The story of the Go-Go's wasn't the picture-perfect band showcasing a group of friends living the rock and roll dream. Instead, it's a story of bitter rivalry, jealousy, led by four punk rock rooted women dressed up to play MTV pop stars. While on screen they worked harmoniously to deliver massive hits of the 80's, behind the scenes, when not abusing substances, they were embroiled in battle over money.
As their hits, We Got The Beat, Our Lips Are Sealed, and Vacation shot up the charts, royalties started steadily rolling in for the respective members who penned the tracks, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine, and Jane Wiedlin. While they soon found themselves living the high life, buying homes and cars, remaining members, Belinda Carlisle, and Gina Schock were on the opposite spectrum, making a mere fraction of what the others were receiving.
For Belinda Carlisle, this was particularly a problem. The label had pushed her to the forefront of all publicity. As lead singer of the band, she was often the focal point of magazine photographs. Yet the guitarists all had more money than her.
Coupled with consistent drug and alcohol abuse from all five members, the train would derail in 1984 after just three albums. Though Belinda would go on to be the most successful post Go-Gos, it would be Jane who'd first kick off a solo career in 1985 with her self-titled debut.
The album wouldn't perform too well, though it would manage to hit the Billboard 200, peaking at one-hundred twenty-seven. From it came only a mildly successful single, Blue Kiss, which peaked at seventy-seven on the Billboard Hot 100.
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In terms of someone I would consider a legacy artist, her debut is pretty weak. But I suppose a contributing factor to that would possibly be that I wasn't exactly the biggest Go-Go's fan either, which is what this album sounds like.
I guess one of my biggest hangups is that while Wiedlin is a strong songwriter, she doesn't have the voice to step to the frontline as a lead singer. She also doesn't really have the presence for it.
Admittedly, picking up this album was one of those checkbox moments for me. It wasn't one I necessarily wanted and already knew the lead single wasn't vibing with me. But, you know, collector's gonna collect. I find myself doing that more and more as of late. Just completing 80's era discographies for the sake of doing so. It's making for one heck of a collection, but at the same time, mediocrity is taking up a lot of space. Maybe I should stop...I won't.
Nor did Jane Wiedlin. Though she would take three years between her debut and follow-up, 1988's Fur would fare much better on the charts, delivering my favorite solo track from her. Until I get to that one (tomorrow), that's about all I have to say for today. Thanks for stopping by to let an old man ramble.
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