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Trivia

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Part of the movie was filmed outside of Lane Technical High School. This occurred during a regular school day and the students were not allowed onto the portion of the lawn where filming occurred. They were also not allowed near the windows of the rooms looking out onto the lawn.
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The hero shares his name with an obscure '70s recording artist whose records would undoubtedly be found in the store: Robert Gordon.
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After his vision of Bruce Springsteen, Rob says the words "Good luck, goodbye" which is the last line of the Springsteen song "Bobby Jean".
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"Vintage Vinyl", another record store mentioned in the film, is a real store in Evanston, John Cusack's hometown.
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The Chinese characters on Rob's No. 6 jersey say "Hong Kong".
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In the scene where Rob (John Cusack) talks with Liz (Joan Cusack) after Laura's (Iben Hjejle) father's funeral, a Danish flag and pictures from Denmark are visible on the mantelpiece just behind the actors. Iben Hjejle is Danish.
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In several scenes, Rob is wearing a Wax Trax! Records t-shirt. The lot in Chicago that houses Rob's record store, Championship Vinyl, was once a Wax Trax! Records store.
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The Marie DeSalle CD Rob pops in has the following tracks listed on it:
  • 1. Baby I Love Your Way
  • 2. Eartha Kitt Times Two (Patsy Cline Times Two in some versions)
  • 3. Ghostbusters
  • 4. Beat It
  • 5. Baby Got Back
  • 6. 911 is a Joke
  • 7. I Will Survive
  • 8. Mmm Bop
  • 9. My Heart Will Go On
  • 10. You Can't Have It
  • 11. The Time is Now

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Neil Peart, Gary Weinrib and Alex Zivojinovich, listed in the credits for writers of the song "Jacob's Ladder", are the real names of the members of Rush (Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, and Alex Lifeson).
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This is the eighth film in which John Cusack and Joan Cusack have appeared together. The others are Class, Sixteen Candles, Grandview, U.S.A., Broadcast News,Say Anything..., Grosse Pointe Blank and Cradle Will Rock
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The guitarist playing with Marie DeSalle when they see her at Lounge Ax is Jeff Parker from Chicago bands Tortoise and Isotope 217.
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Alan S. Johnson ("Man in Store") is the lead singer of the band U.S. Maple. A U.S. Maple poster is plastered on the store's counter.
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One of the CDs stolen by Vince and Justin is Plush's "More You Becomes You." Liam Hayes, singer, songwriter and keyboardist for Plush, appears in the bar scene where Rob recalls meeting Laura.
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In the flashback when Rob and Laura are listening to Ian have sex upstairs, the book Laura is reading is entitled "Love Thy Neighbor".
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When we first see Rob's record store, Rob walks across the store exposing many record covers in the background. One record that stands out is a record by the group, Index. Index were a 1960s garage band from Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
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John Cusack and the screenwriters wrote the script with Jack Black in mind for the role of Barry, who nearly turned the role down but reconsidered.
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John Cusack originally wanted Bob Dylan for the Bruce Springsteen cameo part, but Dylan was unavailable.
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The majority of fliers and stickers on the front of the register stand are bands either from Chicago or on Chicago record labels, including Urge Overkill, Falling Wallendas, Veruca Salt, and Liz Phair. These bands have members that are known to hang out in Wicker Park (one of the filming locations), and the local bar Rainbo Club, where the "proposal" scene was filmed.
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Records that are shown in more than one context. Examples: "Cut" by 'The Slits' is for sale at Rob's first record store, and is visible when Rob meets Laura when he is a deejay. "Double Nickels on the Dime" by 'Minutemen' is on display in Rob's apartment, and it is among the records that Justin and Vince steal from the store.
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Rob's sticker-covered "little black book" is a Chandler's assignment notebook, a required item for every student at Evanston Township High School, John Cusack's alma mater.
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In Rob Gordon's store, there are posters and sticker featuring several US Hardcore Punk bands (Warzone, Integrity, Bad Brains, Blood for Blood, and etc.) who had all released material on Chicago-based label Victory Records.
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The song "Dry the Rain" by The Beta Band can actually be heard twice in the film. Once while trying to sell 5 copies of the 3 EP's, and once while Rob proposed to Laura.
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The closing track "I believe" was originally performed by Stevie Wonder and was later covered by Art Garfunkel and Peter Frampton. All three are artists that Rob, Dick, and Barry make fun of in the movie.
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In the Hungarian dubbed version, Barry and Rob are discussing Reservoir Dogs instead of Evil Dead II, because that film was almost unknown in Hungary that time. "Reservoir Dogs" was also the film discussed in a similar scene in the novel.
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In the scene where Barry's wanted add for Any "hip young gunslingers", There are four bands listed that the interested party should "be into". The last listed band is Pailhead. Pailhead is a little known collaboration between Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi) and Al Jourgenson (Ministry, Revolting cocks, Lard), a Chicago based musician.
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In 2006, High Fidelity was made into a Broadway musical starring Will Chase, Jenn Colella, Jeb Brown and Rachel Stern. However it only ran from November 20th to December 17th. 13 performances and 19 previews.
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Touchstone acquired the rights to Nick Hornby's book for $500,000 with Mike Newell attached to direct.
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Artie Lange auditioned for the role of Barry.
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The rare record that Barry refuses to sell the nerdy collector is stated to be a French LP pressing of Captain Beefheart/Don Van Vliet's 'Safe as Milk'. This Buddha-label edition is considered rare for its high quality mix and is easily identified by a promotional cover featuring the band playing live on a beach. However, the cover shown is clearly the original, more familiar sleeve with the fisheye portrait.
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Harold Ramis and 'Beverly d'Angelo' filmed scenes that were cut from the film but can be viewed as extras on the DVD. Ramis played Rob's father and d'Angelo played a "too tan" woman trying to sell Rob her soon-to-be-ex-husband's record collection.
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There are 5 records displayed on the wall in Rob's apartment, which can be seen briefly after Laura leaves at the beginning of the movie. We can assume that these are Rob's personal Top 5 Favorite Albums, although this is not one of the "top 5" topics discussed over the course of the film. These records (from left to right) are "Maggot Brain" by Funkadelic, "Tonight's the Night" by Neil Young, "Wild Honey" by The Beach Boys, "Goo" by Sonic Youth, and "Double Nickels on the Dime" by 'Minutemen'.
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Vince and Justin's recording is an actual song titled "The Inside Game" by the American band Royal Trux.
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Spoilers 

The trivia item below may give away important plot points.

at the beginning of the entry. When Laura responds to Rob's marriage proposal with the line, "I do, I will," she is actually quoting a famous line from Act 2, Scene 4 of William Shakespeare's play Henry IV, part 1.
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Goofs | Crazy Credits | Quotes | Alternate Versions | Connections | Soundtracks

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