I was going through some music earlier today and came across this song that I like to break out and play every now and then.  By the Southern California-based band Primitive Radio Gods, “Sitting Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand” didn’t hit Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart, but just over 15 years ago, in July and August 1996, the song spent six weeks at the top of the Modern Rock Tracks chart, which surveyed airplay on alternative/modern rock radio stations.  The song appeared on the band’s major-label debut album, Rocket, and also on the soundtrack to the Jim Carrey film The Cable Guy.

A decade and a half later, Primitive Radio Gods are still together.  Check out their official website for more.

One of my favorite songs (and videos) from the 1980s is the biggest U.S. hit by British band Level 42. “Something About You” was the band’s only top ten hit in the United States, peaking at number 7 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart for the first of a two-week stay at that chart position exactly 25 years ago today.

Level 42′s only other U.S. top 40 hit, “Lessons in Love,” outperformed “Something About You” almost everywhere else around the world, but in the United States it would end up a few spots short of its predecessor, peaking at number 12 in 1987.

While the band broke up for a while in the 1990s, they reunited a number of years ago and have embarked on a 30th anniversary tour with coneert dates in 2010 and 2011.  Check out their official website for more.

What happens when you mix Lady Gaga with The Human League? Here is a mashup by A PlusD that rocks.

Check out the Tunesmate top 40 Halloween tune countdown! Here’s a homemade video for Boris Picket’s “Monster Mash”.

Ozzy Osbourne has recorded a cover version of John Lennon’s “How?” to benefit Amnesty International. You can get the track on iTunes. Click on the image above to start the video. I am a big fan of Ozzy, but it looks like he’s having a wee trouble walking in the video.

Back in the mid-1980s, MTV used to promote videos with their Friday Night Video Fights show.  Every week, two videos would square off, with viewers calling in to vote for which one they wanted to win.  For 50 cents, you could determine which video would go on to face another video the next week.  After a number of weeks of winning–I think five, but I could be remembering it wrong–a video would be retired.  Check out the above clip, which advertises for a “World Championship” between Def Leppard’s “Rock of Ages” and Quiet Riot’s “Cum On Feel the Noize.”

I only voted once, for Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher.”  It was coming off a couple of weeks of winning, but it lost the week I voted for it, I think to Duran Duran’s “Wild Boys.”

For the above contest, which video would you vote for?  “Rock of Ages”:

or “Cum on Feel the Noize”:

Personally, I’d go with “Rock of Ages,” but it is close …

Kiss’ 1978 classic Rock and Roll All Night is best live. Do you agree the live version is better than the studio version? This clip is from Dick Clark’s 1996 Rockin’ New Years Eve show during Kiss’ reunion period.

You think, “What? Do I like this song? It’s not even remotely my kind of music! What’s wrong with me?”

I’m willing to share one of my guilty pleasures with you, if you share some with Tunesmate.

UK singer, Little Boots, released a really catchy tune last year called “My Remedy” and I just love it. There’s a few other geeky things I like about her too, though, mostly her choice of musical instruments. One in particular appeals to me; the Tenori-On. You can see it sitting on her keyboard at the start of the video. It’s the device with flashing lights, and it’s very cool. There are apps for the iPhone that let you experience the instrument, which effectively lets you build short musical loops. I’m oversimplifying, but that’s basically it.

So, check out one of my guilty musical pleasures and share one of yours with us here at Tunesmate.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McdqerXrwXE