Tag / Warrant

by admin

iTunes Top 200: #125 – 144

itunes_image4 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 →

by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 3

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 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 →

by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 1

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 1, again, was started in 1989 when I was a sophomore and stretches to early 1990.  It features a steady stream of hair metal, with a smattering of pop, rap and dance, with a morning zoo radio bit thrown in for good measure.

Side A

Warrant – Heaven

The biggest hit from Warrant, which I most likely originally recorded from Z95, peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts.  It has more than doubled its number of plays over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
3 plays 6 plays 13 plays, most recently on 12/4/2018 

Young MC – Bust A Move

One of the first tunes I bought on cassingle, this one hit wonder won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1990.  It had another impressive increase, gaining 6 plays since 2015.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
13 plays 20 plays 26 plays, most recently on 9/17/2018 

New Kids Got Run Over By A Reindeer

Thanks to YouTube, I just finally tracked down this parody song that I originally heard on the Welch & Woody morning show on Z95.  I may even listen to it next Christmas.

Bon Jovi – You Give Love A Bad Name

Originally written by Desmond Child for Bonnie Tyler, the song was rewritten and became the first single from Bon Jovi’s third album in 1986.  After a dry spell between 2012 and 2015, it has more than doubled in the 3 years since.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
5 plays 6 plays 14 plays, most recently on 12/11/2018 

B-52s –  Love Shack

I’m still hoping to acquire the full version of the song on MP3, which I had originally taped off the radio.   In spite of that, I’ve more than tripled the number of listens over the last three years.

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

Paula Abdul – The Way That You Love Me

After stalling out on the Billboard charts on its original release in 1988, the song, along with a video by future Academy Award nominee David Fincher, was re-released the following year, making it up to #3.  Despite barely hearing the song for years, it’s added 7 new plays in the past three years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
0 plays 1 play 8 plays, most recently on 11/6/2018 

Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting

The #1 hit, the third consecutive for Marx, was the second single from his second album.  After a dry spell between 2012 and 2015, it has more than tripled in the 3 years since.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
1 play 3 plays 10 plays, most recently on 12/12/2018 

Side B

Continue reading →

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #51 – 60

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 finish off the first 3 quarters with the next batch of 10 albums ranked between #51 and 60, including 4 studio recordings, 3 compilations, 2 greatest hits collectoins, and 1 live performance.

#60: P.O.D. – Satellite
iTunes stats: 102 plays
Previous Ranking: 29

2 tunes, and former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks, are responsible for this total.

#59: Garbage – Not Your Kind Of People
iTunes stats: 103 plays
Previous Ranking: 59

48 additional plays over the past 3 years gives this album the exact same ranking.

#58: Poison – Swallow This Live
iTunes stats: 105 plays
Previous Ranking: 38

The first CD I ever owned, which I received for Christmas in December of 1991, makes the list thanks to 8 tracks from the double album.

#57: Pearl Jam – Vs.
iTunes stats: 106 plays
Previous Ranking: 40

Pearl Jam’s second album, which I purchased as a midnight release at the record store in Purdue West whose name escapes me, makes the list thanks to 7 tunes.

#56: Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds
iTunes stats: 107 plays
Previous Ranking: 68

This greatest hits compilation makes the list thanks to 8 tracks, split between David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar.

Continue reading →

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #190 – 196

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 things off with the 11 albums (thanks to ties) that rank between #190 and 196, including 5 studio recording, 3 compilations, 1 greatest hits package, 1 live recording, and 1 comedy record.

#196: George Carlin – Back In Town
iTunes stats: 40 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

The 15th comedy album from George Carlin was released in 1996 and uses all of it’s tracks to make its debut on the chart.

#196: Katy Perry – One Of The Boys
iTunes stats: 40 plays
Previous Ranking: 141

Katy Perry’s debut single, I Kissed A Girl, makes up this entire total all by itself, which accounts for a 55 spot drop in the rankings.

#196: Toad The Wet Sprocket – Dulcinea
iTunes stats: 40 plays
Previous Ranking: 152

Only 2 songs from Toad the Wet Sprocket’s fourth studio album contributed to this total, an increase of 13 plays since our last look.

#196: TLC – Ooooooohhh…On The TLC Tip
iTunes stats: 40 plays
Previous Ranking: 158

3 songs make up this total for TLC’s debut album, which I remember getting at Musicland along with Toad the Wet Sprocket’s Fear.

#196: Various Artists – The Runaways: Music from the Motion Picture
iTunes stats: 40 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

2 tracks from the soundtrack to The Runaway’s biopic allows it to make its debut on the list.

Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #61-70

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.

We continue the long slog towards the top with today’s entry, which includes:

#70: The Muffs
iTunes stats: 62 plays
Previous ranking: #67

A slight 3 spot drop for the band most well known for a Fruitopia commercial back in the day.

#69: Bush
iTunes stats: 63 plays
Previous ranking: #68

The British band rode the alternative wave of the early to mid 90s to have 6 songs make up their total, with 28 additional listens in the past 3 years.

#68: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
iTunes stats: 64 plays
Previous ranking: #80

An impressive 12 spot jump for the rap duo, who added 1 new track and 34 new listens over the past 3 years.

#66: Mazzy Star
iTunes stats: 65 plays
Previous ranking: #59

Only 25 new listens contributed to the 7 spot drop for the tippy band.

#66: John Williams
iTunes stats: 65 plays
Previous ranking: #98

The composer of some of the most popular and recognizable film scores in cinematic history, including the Star Wars and Superman series, has a nice 32 spot jump thanks to 42 new listens over the last 3 years.

#65: Warrant
iTunes stats: 66 plays
Previous ranking: #74

The favorite of strip clubs everywhere, and the Adam Carolla Show, added 34 new listens, good enough for a 9 spot jump.

#64: TLC
Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200: #141 – 167

itunes_image3 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.

We continue today with the fourth, and final, grouping of songs tied for 167th place with 17 plays apiece and finally break into the group tied for 141st place with 18 listens since late 2007.

#167: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – What You Feel (Reprise)
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 7/15/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

#167: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – The Parking Ticket
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 1/18/2015
Previous ranking: #96

Two entries from the 6th season musical episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

#167: Blur – Girls & Boys
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 9/28/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The first single from Blur’s third album, it reached #5 on the UK charts #4 on the US Modern Rock charts.

#167: The Beatles – Paperback Writer
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 7/6/2013
Previous ranking: #76

The single went to the number one spot in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, West Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

#141: Waylon Jennings – The Dukes Of Hazzard (Theme)
iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 12/1/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

We finally move up in plays, starting with the theme song to the CBS staple of the early 1980s.

#141: Warrant – Cherry Pie
Continue reading →

by admin

Mix Tape Monday – Volume 3 Revisited

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together 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.  Three years ago, we looked back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listened to.  Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how things have changed in the last 3 years.

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 protest anthem from 2 Live Crew, one of the few songs that I taped off of B96, increased slightly over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 6 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 10/23/2014

Poison – Unskinny Bop

The first single from Flesh & Blood managed to double it’s plays since last time we did this check.

2012 iTunes stats: 4 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 6/21/2014

Poison – Nothin’ But A Good Time

Arguably Poison’s second biggest hit, despite my not having listened to it, at least the studio version, in nearly 4 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 6 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 5/14/2011

MC Hammer – Have You Seen Her

The strange rap ballad doubled up its number of plays over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 8/13/2014

Cheap Trick – Can’t Stop Fallin’ Into Love

Cheap Trick’s hit, which turned into “our song” with my first girlfriend, had a healthy increase over the last few years.

2012 iTunes stats: 10 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 4/2/2015

Nelson – Love and Affection

Matthew and Gunnar’s big hit increased exponentially since 2012.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 6/21/2014

Warrant – Cherry Pie

Thanks to prodding from The Adam Carolla Show, Warrant’s strip club anthem increased by 9 listens over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 8 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 9/18/2014

Johnny Gill – Rub You The Right Way

A slight increase for the solo debut from the New Edition alumnus.

2012 iTunes stats: 7 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 4/24/2014

Side B

Continue reading →

by admin

Mix Tape Monday – Volume 1 Revisited

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together 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.  Three years ago, we looked back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listened to.  Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how things have changed in the last 3 years.

Volume 1, again, was started in 1989 when I was a sophomore and stretches to early 1990.  It features a steady stream of hair metal, with a smattering of pop, rap and dance thrown in for good measure.

Side A

Warrant – Heaven

The massive hit that put Warrant on the map doubled the number of times I listened to it in the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 7/1/2014

Young MC – Bust A Move

One of the first tunes I bought on cassingle, this one hit wonder had an impressive increase, despite not having been heard in nearly a year and a half.

2012 iTunes stats: 13 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 11/23/2013

New Kids Got Run Over By A Reindeer

I doubt I will ever track down this parody song from the Welch & Woody morning show on Z95.

Bon Jovi – You Give Love A Bad Name

The old hit from Bon Jovi has only gotten 1 play in the last 3 years, and that was nearly 2 years ago.

2012 iTunes stats: 5 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 7/10/2013

B-52s –  Love Shack

I’m still waiting to pick up the full version of the song on MP3, which may explain why I’ve only listened to it once in the last three years.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 7/2/2014

Paula Abdul – The Way That You Love Me

Paula Abdul got her first listen earlier this month.

2012 iTunes stats: 0 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 1 play, most recently on 3/12/2015

Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting

The smash ballad that gave Marx his third straight #1 increased its play total by 2.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 9/26/2014

Side B

Continue reading →

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #120 – 130

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 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 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today we continue climbing up the list and look at the 6 albums tied for 120th with 34 listens and the 5 albums tied for 127th with 33 listens.

#120: Arrested Development – 3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of …
iTunes stats: 34 plays
The debut album from the Atlanta-based alternative hip-hop group has a nearly even split amongst its 3 hit singles to make up this total.

#120: Various Artists – Clueless
iTunes stats: 34 plays
The hit movie soundtrack makes the list thanks to songs from Smoking Popes, Jill Sobule, and The Muffs.

#120: Sam Kinison – Have You Seen Me Lately
iTunes stats: 34 plays
The seminal comedy album from Sam Kinison uses his standup routine and a twisted remake of Wild Thing to chart this high.

#120: Hole – Celebrity Skin
iTunes stats: 34 plays
The second Hole album, alledgedly written by Billy Corgan, Courtney Love’s boyfriend at the time, has 2 tracks make up this total.

#120: George Carlin – You Are All Diseased
iTunes stats: 34 plays
Another standup routine from George Carlin puts him on the list again.

#120: Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
Continue reading →