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. It's Everything but Partytime
7. Get Up and Go
8. This Old Feeling
9. Cool Jerk
10. Way You Dance
11. Beatnik Beach
12. Worlds Away

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8703 in Music
• Released on: 1999-07-13
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
Despite a great cover/title concept, the second album from the Go-Go's is the weakest of their original three. Rushed out after the breakthrough of Beauty and the Beat, Vacation sounds affecting in retrospect, but suffers nonetheless from one or three too many so-so songs--a shame, given the top-flight writing throughout Beauty. Frontwoman Belinda Carlisle continues gaining control of her voice, while drummer Gina Schock all but steals the show. But a murky mix obscures the group's charms this time out, and where the debut was sometimes dark in mood, this follow-up too often sounds simply tired. By no means a must-miss, Vacation is still unmistakably weak compared with Talk Show, which came next. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

I Think It's Me...
Don't believe the tripe! This is by far the Go-Go's best album! I was so tired of the mediocre reviews that I thought I'd set the record straight. Every song on 'Vacation' has something good going for it, from the high-energy 'Beatnik Beach' and 'Get Up And Go' to the driving emotion of 'I Think It's Me' and 'This Old Feeling'(my personal fave rave). No sophomore slump of any kind! I guess the other reviewers wanted the gals to repeat 'Beauty And The Beat', but I think this album is slightly better, in that there are no sludgy, dreary moments like 'Automatic' from that LP...everything is upbeat and shows the Go-Go's songwriting at it's near peak. If you like any other Go-Go's release, you won't be sorry you picked this one up.

An outstanding follow-up release to "Beauty and the Beat".
The Go-Go's are one of those rare occurrences in rock 'n roll; a group that actually never released a bad album! In fact, I would go so far as to say that perhaps only one or two songs from all four major releases could be considered somewhat "lack-luster". Basically, all of the material released by the Go-Go's between 1981 and 1984 was outstanding. Even the 2001 release "God Bless the Go-Go's" is strikingly good! The Go-Go's have always been a group with determination, plenty of ambition, and a genuine love of the rock 'n roll fantasy!

"Vacation" was considered a bit weaker than the debut effort (Beauty and the Beat) by many critics of the day, but I strongly disagree! Songs like "Get Up and Go", "Beatnik Beach", "I Think It's Me" and "Worlds Away" are incredibly well crafted pop songs and are required listening for fans of the Go-Go's. I cannot imagine a stronger follow-up release!

I must point out that the career of the Go-Go's closely paralleled that of another "power pop" group of the late 70's and early 80's, "The Knack". Both groups had a hugely successful debut album that reached number one on the charts. Both groups quickly released a follow-up effort that was very successful and yet was considered a failure when compared to the success of the debut. Both groups released a third effort that received critical praise and yet failed commercially. Both groups broke-up shortly after the third and final album.

Regardless of commercial or critical success, the Go-Go's always delivered GREAT rock 'n roll. "Vacation" may not have escaped (commercially) from the long shadow of "Beauty and the Beat", but it contains some of the best songs by the Go-Go's. Belinda, Jane, Charlotte, Kathy and Gina were destined to deliver some of the most memorable and most perfectly crafted pop songs of the rock 'n roll era.

"Vacation" is highly recommended for fans of "early 80's", "power pop", "new wave", and just plain great rock 'n roll!

-JM

Vacation--all I ever wanted!
In July 1999, Universal Music Company came to their senses and reissued the last two Go-Go's albums. I mean, they were the epitomy of 1980's new wave power-pop, and how dare UMC keep this music out of print? For shame! The followup to Beauty And The Beat, Vacation, is the topic of this review.

The title track is one of their best songs, the epitomy of what time away from the usual drudgery is all about. It's still relevant today; as the song says, "vacation/meant to be spent alone." A vacation with people is a contradiction in terms.

The only two songs that rival the bounce of "Vacation" are "Get Up And Go" and "Beatnik Beach," the former with its pronounced bass lines and "hey!" refrain, and the latter with its surf guitar. "The Way You Dance" is another relentless song of honorable mention, which ends with a crescendo of crash boom and bams from Gina Schock.

They keep the rhythm up in fluffy songs such as "Girl of 100 Lists" and "We Don't Get Along", the latter which could easily be redone as a punk song.

"It's Everything But Partytime" and "Worlds Away" are for those who want to take a breather, otherwise, be prepared for ten songs that will tax your speakers.

This is a more cohesive album than Beauty And The Beat, and to add another merit, Belinda and friends wrote their own songs unlike some other groups we'd like to name. And contrary to popular belief, most second albums favor a consistent overall sound as opposed to a few standout songs that become singles. Vacation easily falls into this category.

To say Belinda has gone to better things is missing the point. Before her solo career, there had to be a beginning, i.e. the Go-Go's, and boy, what a beginning! Oh yes, and that goes for Jane Wiedlin, Gina Schock, Charlotte Caffey, and assuming she did other projects with that "bad, bad bass," Kathy Valentine.