Tag / No Doubt

by admin

Historical iTunes Top 16 Artists

itunes_imageI recently came across an iTunes Music Library XML file from an old computer that covered some time frame between 2003 and 2007.  I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the 785 songs I had listened to in that timeframe and, eventually, incorporate some of those numbers into my current library.

Today, we will look at the top 16 artists, in terms of total listens, from this iTunes library.  My initial observations are that these totals are completely out of whack.  When I last looked at the artist totals for my current library, Bon Jovi came in at #21, with only 10 more plays than they have here, where they are the leaders.

 

Artist Play Count
Bon Jovi 103
Garbage 60
Liz Phair 39
The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer 39
Avril Lavigne 31
No Doubt 21
AC/DC 18
Elvis Presley 17
Foo Fighters 15
Aerosmith 13
Def Leppard 11
Pearl Jam 11
Alanis Morissette 11
Tee Vee Toons 10
Gin Blossoms 10
Christophe Beck 10
by admin

Historical iTunes – Top 24

itunes_imageI recently came across an iTunes Music Library XML file from an old computer that covered some time frame between 2003 and 2007.  I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the 785 songs I had listened to in that timeframe and, eventually, incorporate some of those numbers into my current library.

Today, we will look at the top 24 songs, in terms of total listens, from this iTunes library.  My initial observations are that all of these songs were either ripped from CDs or bought from the iTunes store.  Any MP3s don’t seem to be well represented in this library.

 

Close Your Eyes (Buffy/Angel Love Theme) Christophe Beck Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Album 10 11/23/2006 10:53 AM
Sk8er Boi (Live) Avril Lavigne Avril Live – Try to Shut Me Up 9 2/28/2006 3:26 PM
Why Can’t I? (Live) Liz Phair Why Can’t I? (Sessions@AOL) – Single 7 8/5/2004 10:12 PM
Living In Sin Bon Jovi New Jersey 7 8/28/2005 11:10 AM
In These Arms Bon Jovi Keep The Faith 7 8/28/2005 12:59 PM
Livin’ On A Prayer Bon Jovi Cross Road 7 10/2/2005 10:38 AM
Keep The Faith Bon Jovi Cross Road 7 10/2/2005 10:44 AM
Connecticut’s For F*cking Jesus H Christ and The Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse Jesus H Christ and The Four Hornsmen Of The Apocalypse 7 11/17/2006 11:45 AM
C Is For Cookie Cookie Monster Sesame Street Platinum: All-Time Favorites 7 12/8/2006 9:06 PM
Basketcase (Live) Avril Lavigne Avril Live – Try to Shut Me Up 6 1/25/2004 4:07 PM
Supernova Liz Phair Live from the Chicago Store – EP 6 10/8/2004 8:15 PM
Never Say Goodbye Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet 6 8/28/2005 12:26 PM
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by admin

Top 200 Albums – #92 – 99

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 90 and look at the 8 albums tied for 92nd with 38 listens.

#92: Pearl Jam – Contra (Live – Bootleg)
iTunes stats: 38 plays
This bootleg album, which contains live performances from the band’s MTV Unplugged appearance and other live performances, makes the list thanks to 8 different tracks.

#92: Cheap Trick – The Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 38 plays
5 songs from the long career of Cheap Trick put their greatest hits compilation on the list.

#92: Various Artists – Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion
iTunes stats: 38 plays
The first soundtrack to the Lisa Kudrow/Mira Sorvino comedy uses 8 different 80s tracks to make up this total.

#92: The Beatles – Let It Be… Naked
iTunes stats: 38 plays
5 songs from this remastered and remixed version of the Beatles final album, minus Phil Spectre’s patented “Wall of Sound”, makes the list with 5 different tracks.

#92: Bell Biv Devoe – Poison
iTunes stats: 38 plays
The debut album from the former members of New Edition needed only 2 songs to make up this total.

#92: Toad the Wet Sprocket – Fear
iTunes stats: 38 plays
The band’s third studio album, and first to hit big, makes the list thanks to 2 songs.

#92: Various Artists – Forrest Gump
iTunes stats: 38 plays
9 different tracks, from artists like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and CCR, make up the total for this double album soundtrack.

#92: No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom
iTunes stats: 38 plays
6 songs from the band’s breakthrough effort make up its total.

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #186 – 196

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 continue with the bottom of the list and look at the 11 albums tied for 186th with 22 listens.

#186: Various Artists – TV Themes Of The 80’s
iTunes stats: 22 plays
5 different theme songs from some of the most popular TV shows of the 1980s contributed to the total for this collection.

#186: Robin Sparkles – Make It Sparkle!
iTunes stats: 22 plays
The 2 faux-Canadian hits from the How I Met Your Mother character make up the total for this “album”.

#186: 2Pac – All Eyez On Me
iTunes stats: 22 plays
2Pac’s collaboration with Dr. Dre is the one song from this album that I have listened to.

#186: Rancid – …And Out Come The Wolves
iTunes stats: 22 plays
The two hits from this album split the total number of listens nearly down the middle.

#186: Belly – Star
iTunes stats: 22 plays
The debut album from the offshoot band of Throwing Muses had 2 songs contibute to this total.

#186: Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
iTunes stats: 22 plays
The collaboration between mashup DJ Danger Mouse and singer CeeLo Green used 2 songs to make this list.

#186: Warrant – Cherry Pie
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by admin

Concert Flashback: Bush

96bushIn the spring of 1996, Bush brought their headlining tour to the campus of Purdue University to perform at the Elliott Hall of Music.  Their opening acts were No Doubt, who hadn’t become No Doubt yet, and the Goo Goo Dolls.

No Doubt kicked off the show and, while they turned out to be my favorite band on this bill, I hadn’t heard of them yet.  Their first hit, Just A Girl, had just come out and this was my first exposure to it.  If there was any show I could relive later in life, this would likely be it.

After No Doubt came the Goo Goo Dolls, who probably played a few songs other than Name, but I think anyone would be hard pressed to tell you what they were.

Finally, Bush came out and played all of the hits from their debut album.  I don’t really remember much about their performance, but I’m sure it was a perfectly fine show.  At worst, it was a decent way to waste away a night with about a month to go before finals.

by jim

iTunes Top 100 Artists: #42-50

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.  After a week off, we return today to look at the next batch of artists, numbers 42-50, which includes a nice mix of musical genres and a legendary broadcaster.

#42: No Doubt

iTunes stats: 71 plays

12 songs make up the total for the band I saw live back in 1996 at the Elliot Hall of Music before they hit it big.

#43: Hole

iTunes stats: 69 plays

6 songs, written mostly by either Kurt Cobain or Billy Corgan, make up the total for Courtney Love’s band.

#44: Harry Caray

iTunes stats: 68 plays

2 versions of Take Me Out To The Ballgame, one representing each side of town, put the Hall of Fame broadcaster on the list.

#45: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

iTunes stats: 66 plays

The New Jersey based group used 7 songs to make up their total.

#46: Snoop Dogg

iTunes stats: 65 plays

8 songs make up the total for the ganja-smoking gangsta rapper.

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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 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

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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

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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

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