Blame it on John Cusack and Liz Phair. It was their celebrity playlist at the Apple Music Store (www.itunes.com) that sent me on a ’70s rock splurge.
Who knew John and Liz were friends? But it makes sense once you connect the dots. One lived in Wicker Park and made some great music while the other made a cool movie there with great music.
John, Liz writes to introduce the joint playlist, “can’t play an instrument, and yet he’s introduced me to some of my favorite songs of all time.” They even hang out at record stores, Liz says.
The song that started the splurge is a live version of Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me.” It was one of the 18 songs they listed — including Liz’s classic “Never Said” from her terrific “Exile in Guyville” debut — but it started a costly chain of events.
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After downloading the song, Apple happily pointed out that people who like Cheap Trick also like Boston. And those people like Supertramp, who in turn like ELO . . . and so on.
Forty songs and $40 later, there’s a new `Rock Classics’ playlist on the iPod.
For another Chicago Cheap Trick fan, check out Billy Corgan’s playlist.