Our Daughters Wedding -

Our Daughters Wedding was an American new wave trio from New York that scored an early synthpop club hit with their 1980 single “Lawnchairs,” included on their 1981 EP Digital Cowboy.

Members: Keith Silva (vocals, synthesizer, keyboards, guitar), Layne Rico (synthesizer, vocals, drums, drum machine), Scott Simon (synthesizer, saxophone, vocals, guitar, bass synth), Jim Nevius

Background

Our Daughters Wedding evolved from the Human Bends, the Bay Area duo of Keith Silva and Layne Rico. After their relocation from Fairfield, California, to Manhattan, they formed a trio with a woman named Vanessa, who soon cleared for Scott Simon. They named their act the way typical Woolworth’s consumers name photo albums (“our son’s graduation,” “my parent’s 40th anniversary,” etc).

1980 Singles

In mid-1980, Our Daughters Wedding released their debut single: “Nightlife” backed with “Raincoats & Silverware,” both Rico/Silva originals on the band’s DIY label, Design Records.

A. “Nightlife” (3:16)
B. “Raincoats & Silverware” (4:20)

Sessions occurred in May 1980 at Tewksbury Sound Recording, a 16-track facility in Richmond, California.

In late 1980, they released their second Design Records single: “Lawnchairs” backed with “Airline,” both Rico/Silva originals.

A. “Lawnchairs” (3:25)
B. “Airline” (3:30)

“Lawnchairs” became the signature Our Daughters Wedding song. In June 1981, the single appeared in the UK and Ireland on EMI America.

Digital Cowboy (EP)

On October 16, 1981, Our Daughters Wedding released Digital Cowboy, an EP with a re-recorded “Lawnchairs” and four new tracks. The EP’s title came from an unrecorded song in their repertoire.

Digital Cowboy appeared on EMI America with two new Rico/Silva co-writes (“Red Alert,” “No One’s Watching”) and two group-credited songs (“Target for Life,” “Dance Floor”). The latter features backing vocals by Katie Kissoon and Pink Floyd sidewoman Liza Strike.

Silva sings and plays guitar, keyboards, and synthesizer. Rico handles synthesizer, drum programming, and backing vocals. Simon plays bass synth, synthesizer, saxophone, and guitar.

A1. “Target for Life” (3:12)
A2. “Red Alert” (3:26)
A3. “Lawnchairs” (3:18)

B1. “Dance Floor” (4:06)
B2. “No One’s Watching” (3:57)

Sessions occurred in August 1981 at Advision Studios in London with producer Colin Thurston, known for work on early titles by Magazine, Duran Duran, and The Human League. EMI staff engineer Clive Goddard assisted.

Digital Cowboy appeared in a photo sleeve with neon type and a live shot of the band by photographer Peter Ashworth, also known for images of Depeche Mode and Soft Cell.

Moving Windows

Our Daughters Wedding released their full-length album, Moving Windows, in 1982 on EMI America.

The album contains eleven songs: six written by Silva and Rico (“Auto Music,” “Elevate Her,” “Daddy’s Slave,” “Longitude 60,” “Always Be True,” and “Paris”), three by Silva and Simon (“She Was Someone,” “Track Me Down,” and “Moving Windows”), and two by Silva alone (“Love Machine” and “Buildings”).

Silva handles vocals, keyboards, and synthesizers. Rico contributes synths, drum programming, and backup vocals. Simon plays additional synths, saxophone, and guitar.

A1. “Auto Music” (3:01)
A2. “She Was Someone” (3:03)
A3. “Elevate Her” (3:29)
A4. “Track Me Down” (3:15)
A5. “Daddy’s Slave” (3:59)
A6. “Longitude 60” (3:19)

B1. “Love Machine” (3:44)
B2. “Always Be True” (2:44)
B3. “Moving Windows” (3:55)
B4. “Paris” (3:14)
B5. “Buildings” (4:20)

Sessions occurred in early 1982 at Intergalactic Studio in Manhattan with producer David Spradley, a longtime P-Funk associate known for work on albums by Bootsy Collins and Zapp. The title track was recorded separately at Electric Lady Studios with producer Frank Simon.

Moving Windows appeared in a cover designed by the band, with a cropped street photograph framed by hand-drawn window graphics.

Discography: