One Last Bit of Housekeeping from 2008

Before we get too far into 2009, there's one final 2008 nugget I want to share. It's the Top 20 albums from Billboard's 200 and the Top 20 singles from Billboard's Hot 100.

The Billboard 200
1. As I Am, Alicia Keys. MBK/J/RMG.
2. Noel, Josh Groban. 143/Reprise/Warner Bros.
3. Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne. Cash Money/Universal Motown/UMRG.
4. Long Road Out of Eden, Eagles. ERC.
5. Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift. Big Machine.
6. Rock N Roll Jesus, Kid Rock. Top Dog/Atlantic/AG.
7. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay. Capitol.
8. Now 26. Various artists. EMI/Sony BMG Strategic Marketing Group/Universal/Zomba/Capitol.
9. Carnival Ride, Carrie Underwood. 19/Arista/Arista Nashville/RMG/RMG/SBN.
10. The Ultimate Hits, Garth Brooks. Pearl.
11. Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus. Hollywood/Walt Disney.
12. Growing Pains, Mary J. Blige. Matriarch/Geffen/IGA.
13. Exclusive, Chris Brown. Jive/Zomba.
14. Sleep Through the Static, Jack Johnson. Brushfire/UMRG.
15. Black Ice, AC/DC. Columbia/Sony Music.
16. Death Magnetic, Metallica. Warner Bros.
17. Jonas Brothers, Jonas Brothers. Hollywood.
18. Coco, Colbie Caillat. Universal Republic/UMRG.
19. Spirit, Leona Lewis. SYCO/J/RMG.
20. High School Musical 2. Soundtrack. Walt Disney.

The Billboard Hot 100
1. Low, Flo Rida featuring T-Pain. Poe Boy/Atlantic.
2. Bleeding Love, Leona Lewis. SYCO/J/RMG.
3. No One, Alicia Keys. MBK/J/RMG.
4. Lollipop, Lil Wayne featuring Static Major. Cash Money/Universal Motown.
5. Apologize, Timbaland featuring OneRepublic. Mosley/Blackground/Interscope.
6. No Air, Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown. 19/Jive/Zomba.
7. Love Song, Sara Bareilles. Epic.
8. Love In This Club, Usher featuring Young Jeezy. LaFace/Zomba.
9. With You, Chris Brown. Jive/Zomba.
10. Forever, Chris Brown. Jive/Zomba.
11. Sexy Can I, Ray J & Yung Berg. Knockout/DEJA 34/Epic/Koch.
12. Take a Bow, Rihanna. SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG.
13. Viva La Vida, Coldplay. Capitol.
14. I Kissed a Girl, Katy Perry. Capitol.
15. Whatever You Like, T.I. Grand Hustle/Atlantic.
16. Disturbia, Rihanna. SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG.
17. Don't Stop the Music, Rihanna. SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG.
18. Pocketful of Sunshine, Natasha Bedingfield. Phonogenic/Epic.
19. Kiss Kiss, Chris Brown featuring T-Pain. Jive/Zomba.
20. Closer, Ne-Yo. Def Jam/IDJMG.

NFC Championship Game Memorabilia

Here is my ticket stub and parking pass from this past Sunday's NFC Championship Game:


And another tune that surely echoed in the minds of even the most ardent Cardinals supporters:

Hell Just Froze Over...

I was at yesterday's NFC Championship Game when the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 32-25. As a lifelong Packers fan, I adopted the Cards as my second team because I live in The Grand Canyon State.

As I was driving away from University of Phoenix Stadium, I thought about the song that best described what the Cards had just accomplished. A couple of the choices were obvious--"We Are The Champions" by Queen and Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'". Neither seemed right.

Then it hit me. All the critics and oddsmakers said the Cards never had a chance. They were 3 point underdogs to Atlanta, 10 to Carolina, and 3 1/2 to Philly.

Only one song would do:



The Cards started out the season as a 45-1 shot to win it all. Even the initial spread has Arizona as 7 point dogs to Pittsburgh. Thank you for the disrespect and motivation.

"The worst playoff team in NFL history" is one victory away from securing the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl XLIII. Let's "SHOCK THE WORLD!"

*Note--That is NOT me in the picture. It's Cardinals' fanatic "Mad Jack" Corson of Chandler.

WLS

For those of you who enjoy WLS from it's Top 40 days, here's a 1978 demo featuring a number of The Big 89 jocks. This golden gift includes Larry Lujack, Tommy Edwards, and the late Yvonne Daniels, among others.

Thanks to my friend jb @ The Hits Just Keep On Comin' for the clip.

Happy New Year 2009!

I couldn't think of a better way to ring in 2009 than a holiday cut from an album by one of the Beatles, George Harrison. His 1974 album Dark Horse has been in my collection since it was released. My favorite tune is the title track.

However, during Christmas and New Year's, I'm partial to side two, track one: Ding Dong; Ding Dong. If you've never heard it, I know you will enjoy it.

Harrison is not the only big name on this song. He has recruited an all-star cast, including drummers Ringo Starr and Jim Keltner, who played under the pseudonym Buster Sidebury on both of the Traveling Wilburys albums; Gary Wright on piano; Klaus Voormann, who designed the Beatles' Revolver album cover and played with Manfred Mann, on bass; founding member of Foreigner, Mick Jones, and himself on guitars; Alvin Lee, former frontman for Ten Years After, on electric guitars; and Tom Scott on horns. Sir Frank Crisp is also credited as Spirit.

Let's make 2009 a kick-ass year!