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
Blink-182 – What’s My Age Again?
Somehow I would up with this CD, despite not really being a fan of the band or their songs.
iTunes stats: Never played
Refreshments – Banditos
Any song that references Jean-Luc Picard and the United Federation of Planets is OK in my book.
iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 10/9/2011
Smash Mouth – I’m A Believer
A bad cover of the Monkees classic that was recorded for the Shrek soundtrack.
iTunes stats: Never played
Butthole Surfers – Pepper
A weird alternative hit for the inappropriately named band from Texas.
iTunes stats: 1 play, on 3/16/2012
Dido – Hunter
A song that I have completely blocked out of my mind and have not imported into iTunes.
Liz Phair – Johnny Feelgood
One of my favorite album tracks from Liz Phair’s third album.
iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 9/29/2009
DNA with Suzanne Vega – Tom’s Diner
The remix of the Suzanne Vega ballad became a surprise hit in 1990, 9 years after it was originally written.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 6/1/2012
No Doubt – Ex-Girlfriend
The first release from No Doubt’s follow up to Tragic Kingdom.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 6/11/2011
Moby w/ Gwen Stefani – South Side
The No Doubt singer branches out and teams up with the techno DJ.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/29/2011
Eve w/ Gwen Stefani – Let Me Blow Ya Mind
The No Doubt singer branches out and teams up with the reigning queen of rap.
iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 9/21/2012
Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya & Lil’ Kim – Lady Marmalade
The remake of the Labelle hit was the smash hit from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 7/9/2011