Talk Show (The Go-Go's album)

Talk Show is the third studio album by rock band The Go-Go's, released on the I.R.S. label, in 1984. Although many critics called it an inspired return to form after the sophomoric Vacation, other than the #11 hit single "Head over Heels," the album was a relative commercial disappointment, peaking at number 18, and selling fewer than 500,000 copies. This would be the last all-original album by the group, until 2001's God Bless The Go-Go's.

Many of the songs on this album were not performed regularly by the band in concert. It has been speculated that the songs bring back painful memories from this time. Only "Head over Heels" has been played live on a regular basis (also often in Belinda Carlisle's solo shows). Some songs haven't been played since the 1984 Prime Time tour. Overall song quality is far better than on the Vacation album, and some fans credited Kathy Valentine's increased input during these sessions, as a key factor.

The music video for "Turn to You" (the second single, which peaked at #32 in the U.S. chart) featured a starring role for then up-and-coming actor Rob Lowe (the song, incidentally, was written about baseball pitcher Bob Welch, a one-time boyfriend of Charlotte Caffey. The video's director, Mary Lambert, went on to work on several other videos, including hits by Madonna, and on films, such as Pet Sematary. The promo for the third track, taken from the LP, "Yes or No," was released shortly before the group's breakup was announced, possibly hurting the sales of the single, which peaked at #84.

Track listing

1. "Head over Heels" - 3:38 (Caffey, Valentine)
2. "Turn to You" - 3:48 (Caffey, Wiedlin)
3. "You Thought" - 4:12 (Schock, Valentine)
4. "Beneath the Blue Sky" - 3:00 (Valentine, Wiedlin)
5. "Forget That Day" - 4:25 (Wiedlin)
6. "I'm the Only One" - 3:29 (Valentine, Harvey, Carter)
7. "Yes or No" - 4:04 (Wiedlin, Mael, Mael)
8. "Capture the Light" - 3:15 (Wiedlin)
9. "I'm with You" - 3:37 (Schock, Wiedlin)
10. "Mercenary" - 3:40 (Wiedlin, Valentine, Caffey) +
11. "Good for Gone" - 2:54 (Schock, Valentine)

Credits

Band

• Charlotte Caffey: lead guitar, keyboards, background vocals
• Belinda Carlisle: lead vocals
• Gina Schock: drums, percussion, background vocals
• Kathy Valentine: Bass Guitar, Guitars, background vocals
• Jane Wiedlin: rhythm guitar, vocals

Production personnel

• Martin Rushent: producer and engineer
• Dave Allen, Philip Tennant, Jim Russell: assistant engineers
• Nathan Lam: vocal direction

Staff

• Douglas Brian Martin: art direction
• Chris Craymer: photography
• Frontline: management

Chart positions

Album

Singles