The High Fidelity Cultural Reference Guide, Vol. IV: Miscellaneous Music References

This is the fourth in a series of guides to one of the greatest movies ever made and the inspiration behind this space, High Fidelity.  Here's what's been written about previously in this blog

• Vol. I.: The Top 5 lists 
• Vol. II: The film's soundtrack
• Vol. III: Visual references

In this installment, I will detail the miscellaneous music references said by the characters in the film -- whether it be songs or artists.

-- Championship Vinyl: Not a real record store in Chicago or London. The exteriors for the movie was shot at 1514 N Milwaukee Ave in Wicker Park, Chicago.

-- Deleted Smith Singles and Original, Not Re-released, underlined, Frank Zappa Albums: Rob explains that the reason his store stays open is that people are willing to go out of their way to find rare items. Some hard to find vinyl singles from The Smiths include Barbarism Begins At Home, which can go for $150 dollars.  Headmasters Ritual can go for $170. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now can be had for $90. Ask will set you back $150. As for Zappa, his early work can be found on Rare Meat: Early Works of Frank Zappa. If you can find those tracks on vinyl, God's speed.

-- Licorice Comfits and their album Testament of Youth: Mentioned by Dick when his character is introduced, the band does not exist. Although, Cheryl Ladd on a cover of album sounds sweet.

-- Vintage Vinyl: The store where Dick found the Licorice Comfits, is located on 925 Davis St in Evanston, IL.

-- Belle & Sebastian: When the movie was made in 1999, B&S had released The Boy with the Arab Strap the year before. So when Dick explains that they are listening to the new Belle & Sebastian, the time frame would 1998 or early 1999.

-- Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels and "Little Latin Lupe Lu": The song went to #17 on the charts in 1966. The Righteous Brothers originally recorded the song, but Ryder had the most success. The Kingsmen and Springsteen have also covered the song.

-- Nirvana: Some people never get over 'Nam,  or the night their band opened up for Nirvana. The website Live Nirvana does a great job of chronicling their live dates. Bikini Kill, The Melvins and Calamity Jane have opened up for them.

-- Cash by Johnny Cash: His autobiography and Rob's favorite book.

-- "I Just Called to Say I Love You," by Stevie Wonder: A customer wanted to know if they had that song, but Barry ridicules him. Not one of Stevie's great songs, but it was hugely popular in 1984, when it was featured in the Gene Wilder film, The Woman in Red. Wonder got an Oscar-nomination for the song. Listening to it now, it's pretty cheesy and dated.

-- Lounge Ax: It's an old venue in Lincoln Park, Chicago that was closed by the time the film was released. It's where the guys see Maria DeSalle (Lisa Bonet) perform. Wilco played there back in the day.

-- Deep Purple to Howling Wolf: Rob decides to organize his vinyl autobiographically.

-- "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac off Fleetwood Mac. He bought it for someone in 1983, but didn't give it to them for personal reasons.

-- Peter "Fucking" Frampton: Back in the day, say 1975-6, he was the most popular musician in the world. Music snobs like me would probably despise the guy if we had blogs in 1975, probably becomes he was everywhere and his music was played a zillion times on the radio. "Baby, I Love Your Way" went to No. 12 on the charts.

-- "Number Four with a Smile" or "The Number Four with a Smile": A fake song from Maria DeSalle. Classic snobbery argument, THEs. The Arcade Fire or Arcade Fire, etc.

-- Captain Beefheart's Safe As Milk: A customer in the store (played by Al Johnson of U.S. Maple), asked if they have it. The album has since been re-released with those hard to get B-sides.

-- Supertramp: Rob accuses Laura's new boyfriend, Ian, of being a Supertramp fan. Supertramp is not one of the coolest 70s bands out there for a music snob to like, similar to Frampton.

-- Like a Springsteen song: Rob compares how he wants to re-connect with his ex-girlfriends as something Springsteen would write about. In chimes The Boss, who gives him words of encouragement. Thanks, Boss.

-- The Killing Moon EP by Echo & The Bunnymen: Barry explains that it's hard to find it on vinyl, and it was a cruel trick to not print more copies in 1983. 

-- Jesus & Mary Chain: They picked up where your precious Echo left off.

-- Green Day: Influenced by The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers. The Clash is John Cusack's favorite band. The documentary Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten features Cusack. Dick refers to Stiff Little Fingers as The Stiff Little Fingers.

-- Blonde on Blonde: Barry laments that a customer doesn't own this Dylan album.

-- Beta Band's 3 EPs: The album was released in 1998 by Astralwerks, after their self-titled debut. The song, "Dry the Rain," from he EP Champion Versions put them on the map.

-- Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Breakbeats and Serge Gainsbourg: These are the albums that the skate fucks attempt to steal from the store. Ryuichi Sakamoto is the Oscar-winning composer of The Last Emperor. Sigue Sigue Sputnik is a crazy new wave, cyber punk outfit led by Generation X's Tony James . Their most popular song is "Love Missile F1-11," which was in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  Breakbeats is a genre of dance/rap music. Serge Gainsbourg is the legendary French crooner.

-- Joni Mitchell: Rob suggests that the skate fucks are slam dancing to the 60s folk singer. He didn't expect that skate fucks had a wide taste in music.

-- "Eartha Kitt Times Two": A fake song by Maria DeSalle which is about her and her ex dividing up their record collection. Kitt was a vampy singer, best known for playing Catwoman on the Batman TV show from the 60s.

-- "Behind Closed Doors" by Charlie Rich: A No. 1 for Rich in 1973, taken from the album of the same name. It's one of Rob's favorite songs, and the lyrics reminded of him when he has a one night stand with Maria.

-- Kinky Wizards: The name of Vince and Justin's band. Since the movie came out, a band from Lubbock, TX took the name. Vince and Justin are the skate fucks who attempt to shoplift from Championship Vinyl.

-- Top Five Records: Since the movie came out, an online record store that goes by that name was created in Sweden.

-- Pop Abrams and the Smurfs: Rob makes fun of Barry's stagnant music career by comparing his music to the Sex Pistols, Nirvana and Pop Abrams. I have no idea who they are.

-- Kraftwerk, Falco, Hasselhoff: Rob continues to make fun of Barry's band saying that they are influenced by these German bands. Although Falco was Austrian. There's also a long standing joke that Germans love The Hoff.

-- Songs Rob wants at his funeral: "Many Rivers To Cross" by Jimmy Cliff, "Angel" by Aretha Franklin and "You're The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me" by Gladys Knight. I want something glorious, like Sigur Ros' "Olsen Olsen".

-- Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On": The song responsible for Rob and Laura's relationship. "Oh, really, I would like a word with him then." The song is played by Barry at the end of the movie.

-- Double Door: The club where Rob use to DJ. It's still in operation today.

-- Sonic Death Monkey: The name of Barry's band. A band called Gardenian has a called called "Sonic Death Monkey." Also, the beauty product store, Lush, sells a body wash called Sonic Death Monkey .. This kickin' shower gel is sure to wake you up on those mornings when your head is all foggy with its nose-tingling blend of genuine cocoa, coffee and lime. Plus it leaves your skin feeling as smooth and tasty as melted chocolate. Caution: Using this may result in displays of affection. After all, who doesn't want to hug someone who smells like chocolate? I'm sold

-- Kathleen Turner Overdrive: An alternate name for Barry's band, a riff of Bachman Turner Overdrive. They settle with Barry Jive and The Uptown Five. In the book, it's Barrytown, based on the name of the fictional Irish town in the Roddy Doyle novels, The Commitments, The Van and The Snapper.

Deleted Scenes

-- When the skate punks return to the store, they buy a copy of Aphex Twin's Windowlicker on vinyl.

-- A scene takes place at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in Chicago. In the scene, Rob asks the viewer to write down the Top 5 Worst Things They've Done to A Girlfriend. The lounge is a jazz club on 4802 N Broadway St in Chicago. From citysearch: Despite the seedy neighborhood, the Mill has become the Chicago home for annual appearances by such national artists as sax player David Liebman, vocalists Sheila Jordan and Mark Murphy, pianist Henry Butler, and the Either/Orchestra.

-- In a great scene that never made the movie, but was in the book, Rob goes to a woman's house that is selling her ex-husband's record collection. Rob is offerd $50 for the collection, but couldn't bring himself to buy the pricelss collection. He just wants the Otis Redding. The wife offers Rob the Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen" single for free. She is played by Beverly D'Angelo, who at the time was dating Al Pacino. Pacino and Cusack starred in City Hall.
 

Comments

[Hanan]

haha Rob treads Magnet. of course haha

[Tim]

In that scene with the Safe As Milk album:
If that guy was that serious about that record he wouldn't have handled it so badly.
You don't let a record drop back into a sleeve via gravity, as it will surely pop right through the seam and ruin the spine.

[Jos]

Pop Abrams and the smurfs aka Vader Abraham en de smurfen. Famous originally-dutch song around the smurfs from the belgian cartoon artist Peyo. Big time hit in 1977

[Russ Dean]

In Barry's first appearance walking into the store, he is singing the lead to Rush's Jacobs Laddder - while Dick is going through a record rack where you can see the back of Rush's All the Worlds a Stage album.

When Rob puts on the 3EPs CD by Beta Band, the song starts off about 90 seconds in (the song has a long intro) - not easy to do on a cd.

and what's the deal with the Beach Boy's Endless Summer making prominent appearances in the store and Rob's appartment. Should have used Surfs Up or at least Pet Sounds.

[JOe]

It is so great to know there are other nuts out there that love this movie. I've probably seen it 20 times I'm embarrassed to say.

Peace!