Great Rock Albums of 1982: The Go Go's- Vacation

Owing to a heavy work schedule over the past few days and going to visit family tomorrow, I'm afraid I won't be getting two posts out this week,  my apologies. Although I do have to share some blame because instead of getting on the computer on Monday evening, I decided to watch the recorded Eagles-Cowboys game and seeing the way the Eagles played this week, I would have been better off posting on here.

[caption id="attachment_2508" align="aligncenter" width="267"] Eagles vs Cowboys[/caption]

I was still not tired of listening to The Go-Go's debut "Beauty and the Beat" album in June of 1982 when browsing the record section at the PX in Rota, Spain, I discovered that they had put out a second one. I made a mental note to get it once I returned to the States a few weeks later, although I didn't need to because my sister had recorded several songs off of it. My reaction was that it pretty much sounded like the previous album while at the same time being rather good.

Keeping with the trend of 1982, "Vacation" begins with the hit single which is also the title track. It's not a bad song, probably what you would expect from a single, quite lively. It's the songs that come after it that tingle my interest a bit more. The very next track, "He's So Strange" has a lot more substance to it and is quite a good listen. It sounds as if they are at least trying to venture forth a little and be creative. With several of the other tracks, there is a strong guitar start to the songs. At least The Go-Go's were trying to be a little hard rock. "Girl of 100 Lists," "Everything But Party Time" and "Beatnik Beach" are examples of this and the closer, "Worlds Away" does an excellent job in concluding the album. There is one thing I found slightly disappointing and that is the fact that there is not one memorable guitar solo from Charlotte Caffey on the album. I don't know if that was down to her or other things. I mention this because I always believed that she was the most musically talented of the group. Still, "Vacation" was still an enjoyable album while The Go-Go's still managed to excite my then 21 year old hormones.

Track Listing:

1. Vacation

2. He's So Strange

3. Girl of 100 Lists

4. We Don't Get Along

5. I Think It's Me

6. Everything But Party Time

7. Get Up and Go

8. This Old Feeling

9. Cool Jerk

10. The Way You Dance

11. Beatnik Beach

12. Worlds Away

[caption id="attachment_2299" align="aligncenter" width="278"] The Go Go's[/caption]

Belinda Carlisle- lead vocals

Charlotte Caffey- lead guitar, backing vocals

Jane Weidlin- rhythm guitar, vocals

Kathy Valentine- bass, backing vocals

Gina Schock- drums, backing vocals

While The Go Go's were able to build on the success of "Beauty and the Beat" with "Vacation" for some reason, they would go into obscurity after this album. I don't know why because the second album is certainly likeable.

Next post: John Cougar- American Fool

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1981: The Go Go's- Beauty and the Beat

There were many all girl bands that came and went before 1981. I'm even going to pay tribute to one of them in my between the years post once the tour of 1981 is over. Don't worry, that's still quite a long way away. However, there was something a little different about The Go Go's when I first heard them in 1981. They weren't  heavy rock but they were hard enough in a new wave sort of way that was popular around this time. There was another reason I got into them. I once stated that in the mid 80s, many male metalheads, myself included, listened to Bon Jovi on account of the sole fact that our girl friends did. While, I wasn't dating any particular lady at the time, I noted while at a party one evening that many of the ladies there were getting into them. It could be said that The Go Go's were the first band that both genders could listen to without any worry girls being branded a rock slut and boys being branded a p*ssy.

Back in this time, there were some prehistoric notions that women couldn't play instruments and that all female bands were there more to be looked at than listened to. I never thought that even before I heard this album. Still, this album shows that these girls are capable of playing although I will admit I liked looking at them too. True, the video to their first single "Our Lips Are Sealed" betrays this fact but even though it has been heralded as one of the greats of the 80s, there are some other good rock tunes here as well. Besides, I always preferred the other single, "We Got the Beat" anyway. If I had too much to drink and this song came on, I would start pogo dancing to it. However, the album doesn't end with that song either. For me, "Lust to Love" is a hidden gem of a rocker and after its slow start, "This Town" shapes up pretty well. "Fading Fast" is another decent one as it "How Much More" and "Tonite" isn't bad either. I thought the only track that didn't quite measure up to the others was "Skidmarks On My Heart," not that it was a bad song, I just couldn't get into it. As one good song doesn't make a great album, one song not up with the others, doesn't in any way detract from the rest of the album.

Track Listing:

1. Our Lips Are Sealed

2. How Much More

3. Tonite

4. Lust to Love

5. This Town

6. We Got The Beat

7. Fading Fast

8. Automatic

9. You Can't Walk in Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep)

10. Skidmarks On My Heart

11. Can't Stop the World

[caption id="attachment_2299" align="aligncenter" width="278"] The Go Go's[/caption]

Belinda Carlisle- lead vocals

Charlotte Caffey- lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Jane Wiedlin- rhythm guitar, vocals

Kathy Valentine- bass, backing vocals

Gina Schock- drums, percussion

Back on the subject of musicianship, I have always thought that Charlotte Caffey doesn't get the respect she deserved then or now. I'm not saying she's a Clapton or a Van Halen etc but she does play well enough to be respected. Listen to the album and judge for yourself as this is definitely one album from an all girl band that should be taken seriously. Did they open the way for others? Well, we can answer that as we journey through history.
Next post: Another band that should be taken seriously.

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London