iTunes Top 100 Artists: #91-100

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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. Today we look at the the bottom 10, which includes plenty of rock royalty.

#91: Letters To Cleo

iTunes stats: 26 plays

Split across 2 songs, both of which achieved success due to their inclusion on soundtracks.  The band broke up in 2000.

#91: Beastie Boys

iTunes stats: 26 plays

7 different songs make up this total for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, who have not been active since the death of Adam “MCA” Yauch.

#91: Bloodhound Gang

iTunes stats: 26 plays

2 songs make up this total for the band known for humorous and off-beat, satirical lyrics.

#94: Ozzy Osbourne

iTunes stats: 24 plays

The bumbling TV dad of reality series fame used 5 songs, including a duet with Lita Ford, to compile this total.

#94: K’s Choice

iTunes stats: 24 plays

5 songs make up this total for the arguable one hit wonder from Belgium.

#94: 2Pac

iTunes stats: 24 plays

The slain rapper makes the list with only 2 entries, including his collaboration with Dr. Dre.

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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

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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

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Mix Tape Monday – June 2002

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.

This CD has a crazy mix of songs used as part of talk radio shows and odd live cover versions of songs along with the latest releases from Eminem, Abandoned Pools, and reality TV star Kelly Osbourne.

Soup Dragons – Running Wild (edit)

This edit of the Soup Dragons song was used as the opening theme of the old Q101 morning show hosted by Wendy Snyder and Bill Leff.

Eminem – Without Me

The latest smash hit from the non-Vanilla Ice.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 5/30/2012

Kelly Osbourne – Papa Don’t Preach

Fresh off the surprise reality smash of the year comes Ozzy’s youngest daughter.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 9/7/2011

Abandoned Pools – The Remedy

The debut single from a band that was never heard from again.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 7/30/2012

Garbage – Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go)

The unofficial third release from Beautiful Garbage was a number 1 hit in Australia.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 8/2/2012

Dave Grohl – TIny Dancer (Live)

This live performance of the Elton John hit comes from the old Craig Kilborn show.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 3/13/2012

Ednaswap – Torn (Acoustic)

This live performance by the original performers of the Natalie Imbruglia hit comes from the Howard Stern show.

iTunes stats: Never Played

Pink – Janie’s Got A Gun (Live)

Pink’s cover of the Aerosmith hit comes from a performance on MTV.

iTunes stats: Never Played

Weezer – American Gigolo

Another in a long line of Weezer songs that I had completely forgotten about.

The Strokes – Hard To Explain

The first UK single from The Strokes was their third in the US.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 5/25/2012

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Mix Tape Monday – December 2001

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.

This is the first CD I burned in a post 9/11 world, and some of the songs on here were affected by the events of that fateful day.  This edition included new hits from Ozzy Osbourne, Bush, No Doubt, Pink, and Britney Spears.

Ozzy Osbourne – Gets Me Through

A few short months before the reality show that would change the world’s perception of him, Ozzy released this first track from his new album.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 3/29/2012

Bad Religion – Infected

I saw Bad Religion opening for Pearl Jam at Soldier Field back in 1995.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 11/7/2012

Bush – Speed Kills

The comback attempt by Bush was retitled The People That We Love following 9/11, since the original title was deemed inappropriate.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 8/29/2011

Garbage – Shut Your Mouth

The third release from Garbage’s third release.

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

Blondie – One Way Or Another

The new wave hit from 1979 was used as the theme song for the television show Snoops.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 6/21/2010

Remy Zero – Somebody Save Me

The theme song from Smallville is likely the only Remy Zero song anyone knows.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/1/2012

Atomic Kitten – Eternal Flame

The British girl group had a minor hit with this cover of the Bangles classic.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 11/18/2012

Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me

The first hit from the band from Nashville via Texas.

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

The Strokes – Last Night

The debut album from The Strokes was slated to be released on the Tuesday after 9/11 with a song featuring the lyric “New York City Cops, they ain’t too smart.”  The album was delayed and the song was removed from the American version of the album.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 9/24/2012

Sublime – Date Rape

The hit that pushed the ska rockers out of LA and into the national consciousness.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 9/17/2011

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A Week Of Working Out Music

A week’s worth of workout music, that may have been posted individually had the website been up and available.

Tuesday

I Kissed A Girl Jill Sobule 90’s Style (Disc 1) 12/13/2011 8:33 AM
Hard To Explain The Strokes Is This It? 12/13/2011 8:37 AM
A Song For You Mexican Cheerleader Kings And Kings’ Hoots 12/13/2011 8:39 AM
Ruby Soho Rancid …And Out Come The Wolves 12/13/2011 8:42 AM
Big Bang Baby Stone Temple Pilots Tiny Music…Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop 12/13/2011 8:45 AM
Blue Suede Shoes Elvis Presley 2nd To None 12/13/2011 8:47 AM
Bizarre Love Triangle Frente! Marvin The Album 12/13/2011 8:50 AM
We Didn’t Do It Tegan and Sara So Jealous 12/13/2011 8:53 AM
Free Bird Lynyrd Skynyrd 20th Century Masters – The Milliennium Collection: The Best of Lynyrd Skynyrd 12/13/2011 9:03 AM
Wicked Garden Stone Temple Pilots Core 12/13/2011 9:07 AM
Alias Theme J.J. Abrams Alias Original Television Soundtrack 12/13/2011 9:09 AM
Drop It Like It’s Hot (Dirty) Snoop Dogg, featuring Pharrell R & G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece 12/13/2011 9:13 AM
It Was A Good Day Ice Cube The Predator 12/13/2011 9:18 AM
Celebration Kool & The Gang 12/13/2011 9:21 AM
Dope Nose Weezer Maladroit 12/13/2011 9:24 AM
Get Back The Beatles (With Billy Preston) Past Masters, Vol. 2 [2009 Stereo Remaster] 12/13/2011 9:27
Every Little Step Bobby Brown Don’t Be Cruel 12/13/2011 9:31 AM
Misery The Beatles Please Please Me [2009 Stereo Remaster] 12/13/2011 9:33 AM
All the Things She Said t.A.T.u. 200 KM/H in the Wrong Lane 12/13/2011 9:37 AM
“Are You A Man Or A Muppet?” Amy Adams The Muppets Soundtrack 12/13/2011 9:37 AM
Don’t Let Me Down The Beatles Let It Be… Naked 12/13/2011 9:40 AM

Wednesday Continue reading →

Goodbye, iPhone 3G – Music Edition

As I wait for tomorrow’s delivery of my new iPhone 4S, it is time to say goodbye to the 3G that has been my trusty companion for nearly the past 3 1/2 years.  We’ve traveled the world together (well, at least Canada and the UK) and have listened to a lot of music.  Here is every song (all 1597 of them) I’ve listened to on the phone, with some (ok, very little) bonus commentary!

He’s a Pirate Klaus Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) 100
Gordon Beckham Intro 91
Let’s Go-Go-Go White Sox Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers 87
Thunderstruck AC/DC The Razors Edge 84
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Steam Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969 83
sox05_montage 75
We Are The Champions Queen Queen: Greatest Hits I & II 73
Boom P.O.D. Satellite 70
Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey Journey’s Greatest Hits 69
2008 White Sox Central Division Champs Montage Chris Tannehill WSCR 670 The Score 65

No surprise that the top 10 are all part of (or were part of) my White Sox victory playlist.  This gets played on the way home from every White Sox winner, plus the occassional ride to a game.  Continue reading →