February 17, 2020January 11, 2020 by admin

iTunes Top 200: #125 – 144

itunes_image 4 years ago, we last counted down the Top 200 songs 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 my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2020.

We have completed the first quarter of the countdown and, today, we finish up the final batch of songs tied for 144th place with 31 listens and move on to the first group tied for 125th since my stats began in late 2007.

#144: The Cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Dawn’s Lament
iTunes stats: 31 plays, most recently on 11/9/2019
Previous ranking: Unranked

Michelle Trachtenberg’s entry to the Buffy musical episode makes a strong debut.

#144: Biz Markie – Just A Friend
iTunes stats: 31 plays, most recently on 11/14/2019
Previous ranking: Unranked

An impressive debut for the song ranked #81 on VH1s list of Greatest One Hit Wonders and which appears on Volume 2 of my mix tapes.

#144: Bill Haley & His Comets – Shake, Rattle and Roll
iTunes stats: 31 plays, most recently on 10/25/2019
Previous ranking: Unranked

Featured in Clue: The Movie, it is considered the first giant rock and roll hit after, along with Joe Turner’s version of the song, selling over 1 million copies.

#144: The Beatles – I Saw Her Standing There
iTunes stats: 31 plays, most recently on 7/28/2019
Previous ranking: #118

A big drop for the B-side to the group’s first American single, it spent 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #14.

#144: The Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night
iTunes stats: 31 plays, most recently on 8/22/2019
Previous ranking: #96

A bigger drop for the title track to both the album and the movie.

#144: The Beatles – Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Continue reading →

April 29, 2019January 7, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 16

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 16 takes us from the early fall of 1994 towards the end of the year and the first semester of my junior year of college. The song selection is nearly completely alternative, with just one or two hip-hop and pop hits to go along with it.

Side A

Hole – Doll Parts

The band’s first release after the death of bassist Kristen Pfaff in June 1994 picked up an additional 9 listens over the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
12 plays	19 plays	28 plays, most recently on 12/9/2018

Live – I Alone

Ranked as the 62nd best song of the 90s by VH1, the band’s second single added 9 listens over the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
2 plays	7 plays	16 plays, most recently on 10/2/2018

Deadeye Dick – New Age Girl

The one hit wonder, featured on the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack, quadrupled its listens after not having been heard for over 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
2 plays	2 plays	8 plays, most recently on 8/9/2018

Nirvana – About A Girl

The performance from MTV Unplugged, which reached #1 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart, added an additional 8 listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
13 plays	15 plays	23 plays, most recently on 8/7/2018

Aerosmith – Blind Man

The extra B-side thrown onto Aerosmith’s then-current greatest hits package picked up 4 new listens over the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
5 plays	8 plays	12 plays, most recently on 11/9/2018

Real McCoy – Another Night

Ranked as both the 63rd best single of 1994 and the 6th best of 1995, the international dance hit doubled its total since last we checked.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
2 plays	5 plays	10 plays, most recently on 10/11/2018

Warren G – Do You See

The Warren G release, which failed to make the Top 40 in the US, hasn’t been heard in 2 1/2 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
0 plays	3 plays	4 plays, most recently on 7/1/2016

Urge Overkill – Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon

The Neil Diamond cover, featured on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, added 5 additional plays over the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
8 plays	13 plays	23 plays, most recently on 11/14/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

April 22, 2019January 11, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 15

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

Continue reading →

March 4, 2019January 12, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 8

Volume 8 covers the winter and spring of 1993 and the second semester of my freshman year of college. The alternative influence starts to become more noticable, as both Pearl Jam and Nirvana make their belated first appearances alongside old mainstays like Poison, Bon Jovi, and Def Leppard. Besides that, we are treated to a lot of hip-hop and hair metal, with a small sampling of pop, as always.

Side A

Bell Biv Devoe – Gangsta

The intended first single from the second Bell Biv Devoe record, which flopped, it was dropped from the album and now is lost to history.

Pearl Jam – Jeremy

The belated first appearance on these tapes by Pearl Jam, the song, which VH1 ranked as the 11th greatest song of the 90s, saw a modest 3 listen increase over the past 3 years, with nothing for nearly 2 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
6 plays	9 plays	12 plays, most recently on 4/21/2017

Wreckx-N-Effect – Rump Shaker

Charting as the 9th biggest hit of 1993, the biggest song for butts since Sir Mix-A-Lot had a healthy 15 play increase.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	8 plays	23 plays, most recently on 8/6/2018

Boyz II Men – In The Still Of The Night

The cover of the old doo-wop classic, recorded for the miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, added 5 plays in the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	9 plays	14 plays, most recently on 12/4/2018

Arrested Development – People Everyday

Peaking at #8 on the Billboard charts, the second single for the Atlanta-based group added an additional 7 plays over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
7 plays	14 plays	21 plays, most recently on 10/18/2018

Nirvana – In Bloom

The belated first appearance of Nirvana on these tapes, the song, winner of the Best Alternative Video VMA in 1993. picked up a mere 5 new plays in the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
6 plays	13 plays	18 plays, most recently on 4/30/2018

TLC – What About Your Friends

The third straight top 10 hit from TLC’s debut album added 11 new listens to its total over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	6 plays	17 plays, most recently on 11/30/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

February 25, 2019January 9, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 7

Volume 7 covers the fall of 1992 and the end of the first semester of my freshman year of college. We are treated to the last gasps of hair metal and pop, with a little dance, alternative and hip-hop thrown in for good measure.

Side A

Guns N’ Roses – November Rain

The longest song ever to crack to top 10 on the Billboard charts, peaking at #3, the opus, which checks in at 3 seconds shy of 9 minutes, picked up 7 new plays in the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	5 plays	12 plays, most recently on 11/14/2018

Def Leppard – Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad

The 86th biggest hit of 1992 picked up a mere 2 listens since 2015 and only 4 since 2012.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	6 plays	8 plays, most recently on 12/5/2018

Toad The Wet Sprocket – All I Want

Topping out at #15 on the Billboard charts, the first hit from Toad the Wet Sprocket only picked up 4 new listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
10 plays	17 plays	21 plays, most recently on 12/9/2018

Tesla – Signs

The live track, which I once owned on CD before trading it in for LL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You Out, gained a mere 4 new listens, with the last one coming only 2 weeks after I bought the band’s namesake car.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	5 plays	9 plays, most recently on 7/13/2017

Soup Dragons – Divine Thing

The alternative dance single that became a moderate hit in the US gained 9 additional listens.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
9 plays	14 plays	20 plays, most recently on 9/23/2018

Ugly Kid Joe – Neighbor

Ugly Kid Joe, who debuted much too late for their 80s hairband style, saw a five-fold increase in the amount of plays this first single from their first full length album.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
1 plays	2 plays	10 plays, most recently on 11/12/2018

The Heights – How Do You Talk To An Angel

The theme song from the short-lived FOX show The Heights, nominated for the 1993 Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics Emmy, picked up 6 new plays.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	8 plays	14 plays, most recently on 7/14/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

February 11, 2019January 6, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 5

Volume 5 takes us from the end of my junior year of high school, through the summer, and all the way to spring of my senior year, from mid 1991 through early 1992, and once again features a healthy dose of hair metal and pop. It also covers the acquisition of my first CD player, a Christmas gift in 1991.

Side A

Firehouse – Don’t Treat Me Bad

Peaking at #19 on the Billboard charts, the first hit from Firehouse picked up 7 new listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	5 plays	12 plays, most recently on 12/2/2018

Color Me Badd – I Wanna Sex You Up

Featured on the soundtrack for New Jack City, the first single from the R&B boy band nearly tripled its spins over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
2 plays	5 plays	14 plays, most recently on 9/3/2018

Boyz II Men – Motownphilly

The debut release from the Philadelphia crooners, which hit #3 on the Billboard charts, had a healthy 15 play increase since last we checked.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
1 plays	4 plays	19 plays, most recently on 11/8/2018

Mötley Crüe – Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

The fourth single off of Dr. Feelgood, originally recorded off 103.5 The Blaze, gets a nice 8 listen increase to keep it in the running for one of the most listened to songs.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
18 plays	22 plays	30 plays, most recently on 9/1/2018

Slaughter – Fly To The Angels

The second single from the band’s debut album, which peaked at #19 on the Billboard charts, more than doubled its plays in the last 3 years..

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	6 plays	13 plays, most recently on 8/21/2018

Boyz II Men – It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye

A cover of song originally written for the film Cooley High, the song saw a 20 spin increase over the past 3 years, covering both the radio and album versions of the tune.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
17 plays	28 plays	48 plays, most recently on 12/18/2018

Salt-N-Pepa – Let’s Talk About Sex

Nominated for the 1992 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy, the tune nearly doubled its output over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	9 plays	17 plays, most recently on 10/20/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

January 21, 2019January 5, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 3

Volume 3 picks up in mid-summer 1990 and takes us through late 1990 and into my junior year of high school. Featuring another steady stream of hair metal, with small selections of pop, rap, R&B, and dance thrown in for good measure, volume 3 also overlaps with the start of my relationship with my first “real” girlfriend.

Side A

2 Live Crew – Banned In The USA

The first song (as I recall) recorded off of B96, this protest anthem from 2 Live Crew, recorded after their previous album was declared obscene by a federal judge, increased its play total by 7 over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
6 plays	8 plays	15 plays, most recently on 8/22/2018

Poison – Unskinny Bop

The first single from Flesh & Blood , which peaked at #3 on the Billboard charts, managed to earn 3 additional plays since last time we did this check.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	8 plays	11 plays, most recently on 12/4/2018

Poison – Nothin’ But A Good Time

Most likely originally recorded from The Blaze, the debut single from Poison’s previous album and arguably their second biggest hit, picked up an impressive 11 new listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
6 plays	6 plays	17 plays, most recently on 10/1/2018

MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her

The unlikely cover of the 1971 hit by The Chi-Lites doubled up its number of plays over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
2 plays	4 plays	8 plays, most recently on 10/27/2017

Cheap Trick – Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love

Cheap Trick’s last single to hit the top 40, the first release from their 11th studio album, which became “our song” between me and my first girlfriend, had a healthy increase of 6 listens over the last few years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
10 plays	14 plays	20 plays, most recently on 11/8/2018

Nelson – (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection

Matthew and Gunnar’s big hit, which topped the Billboard charts, nearly tripled its play total since 2015.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
1 plays	4 plays	11 plays, most recently on 11/19/2018

Warrant – Cherry Pie

Thanks to prodding from The Adam Carolla Show, Warrant’s strip club anthem increased by 14 listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
8 plays	17 plays	31 plays, most recently on 12/3/2018

Johnny Gill – Rub You The Right Way

The solo debut from the New Edition alumnus, ranked as the 23rd biggest hit of 1990, picked up 6 additional plats in the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
7 plays	10 plays	16 plays, most recently on 4/12/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

January 14, 2019January 5, 2019 by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 2

Volume 2 picks up in early 1990 and takes us through early summer, book-ended by Roxette hits and featuring another steady stream of hair metal and pop, with a little rap and R&B thrown in for flavor.

Side A

Roxette – Dangerous

Originally recorded from American Top 40, the fifth and final single from Roxette’s second album added 5 listens to its play total over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
7 plays	12 plays	17 plays, most recently on 12/18/2018

Skid Row – Youth Gone Wild

The first release from Skid Row, which peaked at #99 on the Billboard charts, picked up 5 new plays over the past 4+ years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
4 plays	8 plays	13 plays, most recently on 10/3/2018

Biz Markie – Just A Friend

Ranked #81 on VH1s list of Greatest One Hit Wonders, Biz Markie’s smash more than doubled its listens over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
6 plays	12 plays	25 plays, most recently on 11/8/2018

Mötley Crüe – Without You

Peaking at #8 on the Billboard charts, the ballad, said to be about drummer Tommy Lee’s relationship with Heather Locklear, picked up 6 additional spins since 2015.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
10 plays	11 plays	17 plays, most recently on 11/26/2018

Aerosmith – What It Takes

Aerosmtih returns to my charts with this smash hit, which peaked at #9 on the charts and picked up a mere 3 plays over the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
8 plays	12 plays	15 plays, most recently on 8/14/2018

MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This

The first rap song to be nominated for the Record of the Year Grammy, MC Hammer’s signature tune more than doubled its play total over the past 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	6 plays	13 plays, most recently on 12/15/2018

Aerosmith – Rag Doll

A 1988 hit from Aerosmith, which makes an appearance on this tape thanks to my absconding my friend Scott’s cassette of their previous album, also more than doubled its play total in the last 3 years.

**iTunes Stats**
2012	2015	2019
3 plays	6 plays	13 plays, most recently on 10/2/2018

Side B

Continue reading →

March 14, 2016March 11, 2016 by admin

iTunes Top 200: #118 Continued

itunes_image 3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs 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 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

Today, we continue with the second grouping of songs tied for 118th place with 19 plays apiece since late 2007.

#118: Faith No More – Epic
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 9/28/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The biggest hit of the band’s career, the song ranked #30 on VH1’s list of 40 Greatest Metal Songs and #67 on their list of the top 100 one-hit wonders.

#118: Dr. Dre – Forgot About Dre
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 8/26/2015
Previous ranking: #96

Winner of the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

#118: DJ Danger Mouse – 99 Problems
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 11/20/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

A mash-up of Jay Z’s smash hit with the Beatles’ Helter Skelter.

#118: Dakota Fanning – Cherry Bomb
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 6/23/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The signature song from The Runaways, as performed by Dakota Fanning in the movie based on the band’s life story.

#118: Cee Lo Green – Fuck You
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 7/21/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The first single from Green’s third album, it peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

#118: The Cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Overture/Going Through The Motions
Continue reading →

February 24, 2014February 23, 2014 by admin

Concert Flashback: The Monkees

Following a resurgence in customer interest after their appearances on VH1’s Behind The Music and the E! True Hollywood Story, Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork decided to regroup (sans Michael Nesmith) and go on their first tour since 1997 as the Monkees. Their Chicagoland appearance was a Sunday afternoon at the Star Plaza Theatre in beautiful Merrillville, Indiana.

To say this was unlike any other show I had been to would be a bit of an understatement. For one thing, it was a Sunday afternoon. Also, the average age of the crowd was about 75, give or take a decade. Which meant that everyone stayed in their seats for the entire show. Thirdly, there was no opening act. Instead, the supporting act, the never heard of before or since group known as Natural, came out in the middle of the show to give the old timers a bit of a break.

According to the Interwebs, the trio hit all of the bands biggest hits, even those originally fronted by Nesmith. I suppose a good time was had by all in attendance.

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Tag / VH1

iTunes Top 200: #125 – 144

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 16

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 15

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 8

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 7

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 5

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 3

Side A

Side B

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 2

Side A

Side B

iTunes Top 200: #118 Continued

Concert Flashback: The Monkees