Top 10 Go-Go's Songs

Photo: Ron Baker (Kingsnake) from Austin, Texas / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)

Our Top 10 Go-Go’s songs list looks at the songs of the first female band in rock history to score a number-one album. More importantly, the Go-Go’s are regarded as one of the most influential bands that helped fuel the new wave movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Go-Go’s released four albums during their initial run in the 1980s. The first album, Beauty And The Beat, was released in 1981. Their follow-up album titled Vacation was released in 1982. The Go-Go’s third and final album of the 1980s was called Talk Show. Seventeen years have passed since the release of Talk Show and their final studio album, God Bless the Go-Go’s. However the Go-Go’s released a compilation album in 1994 entitled Return to the Valley of The Go-Go’s. The album included three new tracks from the band and unreleased material.

The Go-Go’s lineup consisted of Belinda Carlisle on lead vocals, Charlotte Caffey on lead guitar and keys, Jane Wiedlin on rhythm guitar, Kathy Valentine on bass, and Gina Schock on drums. After the Go-Go’s broke up in the mid-80s, many members would release solo albums and even celebrate chart success. Nonetheless, when together, the Go-Go’s would prove to be unstoppable as they had become a much-loved band among legions of rock fans. There are so many great Go-Go’s songs. This list is simply a presentation of ten of our favorites,

# 10 – How Much More

We open up our Top 10 Go-Go’s songs list with the killer track “How Much More. The song was released on the Go-Go’s debut album, Beauty and the Beat. The album was released in 1981. The song “How Much More” was written by Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin. The song appeared as the second track on the album following the band’s huge hit “Our Lips Are Sealed.” One of the reasons we comprised this Top 10 Go-Go’s songs list was to showcase some of the great Go-Go’s songs that weren’t hits but were still outstanding recordings. There is nothing wrong with hits, and we have also included the big ones on the list, but as any true blue Go-Go’s fan will tell you, the band’s albums were filled with gems because the Go-Go’s were a band full of great songwriters.

# 9 – Turn To You

Continuing with our Top 10 Go-Go’s songs list, we turn to the band’s third album, Talk Show. The album was released in 1984. The song “Turn To You” was issued as the second single from the record. “Talk To You.” was written by Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin. The song wonderfully defines their earlier new wave sound that sometimes seemed lost among the popularity of their massive hit singles. The video featured a young Rob Lowe looking pretty much the same as he does now, thirty-five years later. It’s an entertaining video to watch as the girls in the band dress up as men and play dual roles throughout the video. We love Jane Wiedlin’s mop top!

# 8 – La La Land

After the release of Talk Show in 1984, it didn’t seem that we would ever see another new Go-Go’s album. Throughout the late 80s and into the 90s, Belinda Carlisle was celebrating a very successful solo career. However, our thoughts were proven wrong as seventeen years later, in 2001, the Go-Go’s released their fourth full-length studio album entitled God Bless the Go-Go’s. Two great songs, “Unforgiven” and “Apology,” were released as singles from the record. However, one of our favorites was the album’s opening track, titled ‘La La Land.” Charlotte Caffey and Kathy Valentine wrote the song.

# 7 – Vacation

The Go-Go’s song “Vacation” is the first big-time Go-Go’s hit single to appear on this Top 10 Go-Go’s songs list. It also starts off the section of this list that looks at the band’s biggest singles. The song was released on the band’s anticipated second album, Vacation. The album was released during the summer of 1982. The song “Vacation” was written by Kathy Valentine, Charlotte Caffey, and Jane Wiedlin.

The band did not disappoint their fans with their follow-up single. The album’s lead-off single, “Vacation,” became a top 10 hit for the Go-Go’s, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s video was placed in very heavy rotation on MTV. During the summer of 1982, whether in your car, at a friend’s house, at home, or the beach, mall, or work, a day probably did not pass by without hearing this very addicting song.

# 6 – Head Over Heels

Continuing with the hit singles section of our Go-Go’s songs list, we present the band’s fourth and final top 20 hit. The song “Head Over Heels” was released as the lead-off single from the band’s third album entitled Talk Show. Charlotte Caffey and Kathy Valentine wrote the song. “Head Over Heels” just barely missed the Billboard Top 10 as the song peaked at number eleven.

1984 was one of the most competitive years in music as artists like Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Madonna, Tina Turner, The Cars, Van Halen, and many more fought to dominate the pop charts with massive hit albums. In the video, the band looks so happy. One would have never thought from listening to this happy-sounding song and from the visuals in the video played constantly on MTV that this would be the band’s final album for at least another seventeen years.

# 5 – Our Lips Are Sealed

“Our Lips Are Sealed” was the first single from their debut album, Beauty and The Beat. Although We Got The Beat was originally released before the debut album was released, It would be released officially as the second single from the record. If you grew up around the launch of MTV, you could not escape how heavily promoted Our Lips Are Sealed was on MTV. Watching this video will bring back memories for many.

With the help of heavy rotation on MTV and constant airplay, the Go-Go’s single “Our Lips Are Sealed” became a big hit for the band. It would become the band’s first top 20 hit in the United States. It proved even more successful in Canada, where the song hit number two on the Canadian Music Charts. It was also a top 10 hit in Australia.

# 4 – You Thought

High up on the list of our top 10 Go-Go’s songs list is another fabulous deep album track entitled “You Thought.” The song was released on the Go-Go’s album Talk Show. The song was written by Gina Schock and Kathy Valentine. This is a great minor chord rocker that hardens back to their earlier days when they were regarded as one of the bands that helped fuel the new wave movement.

# 3 – Unforgiven

Just when we thought we would never hear another new song from the Go-Go’s, the band released a new studio album in 2001 after 17 years had passed since their last album, Talk Show, was released in 1984. The great song “Unforgiven” is the second of two songs from the album on our top 10 Go-Go’s songs list. “Unforgiven” was released as the first single from the record. Listen to the song’s opening guitar riff. The Go-Go’s were back and rocking harder than ever on this spectacular comeback album.

# 2 – Lust To Love

The band’s debut album Beauty and the Beat is one of the most significant new wave rock records ever released. It is the first rock album to hit number one, released by an all-female band. There are many reasons for this, but in the end, it comes down to one simple fact. It was an album filled with great songs from the first track to the closing number. The song Lust To Love defines the Go-Go’s new wave sound that helped the group capture a loyal fan base before they became a household name with their big hits. Lust For Love is the sound of the late 70s new wave, and the Go-Go’s were one of the most influential bands of that period. Listen to how great this song is.

Read More: Top 10 Belinda Carlisle Songs

# 1 – We Got The Beat

At number five on this Top 10 Go-Go’s songs list, we turn to the song that turned the Go-Go’s into a household name. This is probably the most important song in the band’s catalog for many reasons. “We Got The Beat” was first released in 1980 before the band even recorded their first album. The song would be re-recorded for their debut album. It was released as the album’s second single. The song would go up the charts and hit number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It was stopped from hitting number one because Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock And Roll” had become a monster hit in 1981. Nonetheless, “We Got The Beat” would become the Go-Go’s highest charting song of their career and, in many ways, their signature song.

It almost made the list………….

Honorable mention to the great track The Whole World Lost It’s Head which was released as one of the new tracks on the 1994 compilation album Return to the Valley of The Go-Go’s.