Mix Tape Monday – May 2005

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 was the last CD of psudeo-new music that I burned.  Fall of 2005 was consumed with other activities and that Christmas, I got a Sirius satellite radio, at which point I pretty much stopped using the CD player in the car.  In fact, the CDs that were in the 5 disc changer at the time stayed there untouched for so long that, when I tried to put in something different, the new discs wouldn’t work.

Tom Petty – I Won’t Back Down

I just now realized that this was from Tom Petty’s solo album and was not a Heartbreakers track.

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

Foo Fighters – Best Of You

The latest from the Foo Fighters was the first single from In Your Honor.

iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 3/29/2012

Black Eyed Peas – Don’t Phunk With My Heart

The less successful follow up to the monster hit Let’s Get It Started.

iTunes stats: Never played

Def Leppard – No Matter What

A cover of the old Badfinger song done as a bonus track for their latest best-of release.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 9/28/2012

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Summertime

The Grammy winner for Best Rap single of 1991.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 6/26/2012

Ramones – Blitzkreig Bop

The debut single for the seminal American punk band.

iTunes stats: 1 plays, on 7/30/2012

Terror Squad – Lean Back

Spent three weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 charts in August of 2004.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 8/4/2011

Weezer – Beverly Hills

The latest single from Weezer was the first from their fifth album.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 10/11/2012

The McCoys – Hang On Sloopy

This is the official rock song of the state of Ohio.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 11/19/2012

Usher – Yeah!

Usher’s monster hit spent 12 weeks stop the Billboard Hot 100 in 2004 and was the #1 song of the year.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 10/23/2012

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Mix Tape Monday – September 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 was likely the first one I burned here in the (then) new house, which is now just the house.  It includes the latest from Eminem, Pink, and Avril Lavigne.

Eminem – Cleaning Out My Closet

Eminem’s latest is another ode to all of the bad things that happened to him growing up.

iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 10/23/2012

Whale – Hobo Humpin Slobo Babe

The first single from the Swedish pop group reached #24 on the US Modern Rock charts.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 3/31/2012

Pink – Just Like A Pill

The third single from Missundaztood was Pink’s first number 1 single in the UK.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 5/14/2012

Bjork – Big Time Sensuality

The fourth single from Bjork’s first post-Sugarcubes solo album.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 11/19/2012

Avril Lavigne – Sk8r Boi

The second single from the debut album from the Canadian pop punk princess.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 11/9/2012

Weezer – Keep Fishin

The video for this remix featured the Muppets.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 9/27/2012

Me First And The Gimmee Gimmees – The Rainbow Connection

Speaking of the Muppets, this punk cover of Kermit’s big hit is from the group’s second album.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 11/23/2011

The Hives – Hate To Say I Told You So

Originally released in 2000, this signature hit for the Swedish garage band was re-released in 2002 and became a hit.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 7/30/2012

Sponge – Plowed

Rotting Pinata first charted on the Billboard 200 nearly a year after its release thanks to this song.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 9/27/2012

Nirvana – Verse Chorus Verse

A hidden track from the AIDS-benefit compilation No Alternative that apparently should have been called “Sappy.”

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 10/16/2012

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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 – March 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.

March of 2002 brought about new albums from Weezer and Alanis Morissette and new singles from Britney Spears, Pink, and No Doubt.

Cheap Trick – That 70s Song

The theme song from That 70s Show shows up halfway through the show’s run.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 10/12/2011

Possum Dixon – Watch That Girl Destroy Me

The first of two straight appearances for this song, which is certainly a good time but not necessarily good enough for such a continuous play.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 11/1/2010

Frank Black – Headache

The ex-Pixies singer had his one solo hit with this tune.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 4/4/2012

Garbage – Breaking Up The Girl

The latest somewhat hit for the band based in Madison, WI.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 10/19/2012

No Doubt – Hella Good

The Orange County rockers return with their second hit off of Rock Steady.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 8/21/2012

Zaeger & Evans – In The Year 2525

This 60s hit was an ode to futuristic science gone mad.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 11/6/2012

Weezer – Dope Nose

Weezer returns with their second album in as many years.

iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 7/16/2012

The Calling – Wherever You Will Go

The only hit from The Calling was featured on Smallville and Cold Case and in the film Coyote Ugly.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 8/12/2011

Sonic Youth – Bull In The Heather

This song was named after the winner of the 1993 Florida Derby.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/19/2012

James – Laid

The early 90s hit got a second life in the late 90s and early 2000s thanks to the American Pie films.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 5/17/2011

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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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Mix Tape Monday – August 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.

I obviously didn’t know it at the time, but this CD would be the last I would make before the world changed on that early September morning.  This edition featured new music from Nelly Furtado, Weezer, Smash Mouth, and Eve.

Nelly Furtado – I’m Like A Bird

Prior to her current incarnation as a pop music princess, Furtado hit it big with this soulful hit that relied more on her voice than a producer’s computer.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 7/30/2012

Mazzy Star – Hallah

After Fade Into You went huge, radio programmers looked to their previous album and found this gem.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 2/7/2011

Bif Naked – Lucky

One of the highlights of the Buffy soundtrack that led to me buying her debut CD.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 8/10/2011

Joey Scarbury – Believe It Or Not

The theme song from The Greatest American Hero became far more successful than the show from which it was spawned.

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

John Sebastian – Welcome Back

Another theme song, this one from Welcome Back, Kotter.  This MP3 was ripped from the album, which you can tell from a little skip towards the end.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 11/19/2012

Liz Phair & Material Issue – The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)

Yet another television theme song, covered for a compilation of cartoon hits.  I apparently never imported this CD into iTunes, a mistake I have now rectified.

iTunes stats: Never played

Material Issue – Kim The Waitress

The one big hit for the local band that seemed to be going places before singer Jim Ellison committed suicide in 1996.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 9/19/2012

Weezer – Islands In The Sun

The latest single from Weezer’s comeback album.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 3/28/2012

Foo Fighters – Learning To Fly

One of my least favorite Foo Fighter songs.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 12/1/2010

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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 →