1993, the biggest song for butts since Sir Mix-A-Lot saw a healthy eight play increase.

Boyz II Men – In The Still Of The Night
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 12/22/2022

The cover of the old doo-wop classic, recorded for the miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, added five plays in the last four years.

Arrested Development – People Everyday
iTunes stats: 27 plays, most recently on 11/23/2022

Peaking at #8 on the Billboard charts, the second single for the Atlanta-based group added an additional six plays over the past four years.

Nirvana – In Bloom
iTunes stats: 25 plays, most recently on 12/8/2022

The winner of the Best Alternative Video VMA in 1993 picked up seven new plays since 2019.

TLC – What About Your Friends
iTunes stats: 25 plays, most recently on 7/8/2021

The third straight top 10 hit from TLC’s debut album added eight new listens to its total over the past four years.

Side B

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Yet Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 4

33 years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I put together the first of what would eventually become 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.  Today, we revisit those mix tapes for the fourth time and see how, or if, the soundtrack of my youth still resonates in today’s digital world and how much has changed over the past four years.

Volume 4 places us smack dab in the middle of my junior year of high school, from late 1990 and into 1991, and, quite possibly, the worst entry in this series.  There are 20 cassettes in this series, comprised of 287 songs.  Nearly 25% of them has been performed by a band I have seen in concert.  In fact, ever single entry contains at least one song by a band I have seen live.  Except this one.

Five of the songs here are older hits that weren’t current during my junior year.  Six of the songs come from just two bands: Poison and Roxette.  Judging solely from songs contained on this tape, you would have a hard time believing that Nirvana’s Nevermind would be released later that year and that the music industry would sound completely different a year later.

Side A

Damn Yankees – High Enough
iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 7/28/2022

Peaking at #3 on the Billboard charts, the one big hit from the supergroup featuring right-wing douchenozzle Ted Nugent added only five new plays since 2017.

Sweet Sensation – If Wishes Came True
iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 12/20/2021

The #25 hit of 1990 added three additional listens over the past four years.

Poison – Fallen Angel
iTunes stats: 28 plays, most recently on 11/10/2022

Poison’s hit from 1988, the only single from Open Up and Say… Ahh! not to crack the top 10, got six additional listens over the past four years.

Simpsons – Do The Bartman
iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 3/23/2022

The first hit from the animated TV family, which went to #1 in five countries but wasn’t officially released as a single in the US, added seven new listens since 2019.

Roxette – The Look
iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 12/22/2022

Ranked as the #17 single of 1989, the hit for the Swedish duo gained nine new spins over the past four years.

Poison – I Won’t Forget You
iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 12/12/2021

The fourth single from Poison’s debut album, originally taped off a mixtape I “borrowed” from my friend Mike’s sister, managed just four additional plays since 2019.

Side B

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Book 28 (of 52) – The Storyteller

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music – Dave Grohl

When the world shut down in March of 2020 due to the corona virus, Dave Grohl put down his guitar and picked up a pen.  His stories cover the gamut of his life, from his childhood in Virginia, to his fateful trip to Chicago where a concert at the Cubby Bear introduced him to the world of punk rock, from joining local-punk legends Scream right out of high school to hooking up with an up-and-coming Nirvana after Scream imploded to creating the Foo Fighters after the death of Kurt Cobain, from going on epic concert tours to planning tour dates around his children’s school dances.

Dave Grohl has been a favorite for years, from his time with Nirvana through his years as the leader of the Foo Fighters.  The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music does a great job of explaining where his love of music came from and how he has used that to build a pretty great and surreal life for himself and his family.  If you are looking for a tell-all book about the inner demons of Kurt Cobain or a listing of all the celebrities he slept with, this is not the book for you.  Instead, it is a journey through life with music, and the love of music, as its throughline.  Dave Grohl is considered to be one of the nicest people in rock and roll and, reading his stories, you can see why.

 

 

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Top 200 Albums: #81 – 88

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.

The countdown marches on today 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.

#88: Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
iTunes stats: 123 plays
Previous Ranking: 79

A 52% increase in plays for the five of the eleven tracks from this 1994 album, the band’s second.

#88: The Beatles – Abbey Road
iTunes stats: 123 plays
Previous Ranking: 109

Released in 1969, the band’s eleventh studio album, the last completed prior to their breakup, saw an increase of 58 listens to jump 21 spots in the rankings.

#88: Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
iTunes stats: 123 plays
Previous Ranking: 101

A 73% increase in plays over the past four years for seven of the songs from the group’s 1993 MTV Unplugged performance, their first album released following the death of Kurt Cobain.

#87: Patton Oswalt – My Weakness is Strong
iTunes stats: 124 plays
Previous Ranking: 179

A very impressive 92 spot jump for the funnyman’s third comedy album, thanks to an additional 79 plays over the past four years.

#86: Various Artists – The First 1000 Years – Rock
iTunes stats: 126 plays
Previous Ranking: 77

Seven songs, from alternative artists like The Breeders, Everclear, and Jane’s Addiction, added 43 new listens for this MTV sponsored compilation.

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Top 200 Albums: #101 – 107

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.

We wrap up the first half of the countdown today 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.

#107: Elvis Presley – 2nd To None
iTunes stats: 110 plays
Previous Ranking: 103

The second collection of Elvis’ top hits, released in 2003, saw a 59% increase to the five songs out of 30 that are in my collection.

#107: Various Artists – On The Edge
iTunes stats: 110 plays
Previous Ranking: 129

This compilation, featuring 80s alternative hits from the likes of The Smiths, Love & Rockets, and Michael Penn, used five different tunes to generate 52 new plays over the past four years.

#107: Various Artists – Rock N’ Roll Era: 1958
iTunes stats: 101 plays
Previous Ranking: 109

A 69% increase in plays over the past four years for this edition of the Time Life series, featuring songs by The Big Bopper, The Monotones, and Little Richard, among others.

#107: Various Artists – Billboard Top Rock & Roll Hits: 1970
iTunes stats: 110 plays
Previous Ranking: 127

This compilation of the biggest hits of 1970 by bands that would allow themselves to be on such a compilation, like Ides of March or the Partridge Family, added 51 new plays to the seven tunes in my collection.

#106: Various Artists – WSCR 670 The Score
iTunes stats: 111 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

Typically, I exclude this collection of sports highlights from the 2008 White Sox, but, to be honest, I forgot until I was far enough along for it to screw up my pacing, so here you go.

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Top 200 Albums: #141 – 150

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.

We begin the second quarter of our chart with the next batch of ten albums that I have listened to the most over the last 15 years, including two compilations, two albums from bands I’ve seen live in concert, and one movie soundtrack.

#150: Various Artists – Billboard Top Hits 1988
iTunes stats: 83 plays
Previous Ranking: 190

Five tracks from this compilation of the biggest hits of 1988, from artists like Billy Ocean, The Escape Club, and Bobby McFerrin, amongst others, nearly doubled its plays over the past four years to rise 40 slots on the chart.

#149: Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion I
iTunes stats: 84 plays
Previous Ranking: 151

The third studio album from the band, released the same day as its companion album Use Your Illusion II and which I bought during finals week after my first semester in college, increased its listens by nearly 65%.

#148: Various Artists – Austin Powers
iTunes stats: 86 plays
Previous Ranking: 117

The soundtrack to the original Austin Powers film, released in 1997 and featuring the work of artists like Strawberry Alarm Clock and Divinyls, uses four songs to increase its plays by 23.

#147: Nirvana – In Utero
iTunes stats: 87 plays
Previous Ranking: 125

The final studio album from Nirvana, released in 1993 just six months before Kurt Cobain’s death, added 27 new listens to the four tracks out of twelve that I’ve listened to.

#145: The Beatles – With The Beatles
iTunes stats: 88 plays
Previous Ranking: 147

This 1963 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.

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iTunes Top 200 Artists: #11-20

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 the next batch of 10 artists, zooming into the 400 and 500 listen territory with reckless abandon.

#20: Nirvana
iTunes stats: 374 plays
Previous ranking: #20

The 7 time Grammy nominees, and one time winner, stay even on the charts thanks to 163 new listens.

#19: The Lonely Island
iTunes stats: 375 plays
Previous ranking: #14

The comedy troupe sees a 5 spot drop after increasing their listens by a scant 38%.

#18: R.E.M.
iTunes stats: 388 plays
Previous ranking: #22

The 2007 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nearly doubled their plays over the past 4 years, enabling them to jump 4 spots.

#17: Bon Jovi
iTunes stats: 391 plays
Previous ranking: #19

The boys from New Jersey have racked up 177 new listens to raise 2 slots in the rankings.

#16: Elvis Presley
iTunes stats: 300 plays
Previous ranking: #26

The King of Rock & Roll adds 173 plays to his total from 4 years ago and leaps 10 spots in the rankings.

#15: Alanis Morissette
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iTunes Top 200 Artists: #188-197

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.

Today, we begin with 10 artists, 4 tied for 197th place, 3 tied for 194th, and the first 4 tied for 188th.  4 of these bands and/or performers are newcomers to this list.

#197: OutKast
iTunes stats: 44 plays
Previous ranking: #167

A slight increase of only 17 plays over 4 years drops the hip hop duo from Atlanta down 31 spots in the rankings.

#197: The Juliana Hatfield Three
iTunes stats: 44 plays
Previous ranking: #185

After breaking up with the Blake Babies, Juliana Hatfield put together this band before going solo, which drops 13 places after garnering only 19 new listens across its 2 tracks, including one from the Reality Bites soundtrack.

#197: Mariah Carey
iTunes stats: 44 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The icon makes her debut on the strength of 3 songs, none of which are her wildly successful Christmas classic, which have gone from 16 listens up to 44.

#197: Björk
iTunes stats: 44 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The Icelandic chartreuse scratches her way on to the list thanks to 2 solo tracks and 1 live duet with PJ Harvey.

#194: Firehouse
iTunes stats: 45 plays
Previous ranking: #185

The glam band, who somehow beat out Alice In Chains and Nirvana for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist at the 1992 American Music Awards, added 20 new listens to the 3 songs that make up their play total.

#194: Fall Out Boy
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