Top 200 Albums: #71 – 80

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 continue our countdown today with the next batch of ten albums that I have listened to the most over the last 15 years, with a strong concentration on the 60s, 80s, and 90s.

#80: Various Artists – Rock N’ Roll Era: 1961
iTunes stats: 138 plays
Previous Ranking: 90

Seven tunes, from artists like Del Shannon, Dion & The Belmonts, and Ben E. King, added 62 listens for this Time Life compilation.

#79: Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle
iTunes stats: 140 plays
Previous Ranking: 66

A 43% increase for the 1993 solo debut from the rapper from Long Beach.

#77: Pearl Jam – Contra
iTunes stats: 141 plays
Previous Ranking: 73

This bootleg album, which contains numerous live performances including the band’s 1992 MTV Unplugged appearance, adds 55 new plays to the eight different tracks in my collection.

#77: Various Artists – Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
iTunes stats: 141 plays
Previous Ranking: 98

The first soundtrack to the Lisa Kudrow/Mira Sorvino comedy uses eight different 80s tracks, from artists like Tears For Fears, Culture Club, and The Go-Go’s, to rise 21 spots on the chart thanks to a 95% increase to its previous mark.

#76: No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom
iTunes stats: 142 plays
Previous Ranking: 89

An 84% increase for six of the songs from the band’s third studio album and major label debut.

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iTunes Top 200 Artists: Wrapup

Last week, we wrapped up our latest look at the top 200 artists I’ve listened to, according to iTunes, since 2008. Now it’s time to take a final look at those 200 artists and the songs that put them on the list. The average number of listens per group was just over 172 1/2, with the median number being 84 1/2.  There were 23 new artists debuting on the list, with the highest being John Travolta at #117.

Largest Increase

George Carlin – 1211
Garbage – 954
Patton Oswalt – 812
The Beatles – 694
Garfunkel and Oates – 410

Largest Percentage Increase

Florence + The Machine – 284%
Taylor Swift – 248%
George Carlin – 239%
John Morris – 237%
Ron Funches – 234%

Smallest Increase

Artie Lange – 0
Nancy Faust – 1
The Outfield – 10
Jason Segel – 12
P.O.D. – 13

Smallest Percentage Increase

Artie Lange – 0%
Nancy Faust – 2%
Klaus Badelt – 10%
The Outfield – 11%
P.O.D. – 13%

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #41-50

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 start the final quarter of the list today with the next batch of 10 artists, with ties at 50th, 48th, and 43rd.

#50: Queen
iTunes stats: 176 plays
Previous ranking: #35

A big 15 spot drop for the band from England, due mostly to their dropping off the White Sox victory playlist now more than 10 years removed from their 2005 World Series title.

#48: Boyz II Men
iTunes stats: 177 plays
Previous ranking: #49

The stars of my first concert added 80 new listens from their 9 tunes in my collection, inching them up one spot in the rankings.

#48: Klaus Badelt
iTunes stats: 177 plays
Previous ranking: #30

The composer dropped 18 spots in the rankings due to the White Sox no longer using his theme from Pirates of the Caribbean as part of their pre-game routine.

#47: Snoop Dogg
iTunes stats: 181 plays
Previous ranking: #45

The ganja-smoking gangsta rapper, a somewhat surprising 14-time Grammy nominee, added 71 additional listens, dropping him two spots in the rankings.

#46: John Morris
iTunes stats: 182 plays
Previous ranking: #88

The composer of the score from the best movie ever made, Clue: The Movie.

#45: Purdue “All-American” Marching Band
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Top 200 Albums – #91 – 98

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We start the second half with the next batch of 10 albums ranked between #91 and 98, including 4 studio recordings, 3 compilations, 2 comedy albums, and 1 live performance.

#98: Pearl Jam – Ten

iTunes stats: 72 plays
Previous Ranking: 70

The debut album from Pearl Jam places on the list on the backs of 6 different tracks.

#98: Various Artists – Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion
iTunes stats: 72 plays
Previous Ranking: 92

The first soundtrack to the Lisa Kudrow/Mira Sorvino comedy uses 8 different 80s tracks to make up this total, nearly double its previous mark.

#98: Def Leppard – Vault (Limited Live CD)
iTunes stats: 72 plays
Previous Ranking: 107

The import version of Def Leppard’s first greatest hits compilation contained this additional live disc, of which 9 tracks make up this total.

#94: The Beatles – Help
iTunes stats: 74 plays
Previous Ranking: 60

The remastered version of this classic album uses 5 tunes to make up its total.

#94: Patton Oswalt – Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time
iTunes stats: 74 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

A strong debut from another of Patton Oswalt’s comedy albums.

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Post Mortem – Powerless

Powerless was too much fun to succeed, and the freshman show, pulled off the air by NBC after only 9 episodes, was officially cancelled on May 11, exactly one year after getting its initial series order.  Set on the fringes of the DC universe, the show focused on a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises that created products for citizens caught in the crossfire between the world’s heroes and villains.

Starring favorites Ron Funches and Danny Pudi, alongside the surprising (for me, at least) Vanessa Hudgens, the show was a fun way to spend a half hour.  Sadly, the television world does not tend to support fun these days.

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #71-79

3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 artists in my iTunes library.  Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact.  So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 artists, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2017.

An eclectic group of musicians as we continue our march towards the top of the charts.

#79: Ludacris
iTunes stats: 58 plays
Previous ranking: #63

A 16 spot drop for the Atlanta-based rapper, despite 20 additional listens to his 3 songs over the past 3 years.

#79: Florence + The Machine
iTunes stats: 58 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

An impressive debut appearance, thanks mostly to their inclusion in last year’s road trip mix to placate Val.

#76: Ron Funches
iTunes stats: 59 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The comic makes his debut thanks to the tracks from his first album.

#76: Nancy Faust
iTunes stats: 59 plays
Previous ranking: #57

The former organist for the White Sox drops 19 spots due to the removal of her final performance of Take Me Out To The Ballgame from my victory playlist.

#76: Bell Biv DeVoe
iTunes stats: 59 plays
Previous ranking: #66

22 new listens for the former members of New Edition cause them to drop 10 spots in the rankings.

#74: Red Hot Chili Peppers
iTunes stats: 60 plays
Previous ranking: #84

A 10 spot leap for the California-based rockers due in part to 32 new listens over the past 3 years.

#74: Black Eyed Peas
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Midseason Review – Thursdays

old-tv-set1Time for our look back at Thursday nights, which has traditionally been the busiest night of the week for my television viewing habits.

7:00

Grey’s Anatomy – The medical drama enters its 13th season, with the last 8 episodes of season 12 still sitting on the DVR waiting to be watched.  Since I don’t know how last season ended, I’ve avoided looking at what lies ahead this year.

Surprisingly still watchable here in season 13.

The Big Bang Theory – The show returns to Thursdays in late October, following the midpoint of the NFL season.

The show has focused on personal growth this year, with Sheldon and Amy moving in together and Bernadette and Howard having a baby, opening up new avenues for comedy.

DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow – The grouping of DC’s also-rans returns for its second season, with a promised appearance from the Legion of Doom.

The show is moving to Tuesdays with their revamped team lineup.

7:30

The Great Indoors – Former Community star Joel McHale returns to network TV with this comedy about the new generation gap in the workplace.

Well, I had planned on trying this, thanks to Joel McHale.  Sadly, I never got around to it.

8:00

Pitch – Strangely, I don’t usually enjoy movies or TV shows about baseball despite loving the sport in real life, which means I don’t know if I’ll get in to this tale of the first female professional baseball player.  Having Gregg Olson and Chad Kreuter on board as technical advisers certainly can’t hurt.

The first season has come and gone and it went surprisingly well.  I’m hoping for a second season.

9:00

The Good Place – Kristen Bell stars as a new arrival to the afterlife in this new comedy from the creator of Parks and Rec.

A big swerve at the end of season 1 leaves me wanting a second season.

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