It was the summer of 1990. I was 14 years old and at a crossroads.

New Kids on the Block, Sweet Valley High books, and Growing Pains didn’t appeal to me anymore, and I was looking for whatever would come next.

I’m not sure how I came across Sassy magazine for the first time, but it was probably while browsing the magazine rack at a suburban Minneapolis Super America, looking for something to read other than the YM I had already read and the dozens of boy-crazy rags like The Big Bopper with Kirk Cameron’s goofy mug on the cover.

I remember reading Sassy for the first time knowing immediately that it was different. It called bullshit on the crap that other teen magazines fawned over and instead covered independent film, music and NYC culture. It was honest and funny and ironic, and it had the tone of a street-wise older sister who was much cooler than I was.

Sassy’s awesomeness is well documented on the internet—there’s even a book about it—so I’m not unique in saying that Sassy magazine changed my life. And it did, in a big way.

Back in the summer of 1990, Sassy’s editors compiled a small pull-out booklet for the July issue of the magazine. Titled 150 Things to Read, Watch, and Listen To, So You Don’t Die of Boredom This Summer, it was an annotated list of seminal records, movies, and books that were favorites of the editors and writers.

Not only had I not seen, listened to, or read any of the titles in the booklet, and I not even HEARD of most of them. And this intrigued me. It was like the cooler older sister was throwing down the gauntlet to see if I was up to the challenge.

And so I made it my personal quest to find the books, movies & music on the list and study them that summer.

Of course, this was all before the internet, before Amazon, Google, eBay, Netflix, YouTube, and iTunes made it ridiculously easy to find anything that you want instantly.

This was when tracking down physical copies of obscure titles was a quest, and the hunt became part of the media’s meaning.

A lot of the stuff on the list I flat-out didn’t get.

Movies I watched went right over my head—Dr. Strangelove for example. And when I listened to a band like the Buzzcocks, I heard mostly noise.

But though some of the movies, books, and music were cryptic to my 14-year-old brain, they planted something in my unconsciousness, and they created a life-long love of Stanley Kubrick, Lou Reed, and Frank Conroy.

In fact, I can trace just about every piece of media that I love back to that pull-out booklet from 1990.

Like almost all pieces of ephemera, my pull-out booklet was thrown out in the trash, and I never saw it again.

Until this spring when I was able to track down on eBay a July 1990 copy of Sassy with the booklet intact.

In the spirit of the true Internet, where everything is shared and nothing is ever lost, I decided to digitize the booklet’s suggestions so some 14-year-old girl has instant access to all the media it took me years to find on foot back in the ’90s.

To today’s 14-year-old girl, most of the stuff on the list is going to seem dated. But I hope it will help her understand her Gen X parents better, and know that wherever we are right now in culture, it came from someplace else.

The Movies/Videos

The Music

The Books

Download a copy of the scanned booklet

Get the background on this list.

Videos/Movies

Adam’s Rib

Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy play husband-and-wife lawyers on opposite sides of a women’s right’s case. (Comedy/Drama)

Annie Hall

The best break-up movie ever, through the eyes of Woody Allen. (Comedy/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex.)

Baby, It’s You

A doctor’s preppy daughter takes up with a greaser, much to the horror of your equally preppie friends. (Drama/Romance/Comedy/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex)

Barbarella

Pre-politicized Jane Fonda as a space-traveling sex kitten. Also where Duran Duran got their name. (Comedy/Sci-Fi/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex)

Birdy

Matthew Modine is a shell-shocked Vietnam vet who thinks he’s a bird. Nicholas Cage tries to help. (Drama/There is no way you’ll guess the ending/Cute boy fest/Sob alert/Movie with a message)

The Blob

Double feature: See Steve McQueen in the 1958 original, then view the ’88 remake with Kevin Dillon. (Horror/Sci-Fi/Cute boy fest/Do not eat before, during or after this movie)

Blood Simple

This twisted tale of murder and passion will make you scared of rednecks. (Comedy/Drama/There is no way you’ll guess the ending)

Brazil

Mind-blowing futuristic nightmare that also manages to be darkly funny.  (Comedy/Drama/There is no way you’ll guess the ending/Movie with a message)

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Starring Audrey Hepburn, featuring clothes you gotta have. (Comedy/Drama/Romance/Sob alert)

Dawn of the Dead

Ghouls in a shopping mall. Sequel to—and better than—Night of the Living Dead. (Horror/Comedy/Do not eat before, during or after this movie)

Decline of the Western Civilization, Part 1 and Part 2

The punk and heavy metal movements, featuring shockingly candid interviews with real musicians. (Documentary/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/Movie with a message)

Desperately Seeking Susan

Madonna is the very essence of early ’80s hip New York-ness. (Comedy/Romance/Mystery/Cute boy fest).

Diva

Cute postman loves opera and that’s what gets him in trouble. An amazing movie to look at—you’ll wish you were French. (Drama/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex)

Do the Right Thing

Spike Lee directs a day in the life of a Brooklyn pizza joint and says more about racism in America than anyone else in Hollywood. (Comedy/Drama/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/Movie with a message/Sob alert)

Dr. Strangelove

Still brilliant (and true) political satire after 20 years; dead genius Peter Sellers plays three of the parts. (Comedy/Drama/There is no way you’ll guess the ending/Movie with a message)

Drugstore Cowboy

The first cliche-free movie about drug addicts. Plus Matt Dillon. (Comedy/Drama/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/Teenagers as they really are)

East of Eden

The only James Dean movie worth getting excited about. (Drama/Cute boy fest)

Fandango

Boys on the road right before Vietnam. (Comedy/Drama/Cute boy fest)

Gates of Heaven

This deadpan look at a pet cemetery proves truth is stranger than fiction. (Comedy/Documentry)

The Girl Can’t Help It

Bodacious Jayne Mansfield wants to be a rock star. Great early cameos by Little Richard and Eddie Cochran. (Comedy/Romance)

The Graduate

Angst-ridden college grad has an affair with a married woman, then falls in love with her daughter. (Comedy/Romance/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex)

A Hard Day’s Night

Comedy starring The Beatles that captures their early fabness. (Comedy/Cute boy fest)

Harold & Maude

Optimistic old lady + pessimistic young man = the kookiest love story ever. (Comedy/Drama/Romance/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/There is no way you’ll guess the ending/Movie with a message)

Heathers

(Teenagers as they really are, like, x5)

High School

A fly-on-the-wall view of a real, live high school in the ’70s. (Documentary)

High School Confidential

A 1950s anti-drug morality tale that’s a scream. Dig that crazy beatnik poet. (Comedy/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex)

How to Marry a Millionaire

Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable all snag rich husbands (Comedy/Romance).

Lady and the Tramp

And for that matter, 101 Dalmatians.

The Misfits

Marilyn Monroe again, this time trying to save lots of wild horses from dog-food-hunting cowboys. Her last film. (Drama/Romance/Sob alert)

My Life as a Dog

Gorgeous little boy loses dog. Loses mom. Finds quirky uncle. Finds friends. From Sweden. (Drama/Sob alert)

Near Dark

Even cooler than The Lost Boys. Gorier too. (Horror/Mystery/Cute boy fest/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex/Do not eat before, during or after this movie)

A Nightmare on Elm Street

See Johnny Depp get sucked into a bed. (Horror/Cute boy fest/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex)

Notorious

Ingrid Bergman was never so sexy, Cary Grant was never so dark. Arguably Alfred Hitchcock’s best. (Romance/Mystery)

Polyester

Forget Cry-Baby, this is the kind of truly sick stuff John Waters does best.  (Comedy/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/Do not eat before, during or after this movie)

Pumping Iron and Pumping Iron II, The Women

Real body builders (including Arnold Schwarzenegger) get big bodies and heads for the Mr./Ms. Universe contests. (Documentary/Movie with a message)

Repo Man

This movie about a punk-style car repossessor proves that Emilio Estevez was cool. Once. (Comedy/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex/Movie with a message)

River’s Edge

The dark side of friendship. Keanu has yet to top this. (Drama/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex/Teenagers the way they really are)

Rock ‘N’ Roll High School

Punk-era celebration of mindless adolescence, starring the Ramones (Comedy/Romance/Teenagers the way they really are)

Say Anything

You mean you haven’t seen this yet? (Comedy/Romance/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex/Teenagers the way they really are)

Some Kind of Wonderful

Eric Stoltz when he was humble. (Drama/Romance/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex/Teenagers the way they really are)

Soylent Green

Campy story about post-Greenhouse-effect life, and getting truer by the minute. (Sci-Fi/You’ll never guess the ending/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex/Movie with a message)

Stand by Me

River Phoenix was only this big. (Drama/Cute boy fest)

The Stepford Wives

You’ll never look at your mother the same way again. (Horror/Mystery)

A Streetcar Named Desire

If your mom’s always going on about Marlon Brando, this is why. (Drama/Romance/Sob alert)

This is Spinal Tap

Docu-style comedy about a trash metal band. If you’re left wondering who would make a movie about a band this bad, you didn’t get it. (Comedy/To be seen with a member of the opposite sex)

2,000 Maniacs

Do not eat before, during or after this movie!!!!!

Valley of the Dolls

Classic ’60s bitchery between Hollywood starlets, and some mighty swell hairdos. (Comedy/Drama/Romance)

Viva Las Vegas

Indisputable proof that Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley are the same person. (Comedy/Action/Romance)

The Year My Voice Broke

A younger boy loves an older girl. She gets pregnant and he gets burned. (Comedy/Drama/Potentially embarrassing if viewed with the folks/Teenagers the way they really are)

Get the background on this list.

Music

After the Gold Rush

Neil Young. Yeah, he’s weird, but this stuff comes straight from the heart. (Folk rock/Music to be alone with)

Ain’t That a Groove

James Brown. He’s old enough to be your grandfather but still showing the world how it’s done. (Soul/Best at speaker-busting volume/Take to a party)

Avalon

Roxy Music. Bryan Ferry is the master scribe of superior love songs. Great makeout or pining music. (Rock/Soul/Music to be alone with/To be heard with a member of the opposite sex)

Back to Mystery City

Hanoi Rocks. The ultimate of their trashy-metal-glam sound for those who like to crank up the volume. (Metal/Best at speaker-busting volume/Music to be in the car with)

Blood on the Tracks

Bob Dylan. Released in ’75, this was Bob’s last true masterpiece. (Folk rock/Rock/Music to be alone with)

Patsy Cline’s Greatest Hits

Miss Cline is the Bob Dylan of barn dances. (Country/Dead artist/Music to be alone with/Music to be in the car with)

Cosmic Thing

The B-52′s. Surreal meets funky in outer space. Rock the house. (New Wave/Rock/Take to a party/Music to be in the car with)

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Bruce Springsteen. Raw boss, not the commercial stuff of Born in the U.S.A. (Rock/Music to be in the car with)

Different Light

Bangles. Their second, most popular and least predictable. (Rock/Take to a party/Music to be in the car with)

Dirty Mind

Prince. The Purple One when he was still controversial—crude, throbbing and very danceable. (Soul/Take to a party/Music to be in the car with)

English Settlement

XTC. The British quartet’s multi-layered sound takes some getting used to, but then it becomes addictive. Get the two-record British version. (New Wave/Music to be alone with)

Exile on Main Street

Rolling Stones. The Stones discover America and let it all hang out. Their zenith—and that’s saying something. (R0ck/Best at speaker-busting volume/Take to a party)

More Fun in the New World

X. The best cruising music on this or any planet, by the vastly underrated L.A. post-punks. (Punk/Best at speaker-busting volume/Music to be in the car with)

Al Green/Greatest Hits

A good place to start getting to know one of the best R&B voices in the biz. (To be heard with a member of the opposite sex)

The Harder They Come, Soundtrack

Jimmy Cliff and others. Beach music doesn’t get much better than this. Pass the coconut oil, mon. (Reggae/Take to a party)

Hexbreaker!

The Fleshtones. Semi-psychedelic ’80s garage rock from one New York’s finest. (Rock/Best at speaker-busting volume/Take to a party)

Hunky Dory

David Bowie. This is pre-Ziggy Stardust,  with charming acoustic stuff like “Fill Your Heart” and “Kooks.” (Rock/Music to be alone with)

King of Rock

Run-D.M.C. These rotund masters of the mike have an awesome sense of humor. “You Talk Too Much” could be the soundtrack to your worst dates. (Rap/Best at speaker-busting volume)

Eartha Kitt’s Greatest Hits

“Sort of like being in a dinky Paris nightclub in the ’40s–with a sense of humor,” Karen Catchpole, Sassy Magazine. (Music to be alone with)

Labour of Love

UB40. Reggae classics lovingly recreated by these Brits. This one stands the test of time. (Reggae/Bring to a party/Music to be in a car with)

The Lion and the Cobra

Sinéad O’Connor. Her debut album is angrier than her latest, but just as hypnotic. Wear it out. (Rock rock/Rock/Music to be alone with/To be heard with a member of the opposite sex.)

London Calling

The Clash. The pop-rock-shock of this two-record set has made it a punk staple, but less aggressive people will love it too. (Punk/Best at speaker-busting volume/Take to a party)

Marquee Moon

Television. A searing, guitar-soaked melding of poetry and punk. Strap on the headphones and hold tight. (Punk/Rock/Best at speaker-busting volume/Music to be alone with)

Me Myself and I

Joan Armatrading. The woman they kept comparing Tracy Chapman to. Joan’s songs will get you through many a love crisis. (Folk rock/Music to be alone with)

Moondance

Van Morrison. Mood music for a rainy day–mossy green and wet. Bono loves this guy. (Rock rock/Music to be alone with)

Murmur

R.E.M. We chose this album over their others ’cause it’s the first, back when their voice-as-another-instrument, smart words, and jangly guitars really stood out. (Rock/Music to be alone with/Music to be in a car with)

October

U2. Raw stuff, before they were deified. (Rock/Best at speaker-busting volume/Take to a party)

Parallel Lines

Blondie. Prior to Madonna there was Debbie Harry. (New Wave/Take to a party)

Physical Graffiti

Led Zeppelin. Zep’s only double album is also their most varied. A proven cure for metalphobia. (Rock x 3/Metal/Best at speaker-busting volume)

Pure Pop for Now People

Nick Lowe. Pop-punk cynicism, English pub rock and sugary-sweet balladeering make for some fun. (New Wave/Rock.)

Ramones

Ramones. Unrelenting. Brilliant. Enough said. (Punk/Best at speaker-busting volume/Music to be in a car with)

Rebel Yell

Billy Idol. Rock doesn’t get more straight-ahead than this. The essential beach accessory. (Rock/Best at speaker-busting volume/Music to be in a car with.)

Roachford

Roachford.  A brill R&B debut that was virtually ignored. (Rock/Soul/Take to a party.)

Searching for the Young Soul Rebels

Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Imagine if Otis Redding were British and white. (Soul/Take to a party.)

Singles Going Steady

Buzzcocks. A collection of their A- and B-sides, these frenetic Brits are like the Ramones with intellect. (New Wave/Best at speaker-busting volume)

The Slider/Electric Warrior

T. Rex. The best in early ’70s glam rock, contains the original “Bang a Gong” (two-album set). (Rock/Dead artist/Take to a party)

Sly and the Family Stone’s Greatest Hits

Hot fun in the summertime from the king of shake your thing. (Soul/Best at speaker-busting volume/Take to a party)

So

Peter Gabriel. This one’s more accessible than his usual stuff. Selections from “Sledgehammer” to “Don’t Give Up” make for some cool variety. (Rock/Music to be alone with/Music to be in a car with/To be heard with a member of the opposite sex)

Soul Mining

The The. No matter how depressed you are, singer/songwriter Matt Johnson will inevitably be more so. (New Wave/Music to be alone with)

Special Beat Service

The English Beat. Early ’80s ska (a faster predecessor of reggae). Some of its members went on to form Fine Young Cannibals. (Reggae/Take to a party)

Squeezing Out Sparks

Graham Parker. The underrated British rocker in all his nasal-voiced glory. (Reggae/Music to be alone with/To be heard with a member of the opposite sex)

Tender Prey

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Surreal lyrics and heavy, dark music–a must-have for alternative music fans. (Rock/Music to be alone with)

Ten Years of Gold

Aretha Franklin. Why Aretha is the goddess of soul. Includes some of her massive torch songs. (Soul/Take to a party/Music to be in a car with)

This Year’s Model

Elvis Costello. (Though the old, chubby, contemplating Elvis is great, let’s not forget the young, skinny, angry man he once was. (New Wave/Best at speaker-busting volume)

3 Feet High and Rising

De La Soul. We defy you to listen to rap’s most innovative threesome and be in a bad mood afterward. (Rap/Soul/Best at speaker-busting volume/Take to a party)

Toys in the Attic

Aerosmith. Any rock and roll fan who doesn’t have this in their collection is committing a heinous crime. (Rock/Metal/Best at speaker-busting volume/Music to be in a car with)

Transformer

Lou Reed. A kinder, gentler, almost sweet Lou. Contains the classic “Walk on the Wild Side.” (Rap/Rock/Music to be alone with)

Trouble Funk, Live from D.C.

Go-go music is like rap with a melody and horns, and it’s rarely captured on vinyl. Which is why this record is such a party. (Rap/Take to a party)

Union

Toni Childs. A voice more powerful than Aretha Franklin’s beautiful African instrumentation and poetic lyrics. A stirring album. (Folk rock/Music to be alone with)

The Kinks and the Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks. Forget about “Lola” and “You Really Got Me.” This pastoral, poetic beauty will show you the real soul of The Kinks. (Folk rock/Rock)

Discount Tires on Havana and Iliff rocks (Denver). Ready for the trip.

Dad, thanks for taking me snowshoeing, fishing, camping, boating, shooting, skiing, X-country skiing, hiking, swimming and biking. Thanks for insisting on educational summer vacations, for teaching me how to change the oil in my car, for showing me how to use power tools. Thanks for always showing up, no matter what.

Patio door sunlight shining through J’s white seamless.