Vacation (The Go-Go's album)

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Vacation
The Go-Go's - Vacation.png
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 20, 1982 (1982-07-20)
RecordedMarch–May 1982
Studio
Genre
Length35:41
Label I.R.S.
Producer Richard Gottehrer
The Go-Go's chronology
Beauty and the Beat
(1981)
Vacation
(1982)
Talk Show
(1984)
Singles from Vacation
  1. "Vacation" / "Beatnik Beach"
    Released: June 1982
  2. "Get Up and Go" / "Speeding"
    Released: September 1982
  3. "This Old Feeling" / "It's Everything but Partytime"
    Released: December 1982 (US only)

Vacation is the second studio album by American rock band the Go-Go's, released on July 20, 1982, by I.R.S. Records. The album reached number eight on the Billboard 200, [2] and has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). [3] The title track reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. [4]

Contents

Despite the album's success, the recording period was hampered by several issues. Most of the band's lineup was struggling with drug addiction and were starting to argue more over creative differences. There was also growing discord between songwriter and lead guitarist Charlotte Caffey, lead singer Belinda Carlisle, and guitarist Jane Wiedlin, who had begun to take more of an interest in songwriting. These problems were never resolved and would result in the band's dissolution following the disappointing sales of their third album, Talk Show .

The single "Vacation" was also issued in what may possibly have been the first cassette single.[ citation needed ] In addition to the title track, two more singles were pulled from the album at the time: "Get Up and Go" and "This Old Feeling", the former of which peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. [4] The song "Speeding", which is not included on the album, is a Caffey/Wiedlin composition used as B-side of the single for "Get Up and Go".

In 2016, Edsel Records reissued remastered deluxe editions, all with bonus tracks, of the Go-Go's original three releases. [5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Robert Christgau B− [7]
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Cash Box called "Get Up and Go" a "rousing pop/rocker", saying that "the rhythm is as peppy as the title would indicate." [10] Billboard called it a "spirited pop/rock anthem" that is "invigorating" despite not being as "seamless" or having as much "mass appeal" as the preceding hit single "Vacation". [11] Detroit Free Press critic Gary Graff called it a "beach party pop tune." [12]

Rolling Stone critic Ken Tucker called "This Old Feeling" a "perfect pop song: an ethereal melody is anchored by Kathy Valentine's bass as Carlisle's voice skims the surface of a pleasant memory just beyond reach" and said that "Rarely has the woozy pleasure of a good daydream been rendered more movingly in rock music." [13]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Vacation"
  • Valentine
  • Caffey
2:57
2."He's So Strange"Wiedlin
2:55
3."Girl of 100 Lists"WiedlinWiedlin2:16
4."We Don't Get Along"ValentineValentine2:42
5."I Think It's Me"Caffey2:40
6."It's Everything but Partytime"Wiedlin
3:18
Side two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
7."Get Up and Go"
  • Wiedlin
  • Caffey
Caffey3:15
8."This Old Feeling"WiedlinCaffey3:04
9."Cool Jerk" (the Capitols cover)Donald StorballStorball2:52
10."The Way You Dance"
  • Wiedlin
  • Valentine
Caffey2:54
11."Beatnik Beach"
  • Caffey
  • Carlisle
Caffey2:50
12."Worlds Away"
  • Wiedlin
  • Valentine
  • Wiedlin
  • Valentine
3:58

Personnel

The Go-Go's

Additional musicians

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Chart performance for Vacation
Chart (1982)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [14] 71
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [15] 24
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [16] 44
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [17] 24
UK Albums (OCC) [18] 75
US Billboard 200 [2] 8

Certifications

Certifications for Vacation
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [3] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. Mixed at the Record Plant (New York City) and Indigo Ranch (Malibu, California)
  2. Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Related Research Articles

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The Go-Go's were an American all-female rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1978. Except for short periods when other musicians joined briefly, the band has had a relatively stable lineup consisting of Charlotte Caffey on lead guitar and keyboards, Belinda Carlisle on lead vocals, Gina Schock on drums, Kathy Valentine on bass, and Jane Wiedlin on rhythm guitar. They are widely considered the most successful all-female rock band of all time.

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