Tag / Snoop Dogg

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Mix Tape Monday Revisited– Volume 11

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 11 takes us late into 1993 and my sophomore year of college.  It features mostly alternative and hip-hop hits, with a little pop and Aerosmith on the side.

Side A

Shai – Baby I’m Yours

A modest 2-play increase for the last time anybody ever heard from Shai.

2012 iTunes stats: 5 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 11/7/2013

Tears For Fears – Break It Down Again

The comeback hit for the 80s sensation managed a small increase over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 6 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 12/29/2014

Bell Biv Devoe – Something In Your Eyes

I came to the conclusion that this is not a very good song when I last heard it in January.

2012 iTunes stats: Never played

2015 iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 1/9/2015

4 Non Blondes – Spaceman

A doubling of the number of listens for the minor follow up hit to What’s Up.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 9/17/2014

Pearl Jam – Go

The first hit from Pearl Jam’s second album more than tripled its number of listens, thanks mostly to being used as Paul Konerko’s walkup music during his final season.

2012 iTunes stats: 6 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 5/12/2015

Nirvana – Heart-Shaped Box

Nirvana’s first release from their final studio album more than doubled its number of plays over the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 4 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 10/24/2014

Radiohead – Stop Whispering

A small increase for the lesser known follow up to the smash Creep.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 11/7/2013

Side B

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by admin

Top 200 Albums – #46 – 53

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, after months of counting down, we crack the top 50 of the list and look at the 8 albums ranked between 53 and 46 with 58-65 listens.

#46: Various Artists – Monster Madness
iTunes stats: 65 plays
9 tracks, from exciting artists like Faith No More, Lita Ford, and Nelson, make up the total for this hair metal compilation.

#46: Various Artists – The Transformers: The Movie
iTunes stats: 65 plays
6 tunes, from the likes of Stan Bush and Weird Al Yankovic, make up the total for this soundtrack from the animated TransFormers film from the mid-80s.

#48: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 64 plays
10 of Tom Petty’s biggest hits make up the total for this greatest hits compilation.

#49: Various Artists – ’90s Style
iTunes stats: 62 plays
9 tracks, from exciting 90s artists like Jill Sobule, Green Jelly, and MC Hammer, make up the total for this compilation album.

#50: Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle
iTunes stats: 59 plays
Snoop Dogg’s debut album uses 5 songs to make up this total.

#50: Various Artists – Millenium Rock N’ Roll Party
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by admin

Commuting Fun

A Tuesday night commute that took well over an hour and a half was spent, not with the iPhone on shuffle, but working my way through the Ws.

Weed Card Garfunkel and Oates All Over Your Face 9/16/2014 4:32 PM
Welcome Back (Kotter) John Sebastian The Best Of John Sebastian 9/16/2014 4:35 PM
Welcome To Paradise Green Day Dookie 9/16/2014 4:39 PM
Welcome To The Jungle Guns N’ Roses Appetite For Destruction 9/16/2014 4:44 PM
Were Not Gonna Take It Twisted Sister Stay Hungry 9/16/2014 4:49 PM
Werewolves Of London Warren Zevon Excitable Boy 9/16/2014 4:52 PM
What A Wonderful World Joey Ramone Music From Gilmore Girls 9/16/2014 4:55 PM
What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong’s All-Time Greatest Hits 9/16/2014 4:57 PM
What About Your Friends TLC Ooooooohhh…On The TLC Tip 9/16/2014 5:02 PM
What Do I Have To Do? Stabbing Westward Wither Blister Burn & Peel 9/16/2014 5:05 PM
What Happened To You? The Offspring Smash 9/16/2014 5:08 PM
What I Am Continue reading →
by jim

iTunes Top 100 Artists: #42-50

itunes_image

My latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 2 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 100 artists that I’ve listened to as of 8/21/2013, according to iTunes.  After a week off, we return today to look at the next batch of artists, numbers 42-50, which includes a nice mix of musical genres and a legendary broadcaster.

#42: No Doubt

iTunes stats: 71 plays

12 songs make up the total for the band I saw live back in 1996 at the Elliot Hall of Music before they hit it big.

#43: Hole

iTunes stats: 69 plays

6 songs, written mostly by either Kurt Cobain or Billy Corgan, make up the total for Courtney Love’s band.

#44: Harry Caray

iTunes stats: 68 plays

2 versions of Take Me Out To The Ballgame, one representing each side of town, put the Hall of Fame broadcaster on the list.

#45: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

iTunes stats: 66 plays

The New Jersey based group used 7 songs to make up their total.

#46: Snoop Dogg

iTunes stats: 65 plays

8 songs make up the total for the ganja-smoking gangsta rapper.

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by admin

Goodbye, iPhone 4S – Music Edition

A little more than a week ago, I upgraded my phone from the iPhone 4S to the newly released iPhone 5S.  The biggest difference, aside from a slightly bigger screen, is the jump from 3G (or 4G, if you believe AT&T’s hype) to LTE.  I had the 4S for a little under 2 years, and in that time, we traveled the world together (well, at least going back to the UK) and have listened to a lot of podcasts and music. Here is every song (all 2079 of them) I’ve listened to on the phone, with some (ok, very little) bonus commentary.  Godspeed.

 

Let’s Go-Go-Go White Sox Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers 33
He’s a Pirate Klaus Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) 32
Take Me Out To The Ballgame Harry Caray 31
Thunderstruck AC/DC The Razors Edge 31
Gordon Beckham Intro 29
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Steam Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969 29
Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey Journey’s Greatest Hits 27
sox05_montage 27
We Are The Champions Queen Queen: Greatest Hits I & II 27
Your Love The Outfield Play Deep 27
2008 White Sox Central Division Champs Montage Chris Tannehill WSCR 670 The Score 25
Take Me Out To The Ballgame Nancy Faust 25
Harvester Of Sorrow Metallica …And Justice For All 20

You would hope that these numbers would have been higher, but this past season’s miserable performance by the White Sox has put the songs on their playlist out of mind more often than not.

Cannonball The Breeders The First 1000 Years- Rock 19
Man Or Muppet Jason Segel The Muppets 15
It’s Time For Our Song Miss Piggy The Muppets 14
Get Out There And Help Those Guys Jason Segel The Muppets 13
Main Title LOST Soundtrack LOST Soundtrack 13
Are You A Man Or A Muppet? Amy Adams The Muppets 12
How Charming, A Finale Uncle Deadly The Muppets 12
I’m On A Boat (ft. T-Pain) The Lonely Island Incredibad 12
Down At The Ole Barbershop Kermit The Muppets 11
Me and Drugs David Cross Bigger and Blackerer 11
The Antichrist Howard Stern Private Parts: The Album 11
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by admin

iTunes Top 100: #58 – 69

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 2 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, it is now time to look at digital music with the Top 100 songs that I’ve listened to as of 6/2/2013, according to iTunes. Today we look at the 12 songs tied for #58 with 18 overall plays.

#58: AC/DC – Back In Black

Written as a tribute to former lead singer Bon Scott, who had died during the songwriting for the album.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 7/14/2012

#58: The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour

The only theme song to a Beatles film to not be released as a single.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 5/15/2013

#58: The Beatles – Getting Better

The initial idea for the song’s title came from a phrase often spoken by Jimmie Nicol, the group’s stand-in drummer for the Australian leg of a 1964 tour.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 3/23/2013

#58: Bell Biv DeVoe – Do Me!

This followup hit from the former members of New Edition also appeared on Tape 1 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to three times since then.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 3/29/2013

#58: Cher with Beavis and Butthead – I Got You Babe

This remake featuring the cartoon duo also appeared on Volume 12 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to once since then.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 7/9/2012

#58: Eminem – Bitch Please II

The first song to feature both Eminem and Snoop Dogg.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 4/17/2013

#58: Garbage – Only Happy When It Rains (live)

A live version of the hit from their debut album that appeared as a B-side on the Shut Your Mouth single.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 3/29/2013

#58: Great White – Once Bitten Twice Shy

This one big hit from the band best known for a fire also appeared on Volume 4 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to twice since then.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 9/6/2012

#58: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Rainbow Connection

A punk cover of the quintessential Muppets hit.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 11/23/2011

#58: Mexican Cheerleader – Chickyn

From the second album by the local punk band.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 9/28/2012

#58: Tegan and Sara – Umbrella (Rihanna Cover)

The Canadian darlings cover the Rihanna hit live in concert.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 12/18/2012

#58: 2Pac and Dr. Dre – California Love

2Pac got out of jail and teamed up with Dr. Dre when he joined Death Row Records.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 1/28/2013

by admin

iTunes Top 100: #76 – 95

itunes_image

My latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 2 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, it is now time to look at digital music with the Top 100 songs that I’ve listened to as of 6/2/2013, according to iTunes. Today we look at the 20 songs tied for #76 with 16 overall plays.

#76: The Beatles – Eight Days A Week

Although it was a huge American hit, the group did not think highly of the song and they never performed it live.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 8/14/2012

#76: The Beatles – Paperback Writer

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

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 5/20/2013

#76: Bell Biv Devoe – Poison

This 1990 hit from New Edition spin-off also appeared on Volume 2 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to three times since then.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 5/16/2013

#76: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Overture/Going Through The Motions

Performed by series star Sarah Michelle Gellar at the beginning of the musical episode in season 6.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 4/28/2013

#76: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Under Your Spell

Amber Benson performs the song which writer Joss Whedon called “pornography” and “probably the dirtiest lyric I’ve ever written, but also very, very beautiful”.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 4/28/2013

#76: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Standing

Performed by Anthony Stewart Head as a ballad to Buffy that she does not hear, unlike the songs revealing truths elsewhere in the episode.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 5/15/2013

#76: Cracker – Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now)

Charted at number 1 on the US Modern Rock Tracks, arguably breaking Cracker into the mainstream.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 11/9/2012

#76: Darling Violetta – Angel Main Theme

The band performed 2 songs in a third season episode of Buffy before being tasked to perform the theme to the spin-off.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 5/16/2013

#76: Dr. Dre Feat RBX And Snoop Dogg – Let Me Ride

This 1994 Grammy Award winner for Best Rap Solo Performance also appeared on Volume 11 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to twice since then.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 2/5/2013

#76: Foo Fighters – Monkey Wrench

The first single from the band’s second album, the song chronicled the disintegration of singer/song writer Dave Grohl’s four-year marriage to Jennifer Youngblood.

iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 4/24/2012

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by admin

iTunes Top 100: #96 – 118

itunes_image

My latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop.  2 iPods, 2 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, it is now time to look at digital music with the Top 100 songs that I’ve listened to as of 6/2/2013, according to iTunes.  Today we look at the 23 songs tied for #96 with 15 overall plays.

#96: Aerosmith – Dude (Looks Like A Lady)

This 1987 hit from Aerosmith also appeared on Volume 2 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to twice since then.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 7/25/2012

#96: The Beatles – Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Recorded for the White Album in 1968, the song didn’t chart in the US until 1976.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 4/27/2013

#96: The Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night

From 1964, the song is the title track to both the album and the movie.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 4/27/2013

#96: Bloodhound Gang – Bad Touch

Ranked at No. 49 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever released in 2010 by AOL Radio.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 3/19/2013

#96: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – The Parking Ticket

Writer and producer Marti Noxon protests a parking ticket through song from the musical episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 11/1/2012

#96: Coolio featuring LV – Gangsta’s Paradise

This 1995 hit from Coolio also appeared on Volume 19 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to four times since then.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 5/31/2013

#96: Digital Underground – The Humpty Dance

This 1990 smash climbed all the way to #11 on the pop charts, #7 on the R&B charts, and #1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 4/27/2013

#96: Dr. Dre – Keep Their Heads Ringin’

This 1995 hit from the Friday soundtrack also appeared on Volume 17 of my mix tapes, and has been listened to three times since then.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 3/13/2013

#96: Dr. Dre – Forgot About Dre

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

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 10/8/2012

#96: Elvis Presley – An American Trilogy

A medley of three 19th century songs: Dixie, a blackface minstrel song that became the unofficial anthem of the Confederacy since the Civil War; All My Trials, originally a Bahamian lullaby, but closely related to African American spirituals; and The Battle Hymn of the Republic, the marching song of the Union Army during the Civil War.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 5/8/2013

#96: Foo Fighters – Best Of You

This live version was recorded over the course of three shows in late August, 2006 at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 6/11/2012

#96: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Big Girls Don’t Cry

Spent 5 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1962.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 3/25/2012

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by admin

Mix Tape Monday – Live Tracks 4

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.

In addition to the occasional series of CDs I had burned in order to keep abreast of new music, I had created a bunch of genre-specific mixes that could be used both in the car and at the gym. This week we will take a look at the fourth disc covering the world of live music. One of the best things about the confluence of music and the internet in the early 21st century was the availability of bootleg live performances that, at one time, would have been available only to serious collectors or the lucky few to attend the concerts. In fact, there was so much of it that this was the only collection to go beyond 2 discs. So, without further ado, I bring you the final disc in this collection: Live Music, volume 4.

Foo Fighters – Everlong

iTunes stats: Never played

No Doubt – Just A Girl

Recorded live on a German radio station and released as a bonus track on the Rock Steady album.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 5/3/2012

The Bangles – Hazy Shade Of Winter

From their 10/02/2000 concert at the House of Blues in New York.

iTunes stats: Never played

Avril Lavigne – Sk8r Boi

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 6/7/2011

Aerosmith – Dream On

iTunes stats: Never played

Garbage – Androgyny

Broadcast live on WXRT from an in-store appearance at Virgin Megastore in Chicago.

iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 8/22/2012

Soul Asylum – Runaway Train

iTunes stats: Never played

Stone Temple Pilots – Plush

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 5/20/2013

The Bangles – Manic Monday

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 11/19/2012

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by jim

Mix Tape Monday – Undated

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.

From what I can tell, this undated CD was from the lost year of 2004.  In addition to songs that were released in 2004, we also have an ode to former White Sox infielder Willie Harris, which I believe was popular at the ballpark back in 04.

The Muffs – Everywhere I Go

You may recognize this song from a popular Fruitopia commercial.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 5/11/2012

J. J. Abrams – Alias theme

This is currently my ring tone for people I work with.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 8/21/2012

Avril Lavigne – Don’t Tell Me

The first single from Lavigne’s second album.

iTunes stats: 1 plays, on 8/8/2008

Green Day – American Idiot

Nominated for 4 Grammys, this was Green Day’s first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 1/11/2013

Avril Lavigne – My Happy Ending

The second single from Lavigne’s second album.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/27/2009

Ashlee Simpson – Pieces Of Me

The debut single from Jessica’s little sister.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 9/16/2012

Sweet – Little Willy

The 1972 hit was reintroduced to White Sox fans whenever Willie Harris would do something worthwhile/

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 11/9/2012

K’s Choice – Something’s Wrong

An album track from K’s Choice’s second album.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 1/2/2013

Nitty – Nasty Girl

Features a sample from the Archie’s hit Sugar, Sugar.

iTunes stats: Never played

Snoop Dogg – What’s My Name

The first single from Snoop’s solo debut.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 10/8/2012

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