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, and has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
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 they 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 continued to escalate and would eventually result in the band's dissolution following the disappointing sales of their third album, Talk Show.
Release Vacation was released on July 20, 1982 by I.R.S. Records, peaking at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. The title track served as the album's lead single and reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. Notably, it was also issued as the first cassette single released in the US. 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. 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 first three Go-Go's albums.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone critic Ken Tucker praised Vacation as a significant musical progression for the Go-Go's, observing "a fresh curiosity about the world and a treasure trove of precise details", as well as "first-rate songwriting that offers Carlisle a wide range of emotions and characters." He highlighted "This Old Feeling" as "a perfect pop song... Rarely has the woozy pleasure of a good daydream been rendered more movingly in rock music." In a more critical review for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau noted "the uniform thinness of the non-Kathy Valentine songs".
Cash Box called "Get Up and Go" a "rousing pop/rocker", saying that "the rhythm is as peppy as the title would indicate." 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". Detroit Free Press critic Gary Graff called it a "beach party pop tune."
Track listing
Personnel Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.
The Go-Go's Charlotte Caffey – lead guitar, keyboards, back-up vocals Belinda Carlisle – lead vocals Gina Schock – drums, percussion, back-up vocals Kathy Valentine – bass guitar, back-up vocals Jane Wiedlin – rhythm guitar, back-up vocals
Additional musicians Steve Berlin – saxophone on "This Old Feeling"
Technical Richard Gottehrer – production Thom Panunzio – recording, mixing James Ball, Stuart Furusho, David Leonard, Neil Pedinoff – recording assistance Greg Calbi – mastering
Artwork Mick Haggerty – art direction, design, photography Ginger Canzoneri – art direction
Charts + Chart performance for Vacation Chart (1982) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 71 US Billboard 200 8
Certifications
Notes
References