Tag / Sheryl Crow

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iTunes Top 200 Artists: #61-70

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 artists in my iTunes library, featuring the songs I have listened to the most since 2007.  It is time to do so again, seeing which performers still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray.  So, without further ado, here are my most listened to artists, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2026.

We continue today with our next batch of ten artists, including two I have seen perform live.

#70: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
iTunes stats: 162 plays
Previous ranking: #67

The inspiration for the musical Jersey Boys drops three spots after gaining 33 new plays.

#67: Toad the Wet Sprocket
iTunes stats: 168 plays
Previous ranking: #62

A five-spot drop thanks to a 23% increase in listens for the 90s alternative band from Santa Barbara, California.

#67: Oblivion
iTunes stats: 168 plays
Previous ranking: #73

The local punk band, fronted by a former co-worker, added 47 new listens to the ten tracks from their final album to make up this total.

#67: John Williams
iTunes stats: 168 plays
Previous ranking: #68

The composer of some of the most popular and recognizable film scores in cinematic history, including the Star Wars and Superman series, picks up 41 new listens over the last five years.

#64: The Bangles
Continue reading →

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Fifty Years Of Music – 2004

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2004, the year I celebrated my 30th birthday.  22 of these songs remain familiar to me today, with just nine of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#92: Avril Lavigne – Don’t Tell Me
iTunes stats: 17 plays

The lead single from her sophomore effort, it peaked at #22 on the Hot 100.

#88: The Black Eyed Peas – Let’s Get It Started
iTunes stats: 45 plays

The fourth and final single from the group’s third studio album, it reached #21.

#87: Chingy featuring Ludacris and Snoop Dogg – Holidae In
iTunes stats: 11 plays

Making the year-end chart for the second straight year, the track went to #3.

#76: Jet – Are You Gonna Be My Girl
iTunes stats: 24 plays

The Australian group’s debut single, it topped out at #29.

#71: Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell – Drop It Like It’s Hot
iTunes stats: 27 plays

Spending the final three weeks of the year at #1, it was the first chart topping hit for both artists.

#70: Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins – Get Low
iTunes stats: N/A

Ranked as the 99th greatest song of hip-hop by VH1, it peaked at #2.

#54: Avril Lavigne – My Happy Ending
iTunes stats: 23 plays

Spending four weeks at #9, it became her fourth top ten hit.

#48: Britney Spears – Toxic
iTunes stats: 44 plays

Giving Spears the lone Grammy of her career, the song reached #9, her first top ten hit since 2000.

#45: Ludacris featuring Shawnna – Stand Up
iTunes stats: 17 plays

Topping the Hot 100 for a week in December of 2003, it makes the year-end chart for the second straight year.

#41: Kelis – Milkshake
iTunes stats: N/A

Her highest-charting single to this day, it topped out at #3 in December of 2003.

#39: Ashlee Simpson – Pieces of Me
iTunes stats: 24 plays

The debut single from Jessica Simpson’s sister, it went to #5, becoming her lone top ten hit.

#38: No Doubt – It’s My Life
iTunes stats: N/A

Recorded for their greatest hits package, this cover of the Talk Talk hit from 1984 spent 28 weeks on the chart, peaking at #10.

#28: Sheryl Crow – The First Cut Is the Deepest
iTunes stats: N/A

Recorded for her greatest hits package, it reached #14 and remains her final hit to breach the top 20.

#10: Terror Squad featuring Fat Joe and Remy Ma – Lean Back
iTunes stats: 36 plays

It spent seven weeks atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and three weeks on top of the Hot 100.

#8: Outkast – Hey Ya!
iTunes stats: 26 plays

First written in 2000 by Andre 3000, it spent nine weeks at #1 between 2003 and 2004.

#6: Hoobastank – The Reason
iTunes stats: N/A

The title track of the group’s sophomore effort, it reached #2 while spending 38 weeks on the chart.

#1: Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris – Yeah!
iTunes stats: 34 plays

The longest running #1 hit of 2004, it spent twelve weeks atop the Hot 100.

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Fifty Years Of Music – 2002

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2002, the year I celebrated my 28th birthday.  Only 29 songs remain familiar to me today, with just 21 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#96: Avril Lavigne – Sk8er Boi
iTunes stats: 29 plays

Peaking at #10, it gave Lavigne her second straight top ten hit and a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

#95: Alanis Morissette – Hands Clean
iTunes stats: 12 plays

The lead single from Morissette’s fifth studio album, it reached #23 and was her last single to crack the Top 40.

#87: Jewel – Standing Still
iTunes stats: 20 plays

Spending a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100, it topped out at #25

#77: Ludacris – Rollout (My Business)
iTunes stats: 23 plays

Nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance, it went to #17.

#71: No Doubt featuring Lady Saw – Underneath It All
iTunes stats: 12 plays

Spending two weeks at #3, it is the groups highest charting single.

#63: Eminem – Lose Yourself
iTunes stats: 55 plays

The track from the 8 Mile soundtrack spent 12 weeks at #1 across 2002 and 2003, becoming the rapper’s first chart topping single.

#59: No Doubt – Hella Good
iTunes stats: 26 plays

The second single from the group’s fifth studio album, it peaked at #13.

#56: LeAnn Rimes – Can’t Fight the Moonlight
iTunes stats: 12 plays

The theme song from Coyote Ugly, it stalled at #71 in 2000 but returned to the charts in late 2001, eventually rising to #11.

#54: Missy Elliot – Work It
iTunes stats: 21 plays

Elliot’s most successful single, it spent ten weeks at #2, tying Foreigner for the longest stint at that position.

#47: Eminem – Cleanin’ Out My Closet
iTunes stats: 31 plays

The second release from the rapper’s fourth studio album, it peaked at #4.

#46: Five for Fighting – Superman (It’s Not Easy)
iTunes stats: N/A

The first charting single for the band, it reached #14 while being used to honor the victims, survivors, police, and firefighters involved in the 9/11 attacks.

#45: Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head
iTunes stats: N/A

Written and produced by former singer Cathy Dennis, it topped out at #7 and was her best-selling single in the US since 1987.

#43: Pink – Just Like a Pill
iTunes stats: 28 plays

Peaking at #8, it was written by Pink and Dallas Austin for her second studio album.

#36: Pink – Don’t Let Me Get Me
iTunes stats: 21 plays

The fifth top ten hit of Pink’s career, it reached #8.

#35: Sheryl Crow – Soak Up the Sun
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The lead single from her fourth studio album, it went to #17, becoming her sixth Top 40 hit.

#32: No Doubt – Hey Baby
iTunes stats: 27 plays

Earning the band the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, it spent two weeks at #5.

#28: Shakira – Whenever, Wherever
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The lead single from the Colombian singer’s English language debut, it peaked at #6.

#25: Chad Kroger featuring Josey Scott – Hero
iTunes stats: N/A

Recorded for the Spider-Man soundtrack, it topped the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts while topping out at #3 on the Hot 100.

#24: Pink – Get the Party Started
iTunes stats: 26 plays

Originally written for Madonna, Pink took the party anthem to #4 in late December 2001.

#23: Michelle Branch – All You Wanted
iTunes stats: 16 plays

Reaching #6, this second single from her debut album was written by Branch.

#22: Enrique Iglesias – Hero
iTunes stats: N/A

Released eight days before the 9/11 attacks in 2001, it spent fifteen weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart while going to #3 on the Hot 100.

#21: Eminem – Without Me
iTunes stats: 25 plays

Earning two Grammy nominations, the lead single from Eminem’s fourth studio album peaked at #2.

#20: Creed – My Sacrifice
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending nine weeks atop the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, it reached #4 on the Hot 100.

#14: Jimmy Eat World – The Middle
iTunes stats: N/A

The band’s only Top 40 hit, it went all the way to #5.

#11: Avril Lavigne – Complicated
iTunes stats: 18 plays

The debut single from the Canadian singer-songwriter, it topped out at #2 while staying on the chart for 31 weeks.

#6: Vanessa Carlton – A Thousand Miles
iTunes stats: N/A

The singer’s debut single, it remains her biggest hit, reaching #5.

#5: The Calling – Wherever You Will Go
iTunes stats: 17 plays

The band’s only single to reach the Hot 100, it peaked at #5.

#3: Nelly – Hot in Herre
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The lead single from his second studio album, it spent seven weeks at #1 during the summer of 2002.

#1: Nickelback – How You Remind Me
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending four weeks atop the Hot 100 across 2001 and 2002, it was named the most played song of the decade on US radio stations.

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Fifty Years Of Music – 1997

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 1997, the year I graduated from college, started working at my current company, and celebrated my 23rd birthday.  Thanks to my newly acquired hour plus commute, you’d think I’d have picked up more of the music of the day, but the numbers keep going down.  A mere 25 songs remain familiar to me today, with 15 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#95: The Cranberries – Free to Decide
iTunes stats: 16 plays

The group’s final charting hit in the US, it peaked at #8 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and #22 on the Hot 100.

#94: Aqua – Barbie Girl
iTunes stats: N/A

Leading to a lawsuit from Barbie’s corporate masters, the song reached #7.

#87: Madonna – Don’t Cry for Me Argentina
iTunes stats: N/A

Recorded for the Evita soundtrack, with Madonna in the title role, it went to #8 and was the first song to originate in a stage musical to hit the top ten since 1985.

#82: Los del Rio – Macarena (Bayside Remix)
iTunes stats: N/A

The #1 song of 1996 returns for its second straight year end chart.

#81: Luscious Jackson – Naked Eye
iTunes stats: 13 plays

Hitting #36, it remains the band’s lone charting single.

#69: Chumbawamba – Tubthumping
iTunes stats: 31 plays

The only single from the group to chart in the US, it peaked at #6.

#67: Eric Clapton – Change the World
iTunes stats: N/A

A 43-week stay on the Hot 100 gives Clapton a second year-end spot for his final top ten hit.

#64: Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever
iTunes stats: 12 plays

A nine-week stay at #2 propelled Lewis to the year-end chart for the second year in a row.

#63: Sarah McLachlan – Building a Mystery
iTunes stats: 22 plays

The Grammy winner for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1998, it reached #13.

#60: Sheryl Crow – Everyday Is a Winding Road
iTunes stats: 30 plays

Featuring background vocals from Neil Finn of Crowded House, it went to #11 on the Hot 100.

#55: Sheryl Crow – If It Makes You Happy
iTunes stats: 14 plays

Spending 27 weeks on the Hot 100 across 1996 and 1997, it made the year-end chart both years.

#50: Celine Dion – It’s All Coming Back to Me Now
iTunes stats: N/A

Recorded three times, by Pandora’s Box, Dion, and Meat Loaf, Dion’s most was the most successful, charting at year-end for the second straight year.

Continue reading →

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Fifty Years Of Music – 1996

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 1996, the year I should have graduated from college had I settled on a major earlier, went back to the bank for a second summer, returned to Purdue for my fifth and final year of college (at least for now), and turned 22.  Only 33 songs on the Hot 100 are familiar to me today, with 24 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#99: Hootie & The Blowfish – Only Wanna Be with You
iTunes stats: 16 plays

Returning for its second straight year-end chart, the track peaked at #2 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and #6 on the Hot 100.

#98: Los del Rio – Macarena
iTunes stats: N/A

The original Spanish language version of the tune, it reached #23.

#94: Ace of Base – Beautiful Life
iTunes stats: 28 plays

Topping out at #15, it was the lead single from the group’s second album in Europe and the second single in the US.

#92: Metallica – Until It Sleeps
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The band’s lone top ten hit, it went to #10.

#81: Toni Braxton – Un-Break My Heart
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending eleven total weeks atop the Hot 100, it ruled the charts from December of 1996 through mid-February of 1997.

#76: Sophie B. Hawkins – As I Lay Me Down
iTunes stats: 16 plays

Hitting the year-end chart for the second time, it peaked at #6.

#75: Sheryl Crow – If It Makes You Happy
iTunes stats: 14 plays

The lead single from Crow’s sophomore album, it reached #10 and remains her most recent top ten solo release.

#68: No Doubt – Just a Girl
iTunes stats: 38 plays

The band’s first charting single in the US, it spent 29 weeks on the Hot 100, topping out at #23.

#67: BoDeans – Closer to Free
iTunes stats: 23 plays

Hitting #16 and becoming the band’s biggest hit, it was used as the theme song for Party of Five.

#66: Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen – Theme from Mission: Impossible
iTunes stats: N/A

Recorded for the first Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible film, it peaked at #7.

#56: Oasis – Wonderwall
iTunes stats: 25 plays

The fourth single from the group’s second studio album, it spent a then-unprecedented ten weeks atop the Modern Rock Tracks chart and reached #8 on the Hot 100 in March, becoming their lone top-ten hit.

#50: Hootie & The Blowfish – Time
iTunes stats: 14 plays

The fourth single from the group’s breakout debut, it topped out at #14.

Continue reading →

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Fifty Years Of Music – 1995

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 1995, the year I finished my third year of college, started working at the bank during the summer, returned to West Lafayette for my fourth year of college, and celebrated my 21st birthday.  This is also the year that my CD player boombox, that I got for Christmas back in 1991, started to die.  Despite numerous attempts to repair the cassette heads, nothing seemed to work.  With 44 songs that remain familiar to me today, we have fallen below 50% for the first time since 1987.  29 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#100: Van Halen – Can’t Stop Lovin’ You
iTunes stats: 0 plays

The final Van Halen track to crack the Top 40, it peaked at #30.

#99: Soul Asylum – Misery
iTunes stats: 21 plays

Reaching #20 on the Hot 100, it sat atop the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

#95: The Pretenders – I’ll Stand By You
iTunes stats: 14 plays

The second single from the group’s sixth studio album, it went to #16 on the Hot 100.

#93: Rednex – Cotton Eye Joe
iTunes stats: N/A

Based on a traditional country song, it topped out at #25.

#90: Melissa Etheridge – If I Wanted To
iTunes stats: N/A

Peaking at #16 in March, the song was the final single from Etheridge’s breakthrough fourth studio album.

#85: Better Than Ezra – Good
iTunes stats: 17 plays

Written in late 1990/early 1991, this lead single from the group’s major label debut reached #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, #3 on the Album Rock Tracks chart, and #30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

#82: Crystal Waters – 100% Pure Love
iTunes stats: N/A

Appearing on the year end chart for the second straight year, it was one of the longest charting singles in history at the time of its release.

#81: U2 – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
iTunes stats: 22 plays

Featured on the Batman Forever soundtrack, it went to #16 and received two Grammy nominations.

#78: Annie Lennox – No More I Love You’s
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from her sophomore solo effort, it topped out at #23 and was used in the first episode of The Sopranos.

#70: Bon Jovi – This Ain’t a Love Song
iTunes stats: N/A

Peaking at #14, the ballad was the lead single from the group’s sixth studio album.

#67: Sheryl Crow – All I Wanna Do
iTunes stats: 24 plays

Ranked by Billboard as the 405th best pop song of all time, it charts for the second straight year.

#63: 69 Boyz – Tootsee Roll
iTunes stats: 15 plays

Topping out at #8 in January of 1995, it makes the year-end list for the second straight year.

#61: Tom Petty – You Don’t Know How It Feels
iTunes stats: N/A

The final Top 40 hit of Petty’s career, it reached #1 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and #13 on the Hot 100.

#60: Natalie Merchant – Carnival
iTunes stats: 30 plays

The lead single from Merchant’s solo debut, it topped out at #10 and remains her highest charting solo single.

#58: Skee-Lo – I Wish
iTunes stats: 14 plays

The first and last charting single from the rapper, his debut track went to #13 and earned a Grammy nomination.

#56: Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson – Scream
iTunes stats: N/A

The first single in the history of the Hot 100 to debut at #5, which ended up as the highpoint for the duet between the Jackson siblings.

#55: Del Amitri – Roll to Me
iTunes stats: 18 plays

The highest charting single from the Scottish band in the US, it peaked at #10.

#54: Corona – The Rhythm of the Night
iTunes stats: N/A

Released in 1993 as the group’s debut single in their home country of Italy, it eventually reached #11 in the US.

#53: Dr. Dre – Keep Their Heads Ringin’
iTunes stats: 39 plays

The lone single released from the Friday soundtrack, the song topped the Hot Rap Tracks chart and cracked the top ten at #10 on the Hot 100.

#52: Jamie Walters – Hold On
iTunes stats: 15 plays

His solo debut following the cancellation of The Heights, it topped out at #16 and was his one and only charting single.

#50: Boyz II Men – I’ll Make Love to You
iTunes stats: 21 plays

Having spent fourteen weeks at #1 in the fall of 1994, it spends its second year on the year-end chart.

Continue reading →

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Fifty Years Of Music – 1994

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 1994, the year I settled on a major, finished my second year of college, started my third year, and turned 20.   Only 57 songs on the Hot 100 remain familiar to me today, with 42 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#97: Haddaway – What Is Love
iTunes stats: N/A

The debut single from the singer managed to make the year-end charts two years running despite peaking at #11 in the fall of 1993.

#95: General Public – I’ll Take You There
iTunes stats: N/A

Featured in the film Threesome, this cover of the classic by The Staple Singers reached #22 on the Hot 100.

#92: Melissa Etheridge – I’m the Only One
iTunes stats: 20 plays

The lead single from Etheridge’s fourth studio album, it was re-released following the success of Come to My Window and managed to surpass it, hitting #8.

#91: Bon Jovi – Always
iTunes stats: 2 plays

The requisite new song added to the greatest hits album, it became the band’s eleventh, and final, top ten hit, topping out at #4.

#89: The Four Seasons – December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)
iTunes stats: 27 plays

This remix spent 27 weeks on the chart, matching its original run across 1975 and 1976, and peaked at #14.

#85: Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending two weeks at #1 in December of 1994, it was the only single from the Jamaican artist to break into the Top 40.

#82: Queen Latifah – U.N.I.T.Y.
iTunes stats: 21 plays

Confronting the disrespect of women in society and slurs against women in hip-hop culture, the song remains Latifah’s biggest pop hit, reaching #23.

#77: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Mary Jane’s Last Dance
iTunes stats: 32 plays

Petty’s first Top 20 hit since 1989, it topped out at #13 on the Hot 100 and topped the Album Rock Tracks chart for two weeks.

#76: Culture Beat – Mr. Vain
iTunes stats: 13 plays

The German group’s only single to chart in the US, it went to #17.

#72: Aerosmith – Amazing
iTunes stats: 17 plays

Featuring backing vocals from Don Henley, the track peaked at #3 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and #24 on the Hot 100.

#68: Aerosmith – Crazy
iTunes stats: 28 plays

Accompanied by a video featuring Alicia Silverstone and Liv Tyler, this last single from Get a Grip reached #17.

#65: 69 Boyz – Tootsee Roll
iTunes stats: 19 plays

The group’s debut single, it became the only one to crack the Top 30, topping out at #8.

#63: Real McCoy – Another Night
iTunes stats: 20 plays

The German group’s first single to chart in the US, it went all the way to #3, where it spent a record-setting eleven non-consecutive weeks.

#62: Snoop Doggy Dogg – What’s My Name?
iTunes stats: 57 plays

The first solo outing from the west coast rapper, it peaked at #8

#61: 2Pac – Keep Ya Head Up
iTunes stats: 19 plays

Focusing on black womanhood, the rap track reached #12.

#60: Jodeci – Cry for You
iTunes stats: 19 plays

Topping out at #15 on the Hot 100, the lead single from the group’s sophomore album sat atop both the R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart and the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart.

#59: Warren G – This D.J.
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The second single from the rapper’s debut album, it was his second straight top ten hit, going to #9.

#55: Domino – Getto Jam
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The rapper’s debut single became his one and only top ten hit, peaking at #7.

#54: Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Philadelphia
iTunes stats: N/A

Recorded for the soundtrack to Philadelphia, it reached #9, becoming Springsteen’s twelfth and final top ten hit.

#52: Snoop Doggy Dogg – Gin and Juice
iTunes stats: 49 plays

Nominated for a Grammy, the second solo single from Snoop went to #8.

#51: Gin Blossoms – Found Out About You
iTunes stats: 23 plays

Originally written in the mid-80s by the band’s former guitarist, it peaked at #25.

#50: Beck – Loser
iTunes stats: 16 plays

Beck’s first single to chart on any major chart, it reached #10 in April and was named one of the 500 best pop songs of all time by Billboard magazine.

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Yet Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 15

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 15 takes us into through the summer of 1994 and into the fall and my junior year of college. The song selection is, again, mostly alternative with some west coast gangsta rap.

Side A

Frente! – Labour Of Love
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 1/31/2022

Originally recorded via Chicago’s new rock alternative, Q101, the hit from Marvin! The Album picked up seven additional listens.

Mazzy Star – Fade Into You
iTunes stats: 37 plays, most recently on 5/13/2022

Ranked at #19 by Pitchfork Media on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s, the mesmerizing tune from Hope Sandoval and company increased its play total by eight over the last four years.

Nirvana – Verse Chorus Verse
iTunes stats: 23 plays, most recently on 11/1/2019

Released as a hidden track on the AIDS-benefit compilation album No Alternative, the posthumous B-side from the trio from Seattle added five new listens despite going unheard since the COVID pandemic.

Warren G – This D.J.
iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 10/29/2021

Peaking at #9 on the Billboard charts, the second single from the rapper’s debut album added four new listens over the last four years.

Cracker – Eurotrash Girl
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 9/2/2022

Six new listens for the hidden track, originally recorded off the radio via Q101.

Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song
iTunes stats: 33 plays, most recently on 10/26/2022

Named the 58th best hard rock song of all time by VH1, the latest hit from STP added eleven new listens over the past four years.

Gin Blossoms – Allison Road
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 7/6/2022

Peaking at #20 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, the Gin Blossoms hit added just three new listens over these last four years.

Weezer – Undone (The Sweater Song)
iTunes stats: 33 plays, most recently on 11/11/2022

Nine new listens for the debut single from Weezer, which hit #6 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Side B

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iTunes Top 200 Artists: #61-69

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, with the 2 tied for 69th place followed by the single artists at 68th through 61st.

#69: Black Eyed Peas
iTunes stats: 126 plays
Previous ranking: #74

The six-time Grammy Award winners see a 110% increase in plays over the past 4 years, moving up 5 spots.

#69: Sheryl Crow
iTunes stats: 126 plays
Previous ranking: #81

The one-time backup singer for Michael Jackson jumps 12 spots after adding 69 additional listens to the 8 songs I’ve listened to in my collection.

#68: John Williams
iTunes stats: 127 plays
Previous ranking: #66

The composer of some of the most popular and recognizable film scores in cinematic history, including the Star Wars and Superman series, picks up 62 new listens over the last 4 years.

#67: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
iTunes stats: 129 plays
Previous ranking: #57

The inspiration for the musical Jersey Boys drops 10 spots after gaining a mere 46 new plays.

#66: Red Hot Chili Peppers
iTunes stats: 130 plays
Previous ranking: #74

The California-based rockers, who I saw briefly at Lollapalooza back in 2016, increase their plays by 117% over the last 4 years.

#65: Warrant
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by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 15

20 years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I put together the first of what would 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. We last looked back at all 20 volumes three years ago to see which of my “favorite” songs still resonated in today’s digital world. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how, or if, things have changed in the past 3 years.

Volume 15 takes us into through the summer of 1994 and into the fall and my junior year of college. The song selection is, again, mostly alternative with some west coast gangsta rap.

Side A

Frente! – Labour Of Love

Originally recorded via Chicago’s new rock alternative, Q101, the hit from Marvin! The Album picked up a single additional listen after going unheard for nearly 3 1/2 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
10 plays 16 plays 17 plays, most recently on 10/20/2018 

Mazzy Star – Fade Into You

Ranked at #19 by Pitchfork Media on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s, the mesmerizing tune from Hope Sandoval and company increased its play total by 4 over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
9 plays 25 plays 29 plays, most recently on 10/9/2018 

Nirvana – Verse Chorus Verse

Released as a hidden track on the AIDS-benefit compilation album No Alternative, the posthumous B-side from the trio from Seattle added 7 new listens since last we checked.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
9 plays 11 plays 18 plays, most recently on 9/23/2018 

Warren G – This D.J.

Peaking at #9 on the Billboard charts, the second single from the rapper’s debut album added 6 new listens over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
0 plays 4 plays 10 plays, most recently on 10/11/2018 

Cracker – Eurotrash Girl

The hidden track, originally recorded off the radio via Q101, picked up 5 additional listens over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
10 plays 13 plays 18 plays, most recently on 7/31/2017 

Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song

Named the 58th best hard rock song of all time by VH1, the latest hit from STP added 17 new listens over the past 3 years, aided in part by the death of singer Scott Weiland late in 2015.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
1 plays 5 plays 22 plays, most recently on 11/29/2018 

Gin Blossoms – Allison Road

Peaking at #20 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, the Gin Blossoms hit added 6 new listens over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
7 plays 13 plays 19 plays, most recently on 8/28/2018 

Weezer – Undone (The Sweater Song)

The first single from Weezer, which hit #6 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, added 11 new listens over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
9 plays 13 plays 24 plays, most recently on 6/12/2018 

Side B

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