Vacation is the second studio album by American rock band the Go-Go's, released on July 20, 1982, by I.R.S. Records. peaking at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. Notably, it was also issued as the first cassette single released in the US. In addition to the title track, two more singles were pulled from the album at the time: "Get Up and Go" and "This Old Feeling", the former of which peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone critic Ken Tucker praised Vacation as a significant musical progression for the Go-Go's, observing "a fresh curiosity about the world and a treasure trove of precise details", as well as "first-rate songwriting that offers Carlisle a wide range of emotions and characters." He highlighted "This Old Feeling" as "a perfect pop song... Rarely has the woozy pleasure of a good daydream been rendered more movingly in rock music." Billboard called it a "spirited pop/rock anthem" that is "invigorating" despite not being as "seamless" or having as much "mass appeal" as the preceding hit single "Vacation". Detroit Free Press critic Gary Graff called it a "beach party pop tune."
Track listing
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.
The Go-Go's
- Charlotte Caffey – lead guitar, keyboards, back-up vocals
- Belinda Carlisle – lead vocals
- Gina Schock – drums, percussion, back-up vocals
- Kathy Valentine – bass guitar, back-up vocals
- Jane Wiedlin – rhythm guitar, back-up vocals
Additional musicians
- Steve Berlin – saxophone on "This Old Feeling"
Technical
- Richard Gottehrer – production
- Thom Panunzio – recording, mixing
- James Ball, Stuart Furusho, David Leonard, Neil Pedinoff – recording assistance
- Greg Calbi – mastering
Artwork
- Mick Haggerty – art direction, design, photography
- Ginger Canzoneri – art direction
Charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for Vacation
! scope="col"| Chart (1982)
! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
| 71
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
! scope="row"| US Billboard 200
| 8
|}