1981

1981 January - March

Write Ups

• January 4, 1981 Los Angeles Times
• January 5, 1981 

Shows

• January 1, 2 & 3  Whisky A Go Go
• January 30-31, 1981  The Roxy
  
• February 1, 1981   The Whisky a Go Go
  
• March 14, 1981     SDSU Back Door
  
• March 21, 1981   Perkin's Palace

January 1, 2 & 3

Whisky A Go Go

January 4, 1981

Los Angeles Times

Rock Signs of the Times 

Patric Goldstein

January 5, 1981

Los Angeles Times

Why Can't Go-Go's Get Record Deal

by Terry Atkinson

Kathy Valentine's 1st gig with the GoGo's.

January 30 & 31 

the Roxy

February 1, 1981 

Whisky a Go-Go

March 14, 1981

San Diego State University's Back Door  

5500 Campanile Drive, SDSU Campus, Aztec Center, Back Door Theater

March 21, 1981 

Perkin's Palace (Raymond Theater)

129 N. Raymond, Pasadena

-------------------------

1981 April The REAL DEAL w/ I.R.S.

At this point the Go-Go's where anxious for a record deal. They had been around the block a few times. The had gone to all the major record labels such as Columbia and Epic and tried to get a contract. They wanted to be with a label that believed in them. However, they continually got turned down. Established record companies were skeptical about signing an all-girl band. After all, there had not been a successful all-girl group since the 1960's.


In 1980 the Go-Go's participated in an industry showcase at the Starwood -- a concert where label reps came to see and hear a large number of unsigned bands. It was here that I.R.S. founder Miles Copeland first heard the girls play. GoGo manager Ginger Canzoneri was introduced to Miles Copeland. Ginger was an album cover graphic designer at CBS Records and had a few industry connections.

However, it would be a year before he officially signed them.
The GoGos wanted to hold out for a bigger label - but finally they agreed to go with I.R.S.

I.R.S (International Records Syndicate) Records was a record label started in the USA in 1979 by Miles Copeland III with Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso. Miles is the older brother of Stewart Copeland of the Police.

1970- The Copeland brothers: Ian, Miles and Stewart

I.R.S. was an American version of a group of punk & new wave labels that Miles operated in the UK under the umbrella name Faulty Products. I.R.S. was initially distributed by A & M Records (US). I.R.S. moved distribution to MCA Records Inc. in 1985, and to Enigma Records (US) in 1990. The label folded in 1996.

Miles Copeland was also the manager of The Police and later Sting, as well as other bands.
Other artist on I.R.S. include: Wishbone Ash, English Beat, R.E.M., Oingo Boingo,
The Buzzcocks, Wall of Voodoo, and Fine Young Cannibals.

Miles Coptland

Jay Boberg

A signing party was held on April 1st, 1981 at Kelbo's Hawaiian Bar-B-Q & Tropical Bar. Kelbo's 101 N. Fairfax Avenue, just across the street from CBS (where Ginger worked).

April 1st, 1981 - A Deal is Made with the I.R.S.

GoGo Signing party at Kelbo's

cheers!

Miles Copeland, proclaimed at the signing festivities: The only way for a small company to get ahead is to take chances. But we don’t feel we’re doing that with the Go-Go’s. They’re a safe bet.

Under Kelbo's tin roofs, stuffed macaws and dried banana peels, the Go-Go’s and Copeland signed that sacred document, the long-term recording contract. And the flashbulbs started popping. 

Said lead guitarist Charlotte: I feel really secure, happy now. It makes more sense to be on a smaller label who’ll pay a lot of attention to you.

The next morning, the GoGo's left for New York to begin work on their debut album with Richard Richard Gottehrer. They wanted the album in the racks by June.
Copeland admitted that I.R.S. was different from other record companies but probably the safest in the business. They don’t take risks and don’t give big upfront money.

The next morning, the girls left for New York to begin work on their debut album with Richard Gottehrer.

--------------------------------

1981 April Kelbo's Hawaiian Bar B Q

Kelbo's Hawaiian Bar -Q and Tropical Bar

Kelbo's had 2 locations in the Los Angeles area - one at 101 N. Fairfax in Hollywood, and one at 11434 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles.

The Go-Go's record signing celebration in April 1981 was at the Kelbo's Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles.

Cover of drink menu from Kelbo's in Los Angeles - circa 1955, from the collection of Art Aratin

Kelbo's - Kelbo's was founded by two men, Thomas Kelly and Jack Bouck, who combined the first syllable of their last names and came up with Kelbo's. One, on Fairfax across from CBS Television City, was torn down and there is an outlet of the Vitamin Shoppe at that address today.

How the site looks today (very sad)

2008 photo: tlc

Sadly, Kelbo's is no more. Many of the faux-Polynesian watering holes and Tiki bars that were once popular in the late-'50s/early-'60s (i.e. Don the Beachcomber's) have been slowly dying out across the southland. There aren't that many places left in Los Angeles where you can still get a good Zombie, Mai Tai, or Scorpion Bowl (flaming or otherwise), while sitting with tiki gods, bamboo and thatched hut booths and blow fish lights.

The building that housed the other Kelbo's is on Pico at Exposition. However today it is a tacky bar called Fantasy Island. Fantasy Island.

source:collection of Mimi Payne. arkivatropika

source: collection of Mimi Payne. arkivatropical

Kelbo's decor comprised of tiki gods, fish nets, lanterns in the shape of pineapples and other cheap tropical motif items. The decor for Kelbo's was created by the original beachcomber himself, Eli Hedley.

Eli Hedley created the aesthetic we now know today as the “beachcomber” look. With the help of his wife and daughters, found ways to use items found on the beach — glass, shells, nautical equipment — and turn them into housewares and decorations. Hedley quickly made a name for himself, and in time he was outfitting bars, restaurants and hotels with his beachcomber pieces. Hedley became a decorator to the stars. Hedley even became part of Disneyland, when Walt Disney asked him to help decorate Adventurland; for years he operated the Island Trade Store, where the Bazaar is today.
source: Humu Kno Tiki blog site

Kelbo's co-owner - Jack Bouck

source: collection of Mimi Payne. arkivatropical

collection of Mimi Payne.

About half the restaurant was a large, dimly-lit bar.

source: collection of Mimi Payne. arkivatropical




Napkin from Kelbo's - date unknown, from the collection of the Los Angeles Public Library

Much of Kelbo's advertising art was done by Bob Hale who turned up on Los Angeles, TV from time to time as a cartooning weatherman. He was also active in Seattle where he owned a popular hobby shop that bore his name. (Bob Hales' Hobby Shop- located where the Westlake Mall is now.) Bob Hale was on local news shows from San Diego to Seattle . source: pov online

Channel 5's first forecaster was Bob Hale, promoted as ``KING's cartooning weatherman.'' As he announced the temperature and barometric pressure he sketched poster-size drawings. ``Old Sol'' - his nickname for the sun - was a favorite motif on sunny days.

Hale's drawings of a fat Hawaiian guy in native garb could be seen on Kelbo's napkins and menus, and both of their building had huge murals on one side of Hale cartoons. All of them also had his little signature character of Sammy the Seagull who was always being drawn into his TV weathercast, shivering or tanning himself depending forecast. source: pov on-line

It was said that Mr. Hale once had a severe drinking problem and that he lectured and illustrated pamphlets for Alcoholics Anonymous or some such group.

First page of drink menu from Kelbo's in Los Angeles - circa 1955, from the collection of Art Aratin

Kelbo's had a menu of tropical drinks, some of which came flaming or served in a skull mug.

First page of drink menu from Kelbo's in Los Angeles - circa 1955, from the collection of Art Aratin

Kelbo's was famous for their very sweet and delicious barbecued ribs.

Souvenir menu postcard from Kelbo's - date unknown, from the collection of the Los Angeles Public Library


source: collection of Mimi Payne. arkivatropical

Kelbo's menu also included burgers, barbecue meat sandwiches and seafood. Every plate was garnished with a piece of pineapple and the fired shrimp was coated with coconut.

-----------------------------------------

1981 Beauty and the Beat

In April 1981, with a record contract in hand, the Go-Gos go to New York City to record their first l.p. Beauty and the Beat.

In New York City the girls stayed at the Wellington Hotel located at 871 7th Avenue, NYC.

The Go-Go's went into the studio with producers Rob Freeman (of Blondie production fame) and Richard Gottehrer. Gottehrer had experience as a pop song writer - a la '60's song My Boyfriend's Back (The Angels) and Blondie in the late '70's.

First Go-Go's 7" Singles

On June 12, 1981 - Our Lips Are Sealed was the first Go-Go single to be released. It reached #20 on Billboard charts week of August 29, 1981.

Format: Vinyl, 7", Single
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave,, Pop Rock

Track listing:
A Our Lips Are Sealed (2:44)
Written by - J. Wiedlin, T. Hall
B Surfing And Spying (1:50)
Written by - C. Caffey

US Release

Netherlands release: on Illegal Records (Netherlands)


UK Release (Our Lips Are Sealed/We Got The Beat)

Then came the LP! -

Beauty and the Beat - Released July 7, 1981

Tracklisting:
A1 Our Lips Are Sealed (2:45)
A2 How Much More (3:03)
A3 Tonight (3:33)
A4 Lust To Love (4:00)
A5 This Town (3:15)
B1 We Got The Beat (2:36)
B2 Fading Fast (3:32)
B3 Automatic (2:34)
B4 You Can;t Walk In Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep (3:00)
B5 Skid marks On My Heart (3:13)
B6 Can't Stop The World (3:22)

Beauty and the Beat LP production credits:

• Producers: Rob Freeman, Richard Gottehrer
• Engineers: Rob Freeman
• Assistant engineers: James A. Ball, Ted Blechta, Darroll Gustamachio, Gray Russell, John Terelle
• Mixing: Rob Freeman
• Mixing assistants: James A. Ball, Stuart Furusho, David Leonard
• Remixing: Doug Schwartz
• Mastering: Greg Calbi
• Art direction: Ginger Canzoneri, Mike Doud, Mick Haggerty, Vartan
• Design: Mike Fink, Mick Haggerty
• Photography: George DuBose, Mick Haggerty, Cindy Marsh
• Illustrations: Cindy Marsh

Photographer George Dubose shot the band in the bathtub in their hotel and them again in his studio. This photo was the cover of The Go-Gos 'Beauty and the Beat.

Beauty and the Beat was released on July 7, 1981. There were two different covers (pink and blue).

1981 photo: George Dubose

Beauty and the Beat album photos:

We Got The Beat

LABEL: I.R.S.
Format: Vinyl, 7", Single
Country: US
Released: December 15, 1981
Genre: Pop Rock
Style: Punk, Pop Rock
Credits: Artwork By - timothy Eames
Management: Ginger Canzoneri
Photography - Chris Cramer
Producer - Richard Gottehrer, Rob Freeemen
Recorded by _Rob Freeman

Tracklistling:
A)      We Got The Beat (2:30)
Written By C. Caffey

B)      Can't Stop The World (3:22)
Written by Kathy Valentine

I.R.S. Note - I.R.S. Records emergence was perfect for a new television channel, MTV. The label had always pursued innovative marketing strategies and it jumped at music videos from the outset. Nearly all of the artists who recorded for I.R.S. were captured in music videos. I.R.S. created both promotional and commercial videos. The earliest commercial video was "Totally Go-Go's" filmed in December 1981 during a concert to support their first album. Other concert videos to be released by I.R.S. were Police Around the World in 1983 and Prime Time Go-Go's in 1985. Best of I.R.S. Video a compilation tape of ten videos by ten artists was released in 1984. Among the earliest promotional videos were The Go-Go's Vacation and The English Beat's Save It for Later, both in 1982. link: On A&M Records

In 1981, I.R.S. had its first RIAA gold certification with The Go-Go's Beauty and the Beat album. The Go-Go's claim the distinction of being the first all-female band to have a #1 album on the Billboard Pop Chart. In 1981, they also had a Top 10 and Top 20 single on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. Artists The Fleshtones, Renaissance and Wall of Voodoo each had a Billboard Pop 200 album.

However - in 1981, I.R.S. was confronted with legal disputes brought by The Cramps and The Go-Go's.

--------------------------