ARTICLES AND FEATURES 17 Up on Jazz Leonard Feather 34 Truck Valley Stu Watson 36 Sunset Over Japan Julian Weiss 41 The First International (Your Name) Bank Bill Belleville 43 Rumplestiltskin Chandler Brossard 48 How to Find Your Next Wife Tad Richards 60 Son of the Desert Morton Kamins 64 Off-Road Muscle Daniel Charles Ross 78 The American Spirit John Bowers 80 Toys for Men Rob Edelstein and Hans Fantel 84 Sex in America, Part Five of Seven
Edited by Laura Deutsch
88 Private Lives: Chateau L'amour PICTORIALS
26 Edy Williams
Jean Rougeron
51 Margo
Jean Rougeron
68 The 'Girl Next Door' April Entries
73The 'Girl Next Door' Monthly Winner April Winner
91 Cindy
Leslie Turtle
107 Kerry
Ron Vogel DEPARTMENTS
6 The Fox Speaks
Editorial
8 Feedback
Correspondence
14 Booktalk
Donald Newlove
15 About Entertainment
Tom Seligson
16 The Right Tracks
Steven Schwartz and David Browne
18 The Great Outdoors
Mike Kimmel
19 Going Places
Chris Dubbs
20 Newswave
24 Keeping Score
Ken Barber
47 Men's Shop
EDITORIAL NOTE
THE FOX SPEAKS
A British economist, commenting on the resurgence of American business within
the past months said, You can't beat the damned Americans. They have it all over
others in knowing how to make a dollar." We also have it all over others
as lovers—but we never seem to publicize the fact. You'd think with the
spirit of competition and sense of self-promotion so ingrained in the American
soul, that we would be proud as hell of our sexual prowess.
But it doesn't quite work that way, does it? For example, try this test on a close
buddy. Ask him how good he is at his job. If he's half a man, he'll brag just
a little bit. Then ask about his tennis or golf game. At the top, he'll compare
himself with John McEnroe or say he's 1984's version of Slammin' Sammy Snead—and
at the very least, he'll admit to "improving daily."
Then the old kickeroo. Ask him, "How good are you in bed?" Then prepare
yourself for a quick right hook to the jaw (if he's in good shape) or a "it's
none of your flubbin' business," if he's a bit laid back. Despite a proliferation
of sexually explicit material from videos to games on the market, we still are
embarrassed by our erotic talent.
Ask a Frenchman the same thing and he'll puff up like a medicine ball and sneer
at your audacity at even doubting his capabilities d'amour. It is of Frenchy's
national characteristic to be not only amorous, but the greatest. (Even though
it happens to be bullshit. Years ago, the late writer Helen Lawrenson disenfranchised
that myth in a much-anthologized essay, "Latins Make Lousy Lovers."
Somehow, though, the myth, ancient and faulty, hangs on.) The truth is Americans
are the world's greatest lovers. Most women think so. Women want us because we're
sexy. And we know how to satisfy them. It's a fact! And one we should herald to
the world. The reason is really simple. Success Orientation!
It's the heart of capitalistic society. It fuels us in every endeavor—from
sandlot baseball to making a real-estate deal. We desperately want success in
sports, business, .in the way we are judged by our peers. Sp it makes sense that
we cannot tolerate a sex relationship that doesn't work. 'So, more than any other
men in the world, we work at it! Over and over, until it's perfect. It's the American
way.
Of course, there are other factors in the American male character that help:
1. We're better lovers because we tend to be honest—in our relationships
and physically. Who needs the "French-style" crapola. Phony as a three-franc
bill. Honesty is sexy!
2. We're not afraid to satisfy ourselves. It isn't all for the woman, although
she benefits from our pleasure. The best lovemaking is an act of mutual enjoyment,
and Americans are more empathetic as concerns their partner's needs.
3. We're willing to talk to a woman during foreplay—finding out what she
likes and letting her know what we like.
4. Sincerity. According to most polls, a crashing majority of American men won't
make love to a woman he doesn't really like. (When they're just bodies—well,
they're just bodies)
5. American men have ingested millions of column inches of advice on how to 1-2
a good lover. How-to sex books remain best-sellers. We seem to be willing students.
6. American men inherently know they don't have the world-class reputation, just
like American food (which is slowly becoming "classic" around the world).
They have to get by on performance. Each time must be like a first.
7. We are the world's most good-natured people. Meanness is not a great handmaiden
to sex—unless, of course, you're into S and M, but that's not at all what
we're talking about.
8. We take the cake for curiosity. And curiosity is the fuel of great loving.
Exploration, new techniques, new ways—always searching, that's us, and it
drives women wild.
9. Tough, determined, fiery, and gentle. Isn't that the best way to describe any
American man who isn't a wimp? All of those ingredients add up to super sex.
If you're not convinced, just take a trip abroad and see what French, Japanese,
Swedish, and German women think. You'll come back pretty proud of yourself. —The
Editors
