The Go Go's- Live At The Whiskey A Go-Go 1978

 

 

If you're like me you listened to a lot of music on the radio when you were younger. There was definitely music that stuck with me from high school to the present that I listen to today. Pre-high school I listened to the safe bets at the time, Elton John, Paul McCartney/the Beatles, that sort of thing. High school expanded to the popular groups at the time, Boston, Foreigner, Supertramp, Cheap Trick and Van Halen (the last 3 groups I saw in concert in the late 70's), as well as bands that were already considered "classic rock", Rolling Stones, CCR, the Kinks, Hendrix, the Who. As the 80's arrived, my musical tastes expanded further to included new wave, mod and punk bands through more progressive radio stations and the emergence of MTV (MuchMusic, for you Canadians) that also offered some alternative to mainstream commercial radio. The new music of the early 80's on mainstream radio introduced more female-based music, as music videos on MTV that marketed the look and image of the performers that led to to the popularity of Madonna, Bananarama and the Go Go's. You couldn't go anywhere without hearing the annoying ear-worms of Like A Virgin, Venus (note: the original version from Shocking Blue is a great song!) and the Go Go's, We Got the Beat and Vacation. My opinion at the time of the Go Go's was that they were too pre-packaged and slick, thanks to MTV! How judgemental can I be! I must admit, songs from the Go Go's (and the Bangles) became guilty pleasures, they are upbeat songs, great to dance to (which I avoid) and fun! When the compilation record, Return to the Valley Of The Go Go's was released I became aware this band had roots in the punk/new wave scene in the L.A. area in the late 70's with recordings that pre-dated, Beauty and the Beat that were raw and hungry. It's true when the band signed a deal with I.R.S. records, the band's sound smoothed out to a more pop-oriented sound that was ideal for radio, but the fact they are the first all-female band to write their own songs and play their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts proves they were a talented deserving band.

 

There has been recent attention and interest about the Go Go's because of a new documentary film, The Go Go's that was released on Showtime in August (and can be streamed here). From the film's PR: "As the first multi-platinum-selling, all-female band to play their own instruments, write their own songs and soar to No. 1 on the album charts, the Go-Go's are the most successful female rock band of all time. Underpinned by candid testimonies from The Go-Go's past and present, this documentary chronicles the meteoric rise to fame of a band born of the LA punk scene that not only captured but created a zeitgeist". It might be worth checking out, I tend to enjoy music documentaries and I'm sure I would learn a lot that I don't know.

Speaking of the Go Go's rising to fame from the LA punk scene, I have an early live recording from the band from 1978. According to the Go Go's concerts wiki, this was their 5th ever show (opening for the Dickies). Yes, this is another historic recording! I'm not sure if any of the earlier shows were recorded, regardless this is one of the earliest live recordings from the band. The band is raw and sloppy (when the sound isn't great it always sounds rough), so not for the faint of heart. Lots of rare and unreleased songs with only a couple appearing on Return To The Valley. An interesting recording that really shows how quickly the band progressed to what they soon became. I respect that they played clubs like this in the early days and their first two albums are good, so I shouldn't feel too guilty for liking the band...a bit more.

Enjoy!

#14yearsoftrouble

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy formats (except for personal use)

Please share!

 

The Go-Go's
Whiskey-A-Go-Go, 

Los Angeles. CA
October 4, 1978
 

Lineage: CDR Trade > EAC (verified lossless) > WAV > FlacFrontend (Level 8) > FLAC > Dime

01. We're Here Now
02. B-Movie
03. London Boys
04. Robert Hilburn
05. Remember (Walking In the Sand)
06. Don't Hang Up
07. Fashion Seekers
08. Screaming
09. Party Pose
10. Over Run
11. Just A Number
12. Luxury Living

GO GO'S- 1978-10-04 Whiskey A Go Go FLAC. rar