Go-Go’s Second Album Released July 20, 1982

They were a post punk/pop phenomenon who reached worldwide status the previous summer with their breakthrough debut album, Beauty and the Beat.

Proclaimed and acknowledged as “the first all-girl group, who played their own instruments and wrote their own songs, to reach number one on the Billboard charts,” the Go-Go’s were under pressure to recreate the magic of their first album.

Written and recorded between a world tour and dizzying heights of fame and success, Vacation, while well received, lacked the punk/pop zazz of its predecessor.  Still it was certified gold by summer’s end, and delivered near chart topping success, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Top 100.

The Story Behind The Song

The nucleus of the title track begins with Go-Go’s bassist, Kathy Valentine. Prior to replacing Margo Olavarria in 1980, Valentine was guitarist for The Textones. She and the band had recorded a punk version of the song whose lyrics were slightly different from the “Vacation” we know today.

Trying to come up with material for a follow up album, while touring, and attempting to wrap their heads around their stratospheric success, Valentine reintroduced her version of the song to the rest of the band during the initial recording sessions.  With a few lyrical tweaks from fellow Go-Go Jane Wiedlin, as well as a bit of musical “Go-Go-ifying” by the rest of the band, the song was polished and ready for New Wave history.

Side note: “Vacation” has the distinction of being the first song ever to be released as a Cassingle. They were kind of silly, because who is going to fumble around with a cassette to listen to one song? But still, the honor goes to The Go-Go’s!

The Legacy of Vacation

Like some sophomoric albums (Not a dig, it’s literally their second effort), the album itself lacks the energetic spirit of Beauty and the Beat. It’s a fun listen, and aside from the title track, two other songs, “Get Up And Go” and “Cool Jerk” (A cover of the original 60s song recorded by The Capitols) stand out as favorites. The album does feel a bit rushed to try and capitalize on the band’s meteoric success, but looking back, it’s a fun listen, especially now that we have a historical perspective of what the band members were going through at the time.

Hear The Go-Go’s on The Women’s Alternative, broadcasting on Blank Generation Radio nightly at 6PM PST.