iPod Play counts and re-ripping music?

[katie ta achoo]

I searched and couldn't find this, but here goes:
I want to rerip an album at a higher bit-rate but want to keep my play counts.
View attachment 72726
All the highlighted ones, FWIW.

any way to do this? I like keeping numbers of how much I listen to stuff.

Thanks!

 

[PlaceofDis]

so long as the album and track names are identical, iTunes should ask you if you want to keep or replace the existing tracks, if you replace, it'll keep your counts and ratings i believe.