GO-GO's - Beauty and the Beat 12" Vinyl LP Album

- The chart-topping debut that redefined New Wave in the early 80s

Album Front Cover Photo of GO-GO's - Beauty and the Beat Visit: https://vinyl-records.nl/

"Beauty and the Beat" is the groundbreaking debut album by Californian all-female band The Go-Go’s, released in 1981. With infectious singles like “We Got the Beat” and “Our Lips Are Sealed,” the album rocketed to number one on the Billboard 200, where it stayed for six weeks. Produced by Richard Gottehrer with Rob Freeman as co-producer and engineer, it became the first—and only—album entirely written and performed by an all-female band to top the charts. Today it remains a cornerstone of 80s New Wave, blending punk roots with irresistible pop energy.

Table of Contents

Album Description:

The Go-Go's are an American all-female rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1978. The band's debut album, "Beauty and the Beat," was released in 1981 on 12" vinyl LP and quickly became a commercial success.

The Go-Go's began playing music in the Los Angeles punk scene in the late 1970s. They quickly gained a following and signed with I.R.S. Records in 1980. Their debut album, "Beauty and the Beat" was recorded in New York City and produced by Richard Gottehrer. The album was released in July 1981 and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It remained on the chart for 38 weeks and became one of the most successful albums of the year.

"Beauty and the Beat" had a significant impact on the music industry, particularly for female musicians. The album was the first by an all-female band to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It also helped to establish the Go-Go's as one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1980s.

The album's success inspired many other female musicians to form bands and pursue careers in the music industry. It also helped to break down barriers for women in the male-dominated world of rock music. The Go-Go's continue to be an important part of music history, and "Beauty and the Beat" remains a beloved and influential album to this day.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

Americans 80s Rock / Pop

Label & Catalognr:

Illegal Records - Cat#: ILP 85332

Album Packaging

This album includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs and artwork/photos.

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Weight: 230g

Year & Country:

July 1981 - Netherlands

Producers:
  • Richard Gottehrer - Producer
    Veteran songwriter and producer, co-founder of Sire Records, who had previously worked with Blondie. Gottehrer gave the album its commercial polish and helped refine the band’s new wave energy into radio-ready hits.
  • Rob Freeman - Co-Producer, Engineer
    Responsible for the recording and engineering, Freeman ensured the Go-Go’s energetic live sound was captured in the studio. His technical expertise balanced raw performance with crisp production, contributing to the album’s distinctive punch.

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up:
  • Belinda Carlisle - Lead vocals
    Rose to international fame as the frontwoman of The Go-Go’s before embarking on a successful solo career. Her solo hit “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” (1987) became a worldwide chart-topper.
  • Charlotte Caffey - Lead guitar, Keyboards, Backing vocals
    Primary songwriter for many of the band’s hits, including “We Got the Beat.” Her melodic sensibility helped define the band’s sound, and she has collaborated with other notable artists in rock and pop.
  • Jane Wiedlin - Rhythm guitar, Vocals
    Co-wrote “Our Lips Are Sealed,” one of the band’s signature songs. Enjoyed a solo career with hits like “Rush Hour” and appeared in films, adding to her recognition as a multi-talented performer.
  • Kathy Valentine - Bass, Backing vocals
    Joined The Go-Go’s in 1980 and contributed to their success with her bass work and songwriting. Later pursued solo projects and wrote a memoir highlighting her journey in the music industry.
  • Gina Schock - Drums, Percussion
    The powerhouse drummer of the group, known for her tight, energetic playing. Beyond The Go-Go’s, she has worked as a songwriter and producer, collaborating with artists across genres.

Complete Track-listing:

Note: Track durations are approximate and may not be 100% correct.

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Our Lips Are Sealed Single
    Released as one of the band’s breakthrough singles, co-written by Jane Wiedlin and Terry Hall (The Specials/Fun Boy Three).
  2. How Much More
  3. Tonite
  4. Lust to Love
  5. This Town
  6. We Got the Beat Single
    The band’s biggest hit, reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cementing The Go-Go’s as pop-rock icons of the 1980s.
Video: The Go-Go's - We Got The Beat
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Fading Fast
  2. Automatic
  3. You Can't Walk in Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep)
  4. Skidmarks on My Heart
  5. Can't Stop the World
Video: Go-Go's - Can't Stop The World (Totally Go-Go's Live '81)
_VIDEO_CLIP_
Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover of the GO-GO's 1981 album Beauty and the Beat. The five band members are depicted sitting together against a pastel blue and peach background. Each wears a towel wrapped around her body and a second towel around her head, as if fresh from a spa. Their faces are painted stark white with vivid red lips, creating a striking contrast against their skin tones. The band name appears in white capital letters at the top left, and the album title 'beauty and the beat' is written in lowercase on the right.

The album cover of GO-GO's - Beauty and the Beat presents a bold and playful image of the five band members. They are posed as if in a beauty salon or spa, each wrapped in powder-blue towels with matching head wraps. Their bodies appear sun-kissed in orange tones, while their faces are painted in flat white makeup that accentuates dark, dramatic eyes and crimson lips.

The background fades from soft lavender on the left to warm peach on the right, creating a surreal, dreamlike color gradient. At the top left, the band name GO·GO’s is written in tall white lettering. On the right, in small lowercase text, the album title beauty and the beat runs vertically downwards.

The overall design juxtaposes glamour with satire, giving the impression of both pop exuberance and ironic commentary on beauty rituals. The composition is symmetrical yet casual, with each member striking a different pose: leaning, sitting cross-legged, or resting on an elbow, all gazing directly outward at the viewer.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of the GO-GO's 1981 album Beauty and the Beat. The design is a playful collage composed of six panels in a checkerboard layout. Three panels are filled with vibrant pink and blue speckled patterns that also contain the track listing text, while the other three panels feature black-and-white photographs of the band members in bubble baths. Each photo shows a different member engaged in humorous, glamorous, or casual activities, including using a telephone, pouring champagne, blowing bubbles, or reading a magazine. At the top right corner, the catalog number ILP 85332 and CB 271 logo are visible.

The back cover of GO-GO's - Beauty and the Beat is arranged in a playful checkerboard grid of six squares. Three of these are filled with bright pink and blue speckled patterns, which double as the backdrop for the printed track listing.

The alternating squares feature black-and-white photographs of the band members in bathtubs filled with frothy bubbles. Each musician strikes a different pose: one holds a telephone to her ear with a playful expression, another blows bubbles from her hands, one pours champagne into a tower of glasses, while another reads a magazine while applying makeup. Another photo shows a member leaning toward the faucet with a mischievous smile.

This combination of colorful abstract design and humorous bath-time portraits conveys both the band’s lighthearted attitude and their tongue-in-cheek approach to glamour. At the top right, the catalog number and label markings are printed clearly, reinforcing its identity as a collectible vinyl release.

First Photo of Custom Inner Sleeve
Custom inner sleeve photo one of the GO-GO's 1981 album Beauty and the Beat. The design is laid out in a six-square grid with alternating pastel pink speckled panels and monochrome blue-tinted portraits of the band members. Each portrait shows a different member of the band smiling or making playful expressions, accompanied by their credited role such as lead vocals, rhythm guitar, drums, bass, or keyboards. The central pink panel contains production credits naming Richard Gottehrer and Rob Freeman.

This inner sleeve from GO-GO's - Beauty and the Beat presents a grid of six panels alternating between textured pink speckle patterns and blue-tinted portraits of the band members. Each photograph captures a head-and-shoulders view, with every musician styled in a casual, approachable way, smiling or striking lighthearted expressions.

At the top left is Belinda Carlisle, identified with the credit lead vocals, her hair tied back with a ribbon and her eyes looking sideways in a playful manner. At the top right, Jane Wiedlin smiles brightly, credited for rhythm guitar & vocals. Centered at the bottom, Gina Schock appears with a surprised expression, labeled as drums & percussion. Bottom left shows Kathy Valentine, noted for bass & guitars, with tousled hair and a relaxed grin. At the bottom right is Charlotte Caffey, captioned lead guitar, vocals, & keyboards, looking directly at the viewer with a light smile.

The central pink panels provide the album’s production credits, highlighting Richard Gottehrer and Rob Freeman. The combination of stark speckled texture with monochrome portraits creates a striking design that feels both playful and stylish, consistent with the band’s energetic identity.

Second Photo of Custom Inner Sleeve
Custom inner sleeve photo two of the GO-GO's 1981 album Beauty and the Beat. The design features a pink background with all song lyrics printed in black text across the entire surface. Each track title is bolded or capitalized at the start of its respective section, including well-known singles such as 'Our Lips Are Sealed' and 'We Got the Beat'. The lyrics are arranged in multi-column format, allowing the full album’s content to be read directly from the sleeve.

This second inner sleeve of GO-GO's - Beauty and the Beat is dedicated entirely to the printed lyrics of the album. Set against a solid pink background, the text is neatly arranged in multiple columns for readability.

Each section begins with the title of a track, capitalized or bolded, followed by the complete lyrics. The iconic singles Our Lips Are Sealed and We Got the Beat are prominently included, alongside the rest of the tracklist such as This Town, Skidmarks on My Heart, and Can't Stop the World.

This functional yet colorful design not only provides fans with the ability to sing along but also reflects the band’s commitment to presenting their work in full detail. It combines aesthetic simplicity with practical content, making the sleeve both collectible and useful.

Close up of Side One record’s label
Close-up of the Side One record label from the GO-GO's 1981 album Beauty and the Beat. The label has a cream background with blue speckled pattern, featuring the band name 'GO GO's' in bold black letters across the center. Above the name is the album title and production credit 'Produced by Richard Gottehrer & Rob Freeman'. The track listing for Side One is printed in black, including 'Our Lips Are Sealed,' 'How Much More,' 'Tonite,' 'Lust to Love,' and 'This Town.' Catalog number ILP 85332 and the Illegal Records logo appear on the right side, alongside licensing and rights society stamps.

This close-up of Side One’s record label for GO-GO's - Beauty and the Beat shows a cream background decorated with scattered blue speckles, a design element consistent with the album’s inner sleeve motifs. Bold black lettering displays the band’s name across the center.

Above the name sits the album title and the producer credits: Produced by Richard Gottehrer & Rob Freeman. The song list for Side One is printed below, featuring tracks such as Our Lips Are Sealed, How Much More, Tonite, Lust to Love, and This Town.

To the right of the spindle hole, the Illegal Records logo is clearly visible, accompanied by catalog number ILP 85332 and licensing identifiers, including the BIEM/STEMRA rights society stamp and LC code 7014. The crisp layout blends practical cataloging with a vibrant, collectible visual design.