Can I make a playlist where songs are removed once played?

Question

Hi-
I would like to be able to create a "to be played once" queue so I can load up a bunch of songs, hear them played, but not have them keep cropping up the next time I access the list.
I was hoping I could have a playlist--either using the OTG playlist or a created one--where I can add songs that I'd like to hear, then have the songs automatically removed from the list once they've been played. I think iPods used to do this (I had a G1 iPod I lost long ago), but I can't figure out how to do it on my new G5 iPod.
Of course I'd be open to other ways of solving the problem if a playlist isn't right...
Thanks,
Alex

Answer 1

As pointed out, one option I have found very useful with iTunes and my iPod is to create a smart playlist of songs that haven't been played yet.
Simply create a new playlist and tell it to only play songs that haven't been played yet (play count = 0). Shuffle still works with this play list so when you use it you still get a random assortment of tunes, but also only the stuff you haven't heard yet (well, hasn't yet been played since adding it to iTunes that is). Very useful for when you add new albums and songs to your iTunes and iPod as they automatically get added to this playlist.
Further more, once they get played, they no longer have a play count of zero and so no longer belong to this playlist, therefore, no repeats are possible. With the iPod/iTunes set to automatic update, when you sync you iPod to iTunes, anything you played on your iPod gets the count updated in iTunes. Check "live updating" on that playlist so both iTunes and the iPod will update the playlist as you use it.
Another smart playlist is the "long time since I last played it" smart playlist. Rather than a rule of play count, instead pick the checkbox "Limit To" and set it up as follows:
Limit to 200 "Items" selected by "Least Recently Played"
Of course "200" can be any number you like. Make sure live updating is checked. If you have a large library, say 1000+ songs, it will be a long time until you hear anything over again since anything played becomes the "Most Recently Played" and moves to the back of the line. But pick a decent number of songs like 200 to allow some variety when shuffling.
Also note, that by default, any new songs added to iTunes are considered "least recently played" so unless you add to the smart playlist to NOT include new songs (play count = 0) this playlist will include anything new added to the iPod.
Patrick