The Go-Go's "Talk Show"

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Their best album – even better than "Beauty & The Beat"? Discuss.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 10 June 2005 12:40 (twenty years ago)

For as much as I adored "B&TB," and really liked most of "Vacation" despite the many accusations of a sophomore slump, I've just never really been able to get behind "Talk Show." Their playing and songwriting skills increased, yeah, but it always seemed to me that the fun is missing. I'll listen again this weekend.

― Daniel Peterson (polkaholic), Friday, 10 June 2005 13:00 (twenty years ago)

On this album it's all about Gina Schock.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 10 June 2005 13:03 (twenty years ago)

Jeez Alfred, there was a lot of (well, some) give and take on the "We Got The Beat" vs. "Our Lips Are Sealed" thread -- maybe no one else cares about "Talk Show." I'll listen specifically for the drums. My overall impression was that their third album was a concerted attempt to move past the perception of being cutesy-poo and toughen up their sound, but I didn't like the production (Rushent, innit?) or the songs too much.

Threads like this give me the impetus to drag out vinyl I haven't spun in 10 years or more -- thanks!

― Daniel Peterson (polkaholic), Friday, 10 June 2005 17:17 (twenty years ago)

Good record, though I wouldn't say I like it as much as I do the first one. Definitely hidden treasure on this one, though. "I'm the Only One," "Capture the Light," "Mercenary."

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 10 June 2005 17:27 (twenty years ago)

Like I said on the "Our Lips Are Sealed" thread, "Turn to You" is my fave Go-Go's single.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 10 June 2005 18:14 (twenty years ago)

"Head Over Heels" is their second-greatest single after "Our Lips are Sealed."

I remember really liking this when it came out. Now all I can remember is "HOH," "Turn To You" and "Yes or No" (co-written by Sparks, or am I wrong?)

― mike a, Friday, 10 June 2005 18:21 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, it's Wiedlin/Mael/Mael.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 10 June 2005 18:47 (twenty years ago)

no, this album sucks.

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 10 June 2005 18:51 (twenty years ago)

(comparatively)

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 10 June 2005 18:51 (twenty years ago)

compared to BATB? Maybe. It's certainly better than Vacation.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 10 June 2005 19:03 (twenty years ago)

Well, "better" than Vacation is subjective. "Turn to You" is technically better-written than, say, "Get Up and Go" in a "Classic Pop Songwriting 101" way, but that doesn't mean I like it better. I listened again on Saturday - twice - and I stand by my original assessment: I just don't like most of the songs, or the production, as well as either of the first two. "Head Over Heels" is an ace single (I *LOVE* Belinda's inflection on the line "I must be losin' it...") although I'm a little unsure about the piano solo.

― Daniel Peterson (polkaholic), Monday, 13 June 2005 18:48 (twenty years ago)

Daniel Peterson OTM on "rrrIIIIII must-be-looosinit..."

Please rest assured that BOTH piano breaks are epic. Ditto the "and Kathy Valentine on bass!" breakdown.

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Monday, 13 June 2005 19:13 (twenty years ago)

nine years pass...

love this record. feels more deliberately composed than beauty and the beat, less feathery and spontaneous, but to its benefit i think

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 16 July 2014 01:26 (eleven years ago)

of course alfred made this thread

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 16 July 2014 01:26 (eleven years ago)

also yeah gina shock destroys her drum kit here

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 16 July 2014 01:29 (eleven years ago)

"Head Over Heels" is the perfect 80s rewrite of/answer to the Faces' "Stay With Me": same surging dynamic shifts, same charging piano-driven ending, same massive drums, different clothes/perspective.

― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 16 July 2014 02:13 (eleven years ago)

when they did the reissue treatment to Cheap Trick's first, it had an early version of I Want You To Want Me that rips.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzBtzC6L9Uo&feature=kp

― campreverb, Wednesday, 16 July 2014 12:17 (eleven years ago)

two years pass...

Fucking love this record. If I still made CD-Rs "Forget That Day" and "You Thought" would be on it.

― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 23 May 2017 00:35 (nine years ago)

Having lived thorugh the 2015 reissue for a week, I'm struck by ferocious it sounds. Also, unlike the Bangles, the Go-Go's never once used song doctors. Quite the contrary: TS has more contributions from the band than any other release.

― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 5 June 2017 01:08 (eight years ago)

I have no idea why I posted a Cheap Trick video in this thread 2 years ago.
Jane Wiedlin is the Gene Clark of the 80s however.

― campreverb, Monday, 5 June 2017 04:44 (eight years ago)

three years pass...

The album cover always made me assume this one was closer to the sound of "heaven is a place on earth" (or maybe "9 to 5"), so I always skipped past this in the bargain bin.
I finally picked it up last week, and was not prepared for how much this actually rocks. It's definitely more of a slow grower... i'm finding my way in (via "Turn To You", "Beneath the Blue Sky", and "I'm the Only One"), but I'm not sure I'll ever come around to Alfred's assessment.
Whoever did the album art clearly never listened to the album though.

― enochroot, Sunday, 24 January 2021 02:26 (five years ago)

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The Go-Go's "Talk Show" – C?D?