the Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat (35th anniversary)

Today (July 8th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Beauty and the Beat, the debut album from the Go-Go's. This 1981 record spent seventy-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, including six at the number 1 spot.

For my full review of this classic debut, click here.

For even more from the Go-Go's, click here.

Nona Hendryx - Nona

Before moving off to a solo career, Nona Hendryx was one third of the R&B girl-group Labelle. In the mid-1970’s she went solo and released a number of records. One of them, 1983’s Nona celebrated its thirtieth anniversary back in March of this year. Her second solo studio album, it climbed to number 83 on the US Billboard Album chart and number 25 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

The Go-Go's - Vacation (30th anniversary)

Today, August 11th, also marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the Go-Go's second studio album Vacation.

For my review of this album, please click here.

To celebrate, I am going to cue up this album too and celebrate some 80's rocking girl power.

The Go-Go's - Vacation

Coming off a big debut record the year before, in 1982 the Go-Go’s needed to prove the first time around was no fluke. Their second studio album, however, did not perform nearly as well as Beauty and the Beat. It only went Gold in the US, after peaking at number 8 on the charts, and produced only one Top-40 hit out of three singles.

the Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat

In the 60's, we had the Shirelles, the Supremes and the Ronnettes.

In the 70's, we had Patti LaBelle with her Bluebelles, and Joan Jett and Lita Ford in the Runaways.

As the 80's began, a new age of girl-groups came into vogue and leading the charge were the Go-Go's.