Vacation (The Go-Go's album)

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Vacation
Five women water-skiing in formation, wearing pink swimsuits and white tutus
Studio album by
the Go-Go's
ReleasedJuly 20, 1982 (1982-07-20)
RecordedMarch–May 1982
Studio
Genre
Length35:41
LabelI.R.S.
ProducerRichard 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]

Despite the album's success, the recording period was hamstrung 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[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Robert ChristgauB−[8]
Record Mirror[7]
Rolling Stone[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[edit]

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[edit]

The Go-Go's[edit]

Additional musicians[edit]

Technical[edit]

Artwork[edit]

  • Mick Haggerty – art direction, design, photography
  • Ginger Canzoneri – art direction

Charts[edit]

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[edit]

Certifications for Vacation
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[3] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. ^ Clemente, John (2013). Girl Groups: Fabulous Females Who Rocked The World. AuthorHouse. p. 233. ISBN 978-1-4772-8128-4.
  2. ^ a b "Go-Go's Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "American album certifications – Go Go's – Vacation". Recording Industry Association of America. October 4, 1982. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Go-Go's Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  5. ^ Sinclair, Paul (February 22, 2016). "All systems Go-Go's for deluxe reissues". Super Deluxe Edition. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  6. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Go-Go's – Vacation". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  7. ^ Cooper, Mark (August 8, 1982). "Review: The Go-Go's – Vacation" (PDF). Record Mirror. p. 22. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 9, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  8. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Album Reviews: Consumer Guide Reviews: Vacation". RobertChristgau.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  9. ^ Tucker, Ken (September 2, 1982). "Album Reviews: The Go-Go's – Vacation". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 14, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  10. ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XLIV, no. 18. September 25, 1982. p. 8. ISSN 0008-7289 – via World Radio History.
  11. ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. October 2, 1982. p. 63. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  12. ^ Graff, Gary (September 10, 1982). "The little sisters grow up". Detroit Free Press. p. 4C. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Tucker, Ken (September 2, 1982). "Vacation". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 14, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  14. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6520". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  16. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Go-Go's – Vacation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  17. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Go-Go's – Vacation". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  18. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
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