The Lost Boys (er, Girls): Hard-To-Find ’80s Albums (“Talk Show” By The Go-Go’s))

“The Lost Boys: Hard-To-Find ’80s LPs” gives you exactly what the title implies: a rare or out-of-print album or EP from the ’80s in its entirety. Some will be from CD, but most will have been lovingly transferred from pristine vinyl culled directly from the Analog Kid’s vast collection. Whatever album I choose, it will be one that you can’t easily find a physical copy for sale on Amazon or in your local record store (if you even have one anymore). Death…by stereo!

The Go-Go’s broke up shortly after the release of 1984’s Talk Show, their third (and least successful) album for IRS Records. Despite its lackluster sales, Talk Show is a superb pop record and a fitting epitaph to the all-too-short first phase of The Go-Go’s career.

Lead single “Head Over Heels” almost hit the Top 10, and its follow-up “Turn To You” (my favorite Go-Go’s song by far!) peaked at #32. I can still remember the fantastic video for “Turn To You,” in which the band appeared both as the entertainment and the guests at a ’60s-era dance. Jane Wiedlin had an adorable Beatle mop-top haircut, and Belinda Carlisle made out with fellow party guest Rob Lowe. Damn, I miss real MTV…

After a five-year hiatus, The Go-Go’s reunited for a greatest hits record in 1990 and have had multiple reunions ever since. I’ve seen them live a few times over the years, and the Go-Go’s hold the distinction for playing the loudest show I have ever seen: the 1994 Edge Christmas party show in Dallas. The bill also included a solo Sarah McLachlan, 4 Non Blondes, They Might Be Giants, and Simple Minds. Vicki Peterson sat in for Charlotte Caffey that night, and the band turned everything up to 11. My ears might still be bleeding.

The whole world seems out of sync when an album as great as Talk Show is out of print, so the Analog Kid hopes you will enjoy listening to this copy of his original 1984 CD.

The Go-Go’s: Talk Show

IRS Records, 1984

1. “Head Over Heels” (Caffey/Valentine)

Head Over Heels

2. “Turn To You” (Caffey/Wiedlin)

Turn To You

3. “You Thought” (Schock/Valentine)

You Thought

4. “Beneath The Blue Sky” (Valentine/Wiedlin)

Beneath The Blue Sky

5. “Forget That Day” (Wiedlin)

Forget That Day

6. “I’m The Only One” (Valentine/Harvey/Carter)

I’m The Only One

7. “Yes Or No” (Wiedlin/Mael/Mael)

Yes Or No

8. “Capture The Light” (Wiedlin)

Capture The Light

9. “I’m With You” (Schock/Wiedlin)

I’m With You

10. “Mercenary” (Wiedlin/Valentine/Caffey)

Mercenary

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Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

The Go-Go’s: “Good For Gone” (Schock/Valentine)

B-side of the 7″ single Head Over Heels

IRS Records, 1984

Good For Gone

The Go-Go’s: “Yes Or No” [Single Mix] (Wiedlin/Mael/Mael)

IRS Records, 1984

Yes Or No [Single Mix]