Beauty and the Beat by Go-Go's (The) (CD, Oct-1990, A&M Records USA)

The CD is absolutely amazing! The quality of the recording is great. And of course the songs are so much fun to rock out to. This has always been one of my favorite albums and was excited to find it on CD when my old copy finally quit playing.

I remember the first time I heard this album back in the Fall of 1981 (I was 20 at the time). Quite simply, it blew me away. From the opening drum intro of 'Our Lips Are Sealed,' this album offers a string of catchy songs that are well-written, well-sung and well-performed. Although 'Our Lips..' was, deservedly, the first single and arguably the best song of the album, the first six songs could have been issued as singles - they're that good. The Go-Go's represented the fun that was part of the 'New Wave' of the time and the music encapsulated the energy of the British Invasion/Beach Boys. Later albums by the Go-Go's had several good songs, but they never quite captured the energy, songwriting and musicianship of this wonderful album.