The Go‐Go’s | ||
| Allmusic Biography : The Go-Gos were the most popular all-female band to emerge from the punk/new wave explosion of the late 70s and early 80s, becoming one of the first commercially successful female groups that wasnt controlled by male producers or managers. While their hit singles -- "We Got the Beat," "Our Lips Are Sealed," "Vacation," "Head Over Heels" -- were bright, energetic new wave pop, the group was an integral part of the Californian punk scene. And they did play punk rock, even if many of their rougher edges were ironed out by the time they recorded their first album, 1981s Beauty and the Beat. Even as they became Americas darlings, the Go-Gos lived the wild life of rockers, swallowing as many pills and taking as much cocaine as possible, trashing hotel rooms, and just generally being bad. More importantly, their earliest music -- now collected on Return to the Valley of the Go-Gos -- was raw and rocking; it may not have directly inspired the female alternative rockers and riot grrrls of the 90s, but it certainly foreshadowed it. Originally formed in 1978 as the Misfits, the group featured Belinda Carlisle (vocals), Jane Wiedlin (guitar, vocals), Charlotte Caffey (lead guitar, keyboards), Margot Olaverra (bass), and Elissa Bello (drums). The band soon changed its name to the Go-Gos and began playing local parties and small clubs in California. In 1979, Gina Schock became the groups drummer. During that year, the band recorded a demo and supported the British ska revival group Madness in both Los Angeles and England. The Go-Gos spent half of 1980 touring England, earning a sizable following and releasing "We Got the Beat" on Stiff Records. An import copy of "We Got the Beat" became an underground club hit in the U.S., which meant the band was popular enough to sell out concerts, yet they had a difficult time landing a record contract. At the end of 1980, bassist Olaverra became ill and had to stop performing; she was replaced by Kathy Valentine, a guitarist who had never played bass before. Early in 1981, the Go-Gos signed with IRS Records. Released in the summer of 1981, their debut album, Beauty and the Beat, became one of the surprise hits of the year, staying at number one for six weeks and selling over two million copies; "Our Lips Are Sealed" hit number 20 and a re-recorded version of "We Got the Beat" spent three weeks at number two. The following year, the group released Vacation. Although it sold well -- the album made the Top Ten and it went gold, spawning the Top Ten hit single "Vacation" -- it failed to keep the momentum of the first record. During the next year the band was unable to perform as Caffey recovered from a broken wrist. In 1984, the Go-Gos returned with Talk Show, their most musically ambitious album. While it had two Top 40 hits -- the number 11 "Head Over Heels" and "Turn to You" -- it failed to even go gold. By the end of the year, Wiedlin had left the band, and the Go-Gos broke up in May of 1985. Belinda Carlisle became the most successful solo artist to emerge from the group, scoring a string of mainstream pop singles in the late 80s, including the number one single "Heaven Is a Place on Earth." For a while, Charlotte Caffey was in Carlisles backing group; she eventually formed the Graces, who released Perfect View in 1990. Jane Wiedlin recorded two solo albums and acted in a few films. Wiedlin also organized the groups brief 1990 reunion, where they performed at a benefit for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals; they also recorded a version of "Cool Jerk" for their 1990 Greatest Hits album. The Go-Gos reunited once more in 1994, recording three new songs for the double-disc compilation Return of the Valley of the Go-Gos. After recording new material, the group decided to continue as a full-time unit. In 2000, they appeared on VH1s Behind the Music series and released an accompanying best-of album, VH1 Behind the Music: Go-Gos Collection. God Bless the Go-Gos, the bands first studio album comprised entirely of new material, followed in 2001. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 7 Title: Beauty and the Beat Released: 1981-07 Tracks: 11 Duration: 35:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Our Lips Are Sealed (02:46) 2 How Much More (03:06) 3 Tonite (03:34) 4 Lust to Love (04:04) 5 This Town (03:20) 6 We Got the Beat (02:31) 7 Fading Fast (03:41) 8 Automatic (03:07) 9 You Can’t Walk in Your Sleep (If You Can’t Sleep) (02:54) 10 Skidmarks on My Heart (03:06) 11 Can’t Stop the World (03:19) |
| Beauty and the Beat : Allmusic album Review : It’s not quite right to say that the Go-Go’s 1981 debut, Beauty and the Beat, is where new wave caught hold in the U.S., but it’s not quite wrong, either. Prior to this, there had certainly been new wave hits -- Blondie had been reaching the Top Ten for two years running -- but the Go-Go’s ushered in the era of big, bright stylish pop, spending six weeks at the top of the U.S. charts and generating two singles that defined the era: the cool groove of “Our Lips Are Sealed” and the exuberant “We Got the Beat.” So big were these two hits that they sometimes suggested that Beauty and the Beat was a hits-and-filler record, an impression escalated by the boost the Go-Go’s received from the just-launched MTV, yet that’s hardly the case. Beauty and the Beat is sharp, clever, and catchy, explicitly drawing from the well of pre-Beatles ‘60s pop -- girl group harmonies, to be sure, but surf-rock echoes throughout -- but filtering it through the nervy energy of punk. With the assistance of Rob Freeman, producer Richard Gottehrer -- a veteran of the Strangeloves (“I Want Candy”) who also wrote the girl group standard “My Boyfriend’s Back” -- sanded down the band’s rougher edges, keeping the emphasis on the hooks and harmonies but giving the Go-Go’s enough kick and jangle that at times the group resembles nothing less than early R.E.M., particularly on “How Much More” and “Tonite.” But this isn’t Murmur; there is nothing murky about Beauty and the Beat at all -- this is infectiously cheerful pop, so hooky it’s sometimes easy to overlook how well-written these tunes are, but it’s the sturdiness of the songs that makes Beauty and the Beat a new wave classic. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 7 Title: Vacation Released: 1982-08-11 Tracks: 12 Duration: 36:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Vacation (03:00) 2 He’s So Strange (02:59) 3 Girl of 100 Lists (02:20) 4 We Don’t Get Along (02:46) 5 I Think It’s Me (02:42) 6 It’s Everything but Partytime (03:22) 7 Get Up and Go (03:18) 8 This Old Feeling (03:05) 9 Cool Jerk (02:52) 10 The Way You Dance (02:55) 11 Beatnik Beach (02:53) 12 Worlds Away (03:59) |
| Vacation : Allmusic album Review : The surprise success of Beauty and the Beat meant that the Go-Gos were expected to remain hitmakers, so perhaps it shouldnt have come as a surprise that their second album, Vacation, is a considerably slicker affair than their debut. Sporting a glossy yet alluring finish, the album has an appealing, radio-ready sound, but its at the expense of the giddy sense of fun that made Beauty and the Beat such a vibrant record. However, Vacation is far from a washout. Although half the album is padded with filler, the very best moments are terrific pop songs, highlighted by the bouncy "This Old Feeling" and the classic title track. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 7 Title: Talk Show Released: 1984 Tracks: 10 Duration: 37:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Head Over Heels (03:37) 2 Turn to You (03:50) 3 You Thought (04:18) 4 Beneath the Blue Sky (03:04) 5 Forget That Day (04:31) 6 I’m the Only One (03:32) 7 Yes or No (04:03) 8 Capture the Light (03:19) 9 Im With You (03:37) 10 Mercenary (03:34) |
| Talk Show : Allmusic album Review : For their third album, the Go-Gos abandoned all pretense of being punk, or even new wave, and went for an unabashed mainstream pop masterpiece. They nearly achieved their goal with Talk Show, an album filled with great pop songs but undermined by its own ambition. Talk Show has a sharper sound than its predecessors, with bigger guitars and drums, which helps drive home the accomplished pop hooks of "Turn to You," "Im the Only One," and "Yes or No." However, the record is cluttered with half-realized songs and an overly detailed production which occasionally prevents the songs from reaching their full potential. But when the production and song are teamed well, the results are incredible, such as the surging "Head Over Heels," another classic single. Unfortunately, those moments dont arrive frequently enough to make Talk Show the new wave classic that it wants to be. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 7 Title: Greatest Released: 1990-10-05 Tracks: 14 Duration: 47:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Our Lips Are Sealed (02:46) 2 Cool Jerk (03:07) 3 We Got the Beat (02:31) 4 Head Over Heels (03:37) 5 Get Up and Go (03:18) 6 Vacation (03:00) 7 Beatnik Beach (02:53) 8 You Thought (04:18) 9 I’m the Only One (03:32) 10 This Town (03:20) 11 Lust to Love (04:04) 12 Mercenary (03:34) 13 How Much More (03:06) 14 Turn to You (03:50) |
| Greatest : Allmusic album Review : The hits collection Greatest tries to reduce the Go-Gos career to that of a mainstream pop/rock band, downplaying their punk and new wave roots. Of course, those cant be entirely erased, especially since the hits "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat" form the core of the collection, but the song selection on the 14-track compilation leans a little too heavily on latter-day material and lesser songs, including an extraneous, previously unreleased cover of "Cool Jerk" that was added as bait for collectors. As a brief overview, Greatest is adequate, since it does contain all the hit singles, but its also misleading, since it doesnt capture the groups punky spirit. Nevertheless, its a cheaper, more manageable introduction than the double-disc set Return to the Valley of the Go-Gos, even though serious fans should choose that collection instead. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 7 Title: Return to the Valley of the Go‐Go’s Released: 1994-10-18 Tracks: 36 Duration: 1:50:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Living at the Canterbury / Party Pose (04:30) 2 Screaming (02:10) 3 Johnny Are You Queer? (02:06) 4 Fun With Ropes (02:12) 5 Fashion Seekers - Intro / Fashion Seekers (03:08) 6 Blades (02:35) 7 He’s So Strange (04:12) 8 London Boys (02:39) 9 Let’s Have a Party (01:31) 10 Beatnik Beach (02:44) 11 (Remember) Walking in the Sand (03:06) 12 Lust to Love (03:28) 13 How Much More (03:00) 14 Cool Jerk (02:31) 15 We Got the Beat (02:31) 16 Skidmarks on My Heart (03:05) 17 This Town (03:18) 18 Our Lips Are Sealed (02:46) 1 Surfing and Spying (01:57) 2 Vacation (03:00) 3 Speeding (02:07) 4 Get Up and Go (03:18) 5 It’s Everything but Party Time (03:20) 6 Beneath the Blue Sky (03:03) 7 Good for Gone (02:55) 8 Head Over Heels (03:37) 9 Turn to You (03:50) 10 Yes or No (single mix) (03:36) 11 I’m With You (03:37) 12 We Don’t Get Along (02:41) 13 Can’t Stop the World (03:23) 14 I’m the Only One (03:26) 15 Mercenary (acoustic) (04:33) 16 Good Girl (03:36) 17 Beautiful (03:59) 18 The Whole World Lost Its Head (02:57) |
| Return to the Valley of the Go‐Go’s : Allmusic album Review : Of all the various best-ofs and compilations that have come out over time that cover the Go-Gos career, this one is the clearest winner, by a long shot. Though by default it doesnt tell the full story, appearing as it did in 1994, in terms of containing both the famous hits and a slew of rarities and unreleased tracks, Return to the Valley of the Go-Gos is equally valuable for both neophytes and hardcore fans. The first 11 tracks alone make for an entertaining peek into the bands earliest days, with a slew of live cuts from both early rehearsals and gigs, including a number of songs taped at the legendary SF punk venue the Mabuhay Gardens. Everythings rough, energetic, and merry fun -- while its no surprise why some compositions remained unheard in later years, its still worth hearing how the group pureed everything from straight-up punk to spaghetti Western guitar and girl group right from the start. A real treat is a romp through "Johnny, Are You Queer?" which would later get a more famous (and much more sedate!) take by Josie Cotton. Plenty of rare B-sides from the groups commercially dominant days surface here and there, and as for the big hits, theyre available a-plenty: "We Got the Beat," "Vacation," "Our Lips Are Sealed," "Head Over Heels," "Turn to You," and more. Choice album cuts include "Skidmarks on My Heart" and "This Town." Closing things out is an acoustic live take on "Mercenary" from the bands 1990 reunion and three wholly new songs from 1994, including the enjoyable "The Whole World Lost Its Head." Topping things off is a great booklet featuring a hilarious collection of photos and ephemera from early days on, with plenty of amusing comments from the bandmembers, along with an enjoyable history of the group and reflections from all five on their favorite songs. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 7 Title: VH1 Behind the Music: Go-Go’s Collection Released: 2000 Tracks: 17 Duration: 55:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 We Got the Beat (02:31) 2 Our Lips Are Sealed (02:46) 3 Lust to Love (04:04) 4 Skidmarks on My Heart (03:06) 5 This Town (03:20) 6 Can’t Stop the World (03:18) 7 Fading Fast (03:41) 8 Vacation (03:00) 9 Beatnik Beach (02:53) 10 Get Up and Go (03:18) 11 Speeding (02:09) 12 Girl of 100 Lists (02:20) 13 Head Over Heels (03:37) 14 Turn to You (03:50) 15 Yes or No (04:05) 16 Im the Only One (03:34) 17 Mercenary (03:34) |
| VH1 Behind the Music: Go-Go’s Collection : Allmusic album Review : Just in time for the debut of their episode of VH1s Behind the Music comes VH1 Behind the Music: Go-Gos Collection, which features 17 of the groups definitive tracks, including "We Got the Beat," "My Lips Are Sealed," "Head Over Heels," "Vacation," and "Turn to You." Not as exhaustive as the Return to the Valley of the Go-Gos but not as slight as the Greatest album, Go-Gos Collection strikes a nice balance between the groups early, punky days and their later work as new wave divas. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 7 Title: God Bless the Go‐Go’s Released: 2001-05-15 Tracks: 14 Duration: 48:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 La La Land (03:02) 2 Unforgiven (03:23) 3 Apology (03:57) 4 Stuck in My Car (03:36) 5 Vision of Nowness (02:55) 6 Here You Are (04:01) 7 Automatic Rainy Day (03:17) 8 Kissing Asphalt (02:49) 9 Insincere (03:45) 10 Superslide (03:33) 11 Throw Me a Curve (03:11) 12 Talking Myself Down (03:55) 13 Daisy Chain (03:49) 14 King of Confusion (03:05) |
| God Bless the Go‐Go’s : Allmusic album Review : The release of God Bless the Go-Gos evokes the spirit of those movies where beloved fictional characters from another time period (The Brady Bunch) or far-off galaxy (Star Trek) find their way to modern-day America. These characters never quite fit in with their new surroundings, but that is the fun of it. The best films of this genre tend to put people in their place. They let viewers know that theyre not, and will not for long be, the ruler of this world, for these roads have been walked down time and again. Nowhere is this a more disregarded lesson than in the pop and rock music industry, where yesterdays stars are tomorrows clearance bin. In the 21st century, it is a most unlikely surprise that the Go-Gos should pop up again, having traded in their water skis for saint wardrobes. They may be the premier all-girl band of the 80s, but even with their occasional summer tours, only loyalty extremists can keep excitement going over a group that has only released three albums in the distant past. So here, dear fans, is the long-hoped-for number four. Dont be fooled by technological blurting like "hyperspace," "vision of nowness," or the haphazard lyrical palette on "Sonic Superslide," which states "We are solar sisters here to make you shine." Sounds edgy and new, but the group took the familiar route with tracks that sound every bit as Go-Gos as their previous records. Every bit as Go-Gos, that is, as their non-hits and less remarkable material. While the Go-Gos sound is intact, there is not a "We Got the Beat" or a "Head Over Heels" to be found. It is feasible that in this age of pop rebirth, the Go-Gos decided it was now or never. The result makes little sense, since God Bless is in good company with alternative music from the 1990s. The first single, "Unforgiven," was even co-penned and features vocals and guitar by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. The album lacks modernity aside from its production and stylish vocals by Belinda Carlisle (not as perfected as on her 1996 album A Woman and a Man, but should astonish unfortunate MTV worshipers who have not heard anything from her since the late 80s.) The songs flow together a little too perfectly due to heavy, monotonous guitar use -- listen to it once, and then without looking at the track listing, try to make them out by their musical intros. Good luck. There are very nice intersections amid the musical gruffness, like the ballads "Apology" and "Here You Are." There are spots where the guitar serves them well, as on "Unforgiven" as well as "Stuck In My Car," a wonderful fast-paced song about a slow-motion traffic jam. The album finishes with "Daisy Chain," which will go down in Go-Gos history if only because it is the history of the Go-Gos. It is memorable, sporting lyrics like "At number one not doing so fine, still having some fun spilling the wine," graced with a sticky sweet melody. Such a beautiful song it is -- transporting listeners back to the reason they love the Go-Gos in the first place -- that it is easy to give the whole album the benefit of the doubt. Yes, there has been effort put into the making of God Bless the Go-Gos. Yes, it is great to see a group of five 40-year-old women proving that aging is not the same as dying. Yes, it is exciting to hear something new after 17 years. The fun should be that the Go-Gos fit awkwardly into their new surroundings, that they show up from out of nowhere with their silly Go-Gos music to shake up all the "zero size" girly singers who they poke fun at on this album. Hopefully, fans wont have to wait another 17 years for that fun. | ||