Talk Show is the third studio album by the American rock band the Go-Go's, released on the I.R.S. label in 1984. Although some critics considered it an inspired return to form[3] after their second album Vacation, other than the No. 11 hit single "Head over Heels",[4] the album was a relative commercial disappointment, peaking at No. 18[5] and selling fewer than 500,000 copies. This would be the last all-original album by the group until 2001's God Bless The Go-Go's.
| Talk Show | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 19, 1984 | |||
| Recorded | Spring–Fall 1983 | |||
| Studio | Genetic, England | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:08 | |||
| Label | I.R.S. | |||
| Producer | Martin Rushent | |||
| The Go-Go's chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Talk Show | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[2] |
| Rolling Stone | [3] |
The music video for the first single "Head over Heels" was directed by Douglas Brian Martin. The music video for the second single "Turn to You", which peaked at No. 32 in the US Billboard Hot 100,[4] featured a starring role for rising-star actor Rob Lowe; the song was written about baseball pitcher Bob Welch, a one-time boyfriend of Charlotte Caffey. The video director, Mary Lambert, went on to work on several other videos, including hits by Madonna, and on films, such as Pet Sematary. The music video for the album's third single, "Yes or No", was released shortly before the group's breakup was announced, possibly hurting the song's sales and chart performance (peaked at No. 84).[4]
The flip side of "Head over Heels", "Good for Gone", did not appear on the initial album release, but was included in some CD releases of Talk Show, and also appeared on The Go-Go's 1994 boxed set of rarities, singles, deep cuts and new songs, "Return to the Valley of the Go-Go's".
Conflict among the members of the Go-Go's during the recording of the album fractured the band, and they broke up shortly after completing their "Prime Time" tour to fulfill contractual obligations. Many of the songs on the album have not been performed by the Go-Go's in concert in any of the reunions of the band since the early 1990s. Only "Head over Heels" went on to consistently be a staple of the band's live shows and Belinda Carlisle's solo performances.
Jane Wiedlin confirmed in Alison Ellwood's 2020 documentary of the band that the recording of the song "Forget That Day" contributed to her leaving the band. Wiedlin had wanted to be the main vocalist on the track, which was very personal to her, only to be blocked from doing so by the rest of the band. "One of them said, 'What makes you think you're good enough to sing the song?,'" Wiedlin said in the documentary. Another point of contention was royalties; Wiedlin wrote most of the album and so expected to receive a larger share of the profits. However, a decision was made that the royalties would be divided evenly among the band, even to members who had not contributed much to the album. "And then I said, 'F–k you, I quit,'" she stated in the documentary.
In 2016, Edsel Records reissued remastered deluxe editions, all with bonus tracks, of the Go-Go's original three releases.[6]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Head over Heels" | Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine | 3:38 |
| 2. | "Turn to You" | Caffey, Jane Wiedlin | 3:48 |
| 3. | "You Thought" | Gina Schock, Valentine | 4:12 |
| 4. | "Beneath the Blue Sky" | Valentine, Wiedlin | 3:00 |
| 5. | "Forget That Day" | Wiedlin | 4:25 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "I'm the Only One" | Valentine, Danny B. Harvey, Carlene Carter | 3:29 |
| 7. | "Yes or No" | Wiedlin, Ron Mael, Russell Mael | 4:04 |
| 8. | "Capture the Light" | Wiedlin | 3:15 |
| 9. | "I'm with You" | Schock, Wiedlin | 3:37 |
| 10. | "Mercenary" | Wiedlin, Valentine, Caffey | 3:40 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Good for Gone" | Schock, Valentine | 2:54 |
Personnel edit
Band members
- Charlotte Caffey – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Belinda Carlisle – lead vocals
- Gina Schock – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Kathy Valentine – bass, lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jane Wiedlin – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Production
- Martin Rushent – producer, engineer
- Dave Allen, Philip Tennant, Jim Russell – assistant engineers
- Nathan Lam – vocal direction
- Douglas Brian Martin – art direction
- Chris Craymer – photography
- Frontline – management
Charts edit
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References edit
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Go-Go's Talk Show review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Album Reviews:Consumer Guide Reviews: Talk Show". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
- ^ a b Connelly, Christopher (12 April 1984). "Album Reviews: The Go-Go's - Talk Show". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2 October 2007. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
- ^ a b c d e f "Talk Show Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
- ^ a b "Talk Show Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
- ^ Sinclair, Paul (February 22, 2016). "All systems Go-Go's for deluxe reissues". Super Deluxe Edition. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 40, No. 13, June 02 1984". Library and Archives Canada. 2 June 1984. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
- ^ "Top Singles - Volume 40, No. 12, May 26, 1984". Library and Archives Canada. 26 May 1984. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
- ^ "Top Singles - Volume 40, No. 24, August 18, 1984". Library and Archives Canada. 18 August 1984. Retrieved 2013-05-30.