Summer Reading For Vintage Fashion Aficionados

(Originally published for Vintage Fashion at The Examiner.)

Whenever summertime arrives, most of us have an inkling that we may coordinate extra time to sit back and read. If we can be so lucky, a sunlit porch, a hammock and a good book might be the sole items on our afternoon agenda.

In the spirit of sharing good reading experiences, I looked through my own bookshelf and picked a few past favorites. The result is a list of tried and very true summer reading options, selected especially for vintage fashion aficionados. 

Browse through the list to find out why you should locate each book, as well as the book's obtainability. Several titles are not only vintage in topic, but also in terms of their release dates. Therefore, some are harder to track down. All are worth the effort.

Whether you find hardback, paperback or eBook versions, any one of these will bring a little more cool to your hot summer days and nights.

Without further ado, in no particular order, here is my list of recommended (vintage fashion-themed) summer books. Happy summertime reading!

Cherie Currie 'Neon Angel: A Memoir Of A Runaway'

WHY: She was a teenage neon angel, the young cherry bomb who exploded onto the music scene with The Runaways.

Cherie Currie has extraordinary pipes and stage presence, with the rarest brand of raw talent. She is one of the bravest, greatest female front women in rock history -- and a genuine pioneer for female rock star fashion.

But her amazing bravery was never limited to her iconic style and stage presence. Reading Cherie Currie's story, as she tells it, is incredibly exciting -- and sometimes frightening. Currie tells us about her life with the same great courage with which she experienced events that shook the core of her existence.

Her strength of character is a credit to any or all women who endured the tough 1970's well enough to come out on the other side and tell us how it all went down -- while few, if any, have ever commanded the stage and took to the spotlight with the same ferocity as Cherie Currie.

Formidable singer and actress, survivor, loving ex-wife, proud mum, loving daughter and twin sister, a force to be reckoned with -- Cherie Currie is still all of those things. These days, she can be found wielding a chainsaw to create remarkable art pieces. Cherie Currie, the epitome of Renaissance Woman, remains a truly inspirational spirit.

OBTAINABILITY: Relatively easy; Neon Angel is available on Amazon.

Pattie Boyd 'Wonderful Tonight'

WHY: Surprisingly, Pattie Boyd's childhood/early years are as interesting as those more notable ones which had her living, twice, as a famous rock star wife.

The 1960's model and fashion plate was fascinating to those who knew her long before she became perhaps the most definitive and illustrious of rock-and-roll dream girls, twice a rocker wife, and muse for several of the most iconic love songs of the 20th century.

This is Pattie Boyd's story and there's a great deal to love about her, apart from being Pattie Harrison (inspiration for 'Something') or later, Mrs. Clapton (inspiration for 'Layla' and 'Wonderful Tonight'.)

Essential summertime reading for both fashion enthusiasts and classic rock lovers.

OBTAINABILITY: Easy. You'll find lots of options to purchase Boyd's Wonderful Tonight on Amazon.

Sheila Weller 'Girls Like Us'

WHY: If you love the 1970's, you already know why the legacies of artists like Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon should remain in tact in our collective minds.

Their music, experiences and personal styles defined their generation of women and beyond -- and in many ways, each one of these distinctly different women's experiences and lives were deeply intertwined with the other two.

Biographer extraordinaire Sheila Weller managed the seemingly impossible by weaving a tapestry, so to speak, with the lives of three different famous women of the 20th century -- in order to tell one complete and unique story about an entire era.

Girls Like Us is one of the most ambitious, inspired and flawless storytelling efforts by a music historian. It's a concept which in and of itself ties beautifully with the topic Weller covers, since this trinity represents the best female storytellers of the 1970's (if not the 20th century.) Note: There is also a great online companion to Sheila Weller's Girls Like Us, Girls Like Us: The Music.

OBTAINABILITY: Easy; there are many options to purchase Girls Like Us on Amazon.

Jean Shrimpton 'My Own Story: The Truth About Modeling'

WHY: The Shrimp, as Jean Shrimpton was known, was the face of Swinging Sixties London and the greatest international fashion plate of 1960's. Many have made claims to being the first supermodel -- while she's arguably the very first.

Along with her 'discoverer' and boyfriend, inimitable photographer David Bailey, Jean Shrimpton helped bring fashion to the masses. She brought mini-skirts into the public consciousness with the help of Mary Quant.

This is her own story, as she shared it back in 1965 -- while it was all going on. A fun time capsule, if you can find a copy.

OBTAINABILITY: Some stray copies of Jean Shrimpton's My Own Story: the Truth About Modeling are available on Amazon if you're willing to spend a little extra.

Peggy Lipton 'Breathing Out'

WHY: Peggy Lipton describes her life in exquisite detail. Barring any limits on what she wants the public to know, you will feel like you have gotten to know Peggy Lipton upon completing her book.


Standout moments and highlights: her quick rise to fame after being photographed with none other than Paul McCartney, when The Beatles were in town; her experience as a young model; being cast in the role of her lifetime as Julie Barnes in 'The Mod Squad' (and later as Norma Jennings in 'Twin Peaks'); relationships with men as varied as Terence Stamp, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lou Adler, and even The King himself, Elvis Presley -- before marrying Quincy Jones; as well as other great stories and experiences.

Despite her decidedly East Coast upbringing, Peggy Lipton came to epitomize the perfect California girl in the 1970's. She remains a truly lovely woman, with style, grace and beauty to spare -- and it's certainly evident that her beauty isn't skin deep. She is an inspiration.

OBTAINABILITY: Various copies of Breathing Out are still available to purchase on Amazon.

Dyan Cannon 'Dear Cary: My Life With Cary Grant' 

WHY: Dyan Cannon shares her story as wife to one of the most beloved movie stars of all time, Cary Grant, in a loving yet unbiased manner.


It is a credit to Dyan Cannon that a reader who loves Cary Grant can love him more after reading her book -- despite her very candid admissions about him and their life together.

There are a great many references to his (sometimes forceful) influence on her life, her style of dress and her career. But to learn about this very private leading man's passion for LSD and his deeply complicated relationship with his parents adds a dimension to Cary Grant that only enhances the former Archie Leach's credibility as a performer.

As seen through Dyan Cannon's lens, Cary Grant remains a leading man unlike anyone else before him, or since.

OBTAINABILITY: Easy; there are various options to purchase Dear Cary on Amazon.

Diane Keaton 'Then Again'

WHY: The ever fascinating yet down-to-earth Diane Keaton decided to share some aspects of her life, her history, and her family with us in 'Then Again'.

She has held our attention for decades with her unique blend of style and personality, so it's irresistible to learn a little more about Diane Keaton, apart from associating her to her films and her leading men. We also learn about the woman behind the woman, since Keaton largely introduces her mother to the reader in this autobiography.

A scrapbook of sorts, and not a typical autobiography, this one is good for those lazy summer days.

OBTAINABILITY: Easy: there are various options available to purchase Then Again on Amazon.


Mia Farrow 'What Falls Away'

WHY: Mia Farrow has lived a life that's far richer, more connected, more compassionate than just about anyone in history. In her autobiography 'What Falls Away' she tells her story with her own brand of readable and equally eloquent prose.

She was raised in Beverly Hills, but Farrow's becoming an actress was a practicality, a means, a way to support her large family of siblings and her movie star mother when they needed her financial help. Had she gone a different path of her choosing, prior to following in the footsteps of her Hollywood accredited parents, she would have become a nun.

She embodied youth culture and style in the 1960's. Along her incredible journey, Mia Farrow had friendships with the likes of Salvador Dali, Roman Polanski, and The Beatles. She experienced a most unique-for-its-time romance with her first husband, Frank Sinatra. And, as we know, that wasn't even her most lasting or publicized relationship.

Mia Farrow always wanted to help and nurture children. And she always has. Her own adopted family and her efforts to defend those who in need worldwide has been the most natural progression of who she is. Mia Farrow is the authentic in a world of people who try to be the sort of individual she actually is.

OBTAINABILITY: Somewhat rare, but there are some copies available of What Falls Away to purchase on Amazon.

Ali MacGraw 'Moving Pictures'

WHY: Ali MacGraw's experiences prior to her quick rise to fame were as illustrious, in many ways, as the events that followed. In 'Moving Pictures' Ali MacGraw tells her story from a cozy winter abode and her reminiscing is friendly in manner.

As she goes back in time to the beginning, the complexities of this beautiful woman quickly come to light -- as in the flicker of light from her moving pictures -- and the reader comes to realize that Ali MacGraw is talented, capable and exquisite in many more ways than she's been credited.

Ali MacGraw was assistant to Diana Vreeland at Vogue in the exciting days of late 1960's fashion, when Jean Shrimpton would breeze into the office. She found success as a photographer's assistant and a stylist before getting placed in front of the camera as a fashion and commercial model. She endorsed Polaroid cameras and Chanel bath and beauty products before her foray into movies even began.

Despite her Academy Award nomination for portraying the iconic Jenny Cavalleri in 'Love Story', her marriage to Robert Evans and then to Steve McQueen, Ali has always been a unique individual whose talents were at times misplaced and misunderstood -- so she has spent some of her later years finding out, again, who that individual was. Ali MacGraw is a lovely woman to rediscover, via her autobiography, this summer.

OBTAINABILITY: A rare book; it can be difficult to find copies of Moving Pictures at Amazon -- good luck and happy reading.

Mary Tyler Moore 'After All'

WHY: Fans of Mary Tyler Moore, Mimsie (the kitten), those TV shows, her various memorable film roles, her smile, her style, her charm -- and everything else that bears her formidable MTM seal of approval -- will rejoice to hear her share her story with the masses.

What's entirely worthwhile and unexpected for even the most passionate fan of Mary Tyler Moore, as an individual, is to find out -- by her own candid admission -- just how dark the delightful, beloved personality of the Mary we know and love actually is. Mary Tyler Moore is nowhere near as cheerful and smiley as her public persona has long indicated.

But if anything, Mary Tyler Moore is as ambitious as one should expect, given the fact that she pioneered the ideal of a working woman with her iconic character Mary Richards, as well as being career-driven in her real life. Her accomplishments are truly remarkable. Her 'The Mary Tyler Moore' show remains one of the most successful TV shows of all time -- and subsequently, her MTM Enterprises became one of the most successful TV production companies of all time, churning out hit after hit.

That a woman who started her career as a professional dancer should become the head of a large corporation, when women were hardly making their way in the workplace, is extraordinary.

Sadly, her success story came at the highest price imaginable. The fact that she's lived to want to tell about some of her dark thoughts and experiences is a credit to her strength of spirit. Those who love MTM will love and admire her more for her honesty and courage in admitting who she really is -- without expecting to be liked at all for those dark admissions. A surprising read, so be prepared.

OBTAINABILITY: Some copies of After All are available on Amazon, but it's a fairly rare book.

Rod Stewart 'Rod: The Autobiography'

WHY: For good measure, here's one of two male autobiographies on the list. Reading Rod Stewart's take on his childhood and upbringing, his various hobbies and musical career beginnings -- even his hair -- is more delightful than one could ever hope.

Rod Stewart is a funny storyteller. Despite having been raised in London and only discovering his Scottish roots when he had grownup, somewhat, Rod Stewart has decidedly Scottish humor. Which is to say: good humor.  His book is engaging, entertaining -- and a real pleasure to read. In fact, he dedicates a full chapter to detail the life of his famous coif.  A chapter dedicated to his iconic hairstyle? If only more female entertainers would take themselves so lightly!

If you'd like to read a breezy book about football (um, soccer), rock and roll, fashion, hair products, and beautiful women this summer, 'Rod: The Autobiography' is highly recommended!

OBTAINABILITY: Heaps of options to purchase Rod: The Autobiography on Amazon, so happy reading.

Andre Agassi 'Open'

WHY: Andre Agassi's 'Open' is one of the best autobiographies I have ever read. If you love tennis, read this book. If you don't love tennis, but love great storytelling, read this book. Actually, if you're human and you have feelings about anything, read this book.

Andre Agassi might be one of the best and most iconic tennis players in history, but he's also extremely candid about having had personal battles with his playing tennis professionally. Throughout his career, whether he was winning or losing, he hated his life's work. Which is really quite something to admit, and to address. He also admits that for much of the time while his famous mane propelled his highly marketable image as a bleached-mullett-wearing-style-rebel, he had to wear a hair piece -- since he'd lost his actual hair.

Agassi explains that his romance with Brooke Shields was in no way the ideal one the public imagined. He also shares with us the heartwarming (and heart-stoppingly romantic) point in his story when he enters into a pure, honest, comfortable and loving existence with his now wife, fellow tennis icon Stefi Graf. With Graf, he enjoys a life full of understanding and giving -- even beyond their own family.

'Open' is superb summer reading, especially for lovers of Wimbledon and/or the various Opens. For tennis fans and well beyond.

OBTAINABILITY: There are plenty of options to purchase Open on Amazon.

Is The Curled Shag The 'Worst' Hairstyle In History?

Originally published for Vintage Fashion at The Examiner. (Warning: do not attempt this hairstyle at home.)

The curled shag and/or mullet is a high-maintenance hairstyle worn by almost every actress appearing in the first season of the The Bob Newhart Show, an MTM Enterprises series that began its run in 1972. In the first episodes of the first season of The Bob Newhart Show (and subsequently), the dubious hairstyle appears on: Carol Kester, Bob Hartley's secretary (played by Marcia Wallace); Emily Hartley, Bob Hartley's wife (played by Suzanne Pleshette); the Hartleys' neighbor, who frequently drops in; Bob Hartley's mother; and so on. But first, two important distinctions must be made.

Primarily, the curled shag -- or curled mullet -- is curled laboriously using a curling brush or hot rollers; it is not be mistaken with a naturally curly mullet, or a naturally curly shag. Secondly, please note that labeling this hairstyle as the 'worst' is based on how labor-intensive the hairstyle is to achieve, in direct proportion to the resulting look of the hairstyle -- and in relation with its lifespan, or later resurgence and popularity. To that last point, the curled shag/mullet is a hairstyle that has not been recycled or replicated since the 1970's, unlike nearly every style in the history of hair design. Reasons behind its inevitable demise, and its failure to reconnect with subsequent generations, are plenty.

The curled mullet is a laborious style to achieve, unlike other shaggy looks. The purpose of a shag or mullet is (and should be) that it's an easy hairstyle to wear and maintain. At the very least it should have the semblance of ease, even if there is a great deal of effort behind its carefree appeal. (See Rod Stewart's perpetually-spiked, admittedly high-maintenance mullet; he dedicated an entire chapter to his hair in Rod: The Autobiography.) 

There have been so many variations of the mullet. But whether it's a spiky, shorter Ziggy Stardust look, the Paul and Linda McCartney Wings-era wings -- or a longer, more metal version -- the mullet, shag, 'ape drape', etcetera tends to have a rock-and-roll edge. Even the Florence Henderson/Carol Brady hairstyle, which has gotten such a bad rap over the years, can make the right gal or guy look rocker cool. 

But take that shag and/or mullet, then take a curling brush and/or hot rollers and start curling each layer, then tease those curled layers up, then spray them in place and you're left with a time-consuming horror of helmet hair that has all the potential to be worn by an active, spunky 90-something-year-old lady. Even she would rather not wear her hair in a curled shag.

Indeed, there's nothing cool or fun about this hairstyle and it's unflattering on even the most beautiful woman. Case in point: Suzanne Pleshette, who was a stunning beauty, could barely pull off this hairstyle. 

Do you agree that the curled shag and/or the curled mullet is the worst hairstyle in the history? Or is there a less attractive, more high-maintenace, non-replicated and/or non-recycled hairstyle than the curled shag, or the curled mullet? Share your take on the curled shag and/or curled mullet in the comments.

Classic Endorsement: Jean Shrimpton in 1967 for Lambretta Scooters

Lambretta Scooter 1967 and Jean Shrimpton

(Originally published for Vintage Fashion at The Examiner.)

Italian motor scooters Lambretta (by Innocenti) were a popular alternative to the Vespa, also Italian, in the 1950s and 1960s. The ideas and principles that guided what the Lambretta would become were originally conceived in the pre-WWII era.

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Gennaio/Febbraio|January/February

The scooter was designed by Corradino D'Ascanio, who was hired by Innocenti to create a motorbike that could appeal to both men and women. D'Ascanio's solution was a vehicle with a 'pass-through leg area design' to allow women wearing dresses or skirts to ride.

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Marzo/Aprile|March/April

By 1967, Lambretta hired Jean Shrimpton to pose for their calendar to memorable effect. Jean Shrimpton was known for her beautifully balanced features, her great poise, and for being the premiere representative of Swinging London and mod fashion.

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Maggio/Giugno|May/June

Shrimpton was the right model to globally endorse the Lambretta as a sleek vehicle of choice for the youth and mod culture of 1967. Shrimpton's stature in the fashion world drew attention to the elegance and design of the Lambretta.

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Luglio/Agosto|July/August

The Shrimp, as she had been monikered, was styled in miniskirts and colorful ensembles for the Lambretta calendar. She posed next to each scooter as if she and the scooter were modeling together. Again, this pointed to the beauty of the Lambretta itself. Shrimpton's beauty and relaxed poses were well in synch with the elements of fun, freedom, and functionality inherent in the use of motor scooters as a mode of transport.  

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Settembre/Ottobre|September/October

Despite countless fashion shoots and magazine covers, the images of Jean Shrimpton posing with Lambretta scooters for their 1967 calendar remain some of her most iconic.

Lambretta 1967 Calendar
Novembre/Decembre|November/December

A Potentially Cruel Summer for Denim Overalls (a.k.a. Support Your Local Dungarees)

(Originally published for Vintage Fashion at The Examiner.)

Summer is quickly closing in on us. The first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere this year begins at 1:04 AM Eastern Time on June 21st. We're not quite there -- but at this time of year (the tail end of spring) it's especially difficult to hear Bananarama's 'Cruel Summer' without imagining hot summer days. And denim overalls.

The British trio filmed their iconic 'Cruel Summer' video in New York City in the summer of 1983. They filmed it in August, when it was over a hundred degrees. It was their first visit to NYC. People who've been in New York in August can attest that the humidity there can be cruel.

Summers are not as heated and oppressive in other parts of the U.S. In northern California -- specifically in foggy San Francisco -- summertime tends to be colder than spring. Therefore, summers in San Francisco can be considered somewhat cruel. Even natives have trouble accepting the strange climate in the city by the bay, despite being privy to it year after year.

The idea of wearing minimal clothing for three months is generally appealing, and what a 'cruel summer' is, in terms of climate, can largely depend on one's geographical location: is it cruel because it's too hot, or not hot at all?

This summer might also be a cruel one for denim overalls. An injustice of sorts has befallen the lowly overall, and here's why. Rompers have been a spring and summer staple for years, and denim overalls made a bold comeback more recently. This past winter, an almost overzealous case for denim overalls (for adult women) was being made around the globe.

In the UK, for example, denim overalls were already on sale in various shops by March. Citizens of Humanity denim overalls appeared (as worn by denim editor Kelly Connor) in Vogue's Jeanius series in April; Connor made a case for dressing hers up in order to be wearable and more grown up. Having received so much attention, and so early, denim overalls seem a little 'over' already. Otherwise, this would've surely been their summer.

All any pair of denim overalls asks of anyone is to be worn for a little fun, relaxation, or goofing around. Their origins are the opposite: denim overalls were work clothes. Manual work clothes, at that. So in the summertime, denim overalls long to be worn how Banarama wore them: like three rag dolls kicking, jumping, and slouchily skipping along -- after having been stuck in an oppressively hot city when everyone is away on holiday.

Meanwhile, willing participants in cooler climates feel the cruel irony of longing to wear those overalls the way they wish to be worn. Come June, July and August, remember: if you're able to wear a pair of dungarees just to kick back, you should. Loose-fitting overalls everywhere will appreciate the support.

Remembering Ray Manzarek: The Great Orator, Champion of Psychedelic Music & Friend Of The Shaman

Ray Manzarek was a rare breed of rock and roll star. For several decades, he expressed his love for the psychedelic music he created with his band, The Doors, with the utmost self-assurance, satisfaction and pleasure. He celebrated The Doors and their music with fans and fellow musicians. His reverence of the band's illustrious past was still very much a matter of the moment. When asked if The Doors were cognizant of the legacy they would someday have –– in a 2010 interview with MovieWeb for the documentary film 'When You're Strange' –– Manzarek offered some advice: "As a musician... you should only concern yourself about this moment in time. You should never think about legacy. That's only for the press and for hindsight interpretation." But what a great legacy (and journey) Ray Manzarek and his fellow bandmates have had.

Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison were friends before they became rock stars together. They met at UCLA's film school and later reunited at Venice Beach. Manzarek has recalled that while sitting together one day, Morrison sang some of his lyrics for him to songs like 'Moonlight Drive'. "When I heard those songs on the beach, I said we're gonna get a rock band together." Their ambitions were entirely synchronized. As they began to form their band –– named for the doors of perception –– Manzarek also helped Morrison hone in on the 'Lizard King' persona for which he would be revered, then and now. Ray Manzarek cut a striking figure in his own way. With his glasses and more buttoned-up style, he looked like the professor to Jim Morrison's poet. Manzarek also expressed a distinctive, inimitable style with the sound of his keyboards. That eerie, haunting quality to Manzarek's organ playing lifted The Doors to another level, providing a sound unlike any band before them, or since. Manzarek's organ is arguably one of the most instantly recognizable sounds in rock history.

Ray Manzarek's contribution to The Doors also allowed the band to project a definitive mood. Manzarek's musicality connected the minds of The Doors, while Morrison's lyrics captured their collective souls. The Doors might have been a Los Angeles band that formed in Venice Beach, but they didn't set out to depict L.A as the land of suntans and surfing. Theirs was a heavier perspective. John Doe from the punk band X (and a close friend of Manzarek's) has said about the mood and style of The Doors: "It has more to do with Raymond Chandler and Nathaniel West, and 'Sunset Boulevard' the movie, than it does with 'Beach Blanket Bingo,' right? ... It's a real dark place out in LA."

A statement from John Densmore was posted on The Doors' Facebook page on Monday following Manzarek's passing. It read: "There was no keyboard player on the planet more appropriate to support Jim Morrison's words. Ray, I felt totally in sync with you musically. It was like we were of one mind, holding down the foundation for Robby and Jim to float on top of. I will miss my musical brother." Ray Manzarek has had to leave behind many friends, fans and loved ones. Manzarek was married to his wife, Dorothy Fujikawa, since 1967; what a sad loss this is for Dorothy, and for their family.

Ray Manzarek was passionate about music, and about being a musician. A great orator, he was analytical about The Doors, often sounding as professorial as his appearance suggested. In an interview (with Racciano Productions) Manzarek said, "Jim's contribution to music was that Jim was real. Jim was real on stage. Jim was real when he wrote his songs, when he sang his songs in the studio. He was not a performer. He was not an entertainer. He was not a showman. He was a shaman." Manzarek might not have believed in planning a musical legacy, but he believed in preserving one. Manzarek was a lively conversationalist about The Doors. Waxing philosophical had never been as charming as when Ray Manzarek would tell a story about his band's psychedelic adventures. His erudite appearance could always mislead; when he spoke, he did so without reservations or hang-ups. No topic seemed off-limits. Ray Manzarek was not only one of the founding members of The Doors as they began, he was also happy to be the historian for The Doors until the end. Ray Manzarek's presence is already missed and he won't be forgotten.

In Oliver Stone's 1991 film 'The Doors', Kyle MacLachlin was perfectly cast as Manzarek. Similarly handsome features aside, Ray Manzarek himself had an organized and highly capable Special Agent Dale Cooper quality about him (Cooper being MacLachlin's iconic Twin Peaks character.) Dale Cooper also believed in spirits –– and shamans. One has to believe them in order to see them. Manzarek didn't just see the shaman, he accompanied him on the journey of a lifetime. Ray and Jim are together again, now, on the other side of the door. Another journey has begun. Rest in peace, Ray Manzarek, and thank you for the music.

Solar Energy, Nikola Tesla, Feminism: Prom Night With Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

The Band

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark is a band comprised of Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys. As a pair, they look like they could have starred in 1980's Merchant-Ivory films or 'Chariots Of Fire'. 

 

In reality, they are actually associated with one very iconic John Hughes film. I had the great fortune to see their songs performed live recently. It's difficult to focus on any one aspect of their journey. OMD has a legacy of mastering pure electro-pop, and they remain true to their sound. So let's begin with where they are TODAY. They released an album in 2013 called 'English Electric'.

OMD's English Electric album

This new release by OMD is solid. Check out OMD's latest video for the song 'Metroland' (it's an adorable video.)

From the lengthy (when non-acronymed) name of the band, to each melody and lyric they've put forth, this is a duo that doesn't cut corners. If they do something, they will do it right. Scientifically so. And as I witnessed recently, when they perform they give everything they can to make that song everything it can be. 

It's not about over-performing for the sake of personal gain, and it's not about selfish absorption of energy from their loving audience. It's about the output of energy (at just the right level) to make each song function at its most optimal, propelled by the current that runs from the band to the audience and back again. Electricity in its purest form, still. And they clearly loved that energy as much as we, the audience, did.

Electricity (and Solar Energy)

What has always attracted me to their songs and lyrics has been a sense of sweetness and intelligence. And their passion for science is always evident, as in one of my favorite conclusions to any song –– in 'Electricity':

The alternative is only one

The final source of energy 

Solar electricity!

I've been a solar energy advocate for most of my life. My father worked for a solar power company for several years in the late-80s. Our home in Portland, Oregon functioned on solar energy without a single hitch. It was very much a a solution, even back then. Even in a city and state known for being cloudy for much of the year. The sun is strong enough to power every place on Earth easily, and completely. We all know that, or should. But yes. OMD proposed the use of solar power via their song's lyrics in 1979...!

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are essentially forward thinking futurists like their hero Nikola Tesla. Which brings me to 'Tesla Girls', a song they released in 1984. 

Nikola Tesla (and Tesla Girls)

'No! No! No!' 'Tesla Girls' is not just a means to pay homage to their hero, famed electrical engineer and futurist Nikola Tesla, a man greatly responsible for the use of electricity as we've known it; the song gives pause to appreciate smart girls. 

Nikola Tesla

This is a band who announced to the world that they appreciated women for their brains. (Imagine that...! :)) Aside from the more obvious reference suggested by 'Tesla Girls', that certain women having a magnetism similar to electricity––and that attraction being tough for a man in love to understand––these are men who were so ahead in their thinking they resolved to admire what so many scientists have long suggested: that women tend to be smarter than men. OMD embraced that idea instead of hiding from it. So, yes. 'Tesla Girls' is a feminist song by a group of men in the 1980's.

Tesla girls, Tesla girls

Testing out theories

Electric chairs and dynamos

Dressed to kill, they're killing me

But Heaven knows their recipe

(No No No)

You wouldn't believe me if I said

The things I've seen went over my head

I've been patient Heaven knows

I've learnt the rules and how it goes

I can't sit still or settle down

And when I walk I don't touch the ground

See those girls they're heaven blessed

I guess it's so they know best

Tesla girls, Tesla girls

Writing in their diaries

Now and then they'll watch TV

Now and then they'll speak to me

But Heaven knows their recipe

The Show

A lifetime of loving Orchestral Maneouvres in the Dark did not prepare me for how much I would enjoy their recent live performance at San Francisco's Regency Ballroom on April 12, 2013. I was looking forward to the show and didn't want to set my expectations too high. And then the actual experience exceeded all of my expectations. Here's a photo of me at the end of the show (lingering after the majority of people had filed out) feeling moved by the glory of synth-pop I'd just witnessed.

This is how it went: the crowd that gathered at the Regency Ballroom kept growing until the place was filled to capacity. It was a packed house, and I'd never seen the popular venue as crowded. Everyone was smiling, happy to be there. People were genuinely being nice to one another. Multiple strangers complimented me on my jacket, and my iPhone cover––fittingly, an 80's 'cassette tape' one (pictured below.) People in attendance were being friendly for no apparent reason. 

My cassette phone cover

I realized that people who love this band are just sweet people. Because O.M.D. is what one would call a 'nice' band, and that's a wonderful thing to be. I also had this tremendous sense of 80's nostalgia as I looked around, despite the fact that the audience age-range was broader (and younger) than one would expect for an original 80's electro-pop band. But that's just it: 80's electro-pop still sounds exciting and this style of music gains new fans every day. There was so much vibrant energy, everywhere! Reminding me again of the very band we were waiting to see and their super-fast song 'Electricity'. I made a bet they'd close the show with that one, and I was right.

If You Leave

I also knew the band has a funny love-hate relationship with arguably their biggest hit: 'If You Leave'. Before breaking out into his fantastic 80's style dancing when the music begins, Andy McCluskey amusingly said at another recent show: 'We don't normally play this song but we will for you tonight. It's a song that ruined our careers. We were doing great as an alternative band 'til we wrote this... [music begins] It's still fucking great, mind you!' See that great performance below.

I was interested to see how they'd introduce the big song at the Regency Ballroom. I could tell everyone present was a dedicated fan like myself, people who know and love the entire oeuvre of The Manoeuvres. Not just one big song from that one soundtrack, made especially popular by the prom night romance of that epic love triangle of Andie, Duckie and 'Blaine? His name is Blaine? That's not a name, that's a major appliance!' 

Prom Night

As O.M.D. themselves have said, despite (and in large part, because of) everything it represents... "It's still a fucking great song." And that is not a subjective sentiment. It IS a f%#!ing great song. Everyone who breathes will agree in their hearts and minds, even if they wouldn't declare it out loud. Just as it brought odd couple Andie and Blaine together for a kiss, closing out an incredibly poignant and romantic movie, 'If You Leave' is a song that anyone belonging to any clique, group, subculture, or what have you, can agree upon. Because it's a song that fully accomplishes what it sets out to do. It's romantic. When they played it for us, their captive audience, I suddenly realized I'd never before heard as beloved a pop song as that one performed live. It was such an amazing feeling to be in the midst of a roomful of people in a state of euphoria over that song, one that everyone associates to either the memorable romance of 'Pretty In Pink', a prom night fantasy or a reality of their own.

Enola Gay

The show was incredible, packed with all their greatest songs and a few new tunes. Some of my favorites aside from the aforementioned 'Electricity', which closed out the encore as the final song of the night: "Secret', 'Souvenir', 'Enola Gay', Walking On the Milky Way', 'So In Love', 'Joan Of Arc', 'Locomotion', 'Messages'. They played them all. Here's a quick video of 'Enola Gay' from the night that gives some idea of how the show looked and felt.

Tesla Girls

And they also played 'Tesla Girls' that night –– for the first time in a long while, as Andy explained. Lucky us! I'm so glad they did.

David O. Russell Is From Another Time

David O. Russell might have traveled here from the past. Whether or not you believe in time travel, his brand of filmmaking in today's world is remarkable. He is the only director working today with a penchant for telling stories (that touch on tough topics) with incredible humor and wit, without making a joke out his characters. The joke is not on anyone in a David O. Russell picture –– but it might just be on life itself. He's the only director I can think of who's gifted enough to make true screwball, romantic comedies out of even the most dour scenarios. And he's the only one whose work comes close to directors from around the Depression-era, those who were able to bring a kind of magical, yet believable, earnestness to the silver screen. David O. Russell could be, might be (or is he??) from another time.

Even his name, David O. Russell, belongs in another era. It has that kind of ring to it (it even recalls the big name of Selznick, the other David O.) In my mind, he could be out there in the 1930's or 1940's, receiving accolades alongside his 'peers-from-another-time', Frank Capra or Howard Hawks. Imagine a creepy moment now –– like in 'The Shining', when you realize Jack Torrance had always been at The Overlook Hotel as he appears in that photograph from 1921.

Maybe there's a photograph of David O. Russell alongside Preston Sturges at a film directors' function of some sort, somewhere. This theory is both delightful and scary.

Preston Sturges | David O. Russell

And speaking of Preston Sturges, his 'Sullivan's Travels' is one of just a handful of movies that struck such a deep chord in me, instilling the desire to be involved with filmmaking in some capacity. I see a lot of what I love about 'Sullivan's Travels' in David O. Russell's films.

Is David O. Russell the improved Sullivan... incarnate?

That 'Sullivan's Travels' connection can be broken down into three aspects that appear in each of my four favorite David O. Russell films:

1. Main protagonist embarks on an unusual, perspective-altering journey, which directly ties with his career or family. 
2. Protagonist meets unusual and alluring people along the way –– who join this journey and make a huge impression on said protagonist.
3. Characters depicted in the story manage to be both incredibly easy to relate to... and yet, somehow, they are unlike anyone you'll meet in life (reality+magic, ordinary people living extraordinary lives –– or the failed attempt at the opposite, as in the case of 'Sullivan's Travels'.)

In fact, I'll take it a step further and say that David O. Russell may have actually been like John L. Sullivan (again, that name from another era) –– a successful Hollywood director who wants to show the world what real life and real problems are like, only to realize people would rather laugh and be entertained when they watch a movie to escape from all the misery of life (not to relive it again) –– however, David O. Russell has achieved what Sullivan had hoped to achieve and beyond. He found the key to showing what has potential to feel real and true, without losing your audience, is by balancing that with strong doses of cheer. Maybe David O. Russell's time traveling is in fact that he is the new-and-improved, and wiser, Sullivan... incarnate!

The four films that have this 'Sulivan's Travels' connection for me are:

Flirting With Disaster (1996) 

I'm a huge fan of this movie (it's been my favorite of David O. Russell's until 'Silver Linings Playbook' came around. Now they are tied for favorite.)  

Quintessential screwball comedy. It's just as funny today as it was in 1996. Considering how poorly comedies from the 1990's hold up, that says an awful lot about David O. Russell's timeless sensibilities. 

Just thinking about this movie makes me laugh. Did anyone else notice the 'Bringing Up Baby' references? For example, the fiance/spouse in both films is a scientist. I still cry from laughing at the various madcap misadventures that take place on this journey, and I especially love the accidental acid trip scene with the Schlichtings. 

As with all of Russell's films, could the cast have been any better? Apart of the main trio, I'm thrilled there's a movie I can watch containing Mary Tyler Moore, George Segal, Alan Alda, Lily Tomlin, Richard Jenkins, Josh Brolin –– the list goes on.

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

So many heavy questions about life and our very existence are at play –– and yet somehow, this movie couldn't be any lighter or more enjoyable. I heart this movie (sorry, had to say it.)

The casting here is once again top-notch. Lily Tomlin returned to work with David O. Russell (and famously threw a fit in a moment of frustration) playing an 'existential detective', along with Dustin Hoffman. Naomi Watts is truly memorable in her oddball role, Isabelle Huppert and Mark Wahlberg round out the cast with some great moments. There is really no shortage of talent here.

'I Heart Huckabees' is a movie that would have fallen apart at the hands of another director, but with David O. Russell's screwball comedy prowess, it's highly entertaining. And I personally love its existential messages and leanings.

The Fighter (2010)
When I sat down in the theater to watch 'the Fighter', I wasn't sure what I was in for, since it looked like it would be another dour but inspirational true-to-life (based on a true story) boxing picture. I was curious to see what David O. Russell wanted to do with it.

The opening sequence of this movie was enough for me to walk out right then and there satisfied and happy. It's probably one of the most buoyant and jubilant opening sequences of all time, perfectly capturing the humorous side of the two brothers, Mickey Ward and Dickey Eklund. It also manages to show us that in this dumpy town, where people could be down and depressed –– they actually know how to live, and to laugh. The opening welcomes you right into their world, and you're happy to join the party.

Another example of brilliant casting: The Ladies. Melissa Leo was about to hit the big time and win an Oscar for her role as Alice Ward, tough mother to quite a lot of kids: countless equally tough daughters (ones with hairstyles, wardrobes and attitudes that don't typically appear on movie screens –– which is hysterical) and the two boxing sons. 

Amy Adams also shows her tougher side in this movie (and by this film, it was obvious what kind of range she has.) Looks can be deceiving, and anyone who has see 'The Fighter' can attest that despite its seemingly down-trodden appearance, it is an extremely uplifting and fun movie to watch. 

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
My favorite movie of 2012 –– and even in recent memory. Forget Bradley Cooper's countless, well-deserved nominations for 'Silver Linings Playbook', his work in this movie is astonishing. His performance has recently been eclipsed by the one given by his talented costar, Jennifer Lawrence, who has actually been winning the awards for which she's been nominated. But don't be mistaken: Bradley Cooper is the shining star of this movie. His is THE performance of the year, in my opinion.

The cast is incredibly talented, like they have been in all of David O. Russell's films. But in 'Silver Linings Playbook', everyone hits their stride in what becomes one of those rare movie experiences where every scene, and every performer in it, is just perfect. 

Again, David O. Russell tackles a tough (and very timely) topic –– mental health –– but he does it with so much warmth, sweetness, and humor that his film becomes a screwball comedy instead of a downer. That is much more challenging and masterful work than making a straight comedy, drama, thriller... what have you. Watching this movie, I laughed, I cried... I cried from laughing. The range of emotions we feel along with the characters is of staggering, in some ways life-altering, proportions. On this particular journey, we are all entirely engaged from start to finish. It's a perfectly executed David O. Russell film. The director is now at the very peak of his game.

Robert De Niro and Jackie Weaver are so believable as Bradley Cooper's parents –– their love for their son is palpable and incredibly moving. Like many movie lovers, I agree that it was refreshing to see De Niro back to his rightful place and level here. His collaboration with David O. Russell has been a welcomed reminder of what his acting is all about. As soon as we left the theater after watching 'Silver Linings Playbook', long before others had even heard about it (it was only playing in one theater in all of San Francisco at the time) I announced with assurance to my husband that all four actors –– Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, and Jackie Weaver –– would be nominated for Oscars. I hoped David O. Russell and the movie would, too.

I also hoped Chris Tucker might be on a short list for best supporting actor nominations. In fact, the entire supporting cast was surprisingly excellent.

I wasn't sure what to expect with the dance scenes. I've studied ballet throughout all of my adult years, in particular (and danced whenever I could from grade school through college), and there are certain emotions that movies depicting dancing (or dancers) just don't capture well. Since these two characters are meant to be lowly amateurs, competing for the sake of connecting, I didn't expect much besides humor and potential embarrassment from the final dance sequence.

And here is where I prayed that the film's EDITOR would get an Oscar nomination. (Follow up note: the film's editor did get a nod from the Academy.)  I won't go into verbal detail, but the dance sequence made me cry. Somehow, David O. Russell, the camera crew, the editor –– everyone involved –– understood what this sequence should look like and mean, those moments in motion. I felt exhilarated, and my heart was breaking at the same time. This very surprising scene, its outcome and the way it was executed was pure movie magic. I told my husband between tears, this is a timeless scene –– this scene is an instant classic.

Long after the Oscars and awards brouhaha have ended, people will watch 'Silver Linings Playbook', and that dance sequence (such a classic, rewarding scene) will live on and make people smile, laugh and cry over and over again. Just like any great screwball (or depression-era) comedy, this one will long live in our hearts and minds.