Go go
Go go is a form of
funk music which arose in the
1980s in
Washington D.C. In the late
1970s, funk had gone electronic, influenced by then popular
disco acts, and began using drum machines,
synthesizers and other instruments that many purists derided. Go go arose as an alternative that stuck to the
James Brown-inspired roots of funk, with the
psychedelic rock influences of
George Clinton intact.
The first go go LP is said to be Bustin' Loose by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers (1979, 1979 in music). The title track reached #34 on the charts. Soon artists, like EU (Experience Unlimited), Rare Essence and Trouble Funk gained fame in the D.C. area, though perhaps only EU matched the national success of Brown. EU had a #35 hit in 1988 with "Da Butt" from the movie School Daze. Artists like D.C. Scorpio began mixing the sound with hip hop, followed by hip-hop/go go hybrids by Salt-N-Pepa and Body and Soul.
This original scene in the 1980s was accompanied by an epidemic of PCP abuse, which remains extraordinarily high in Prince George's County and other areas around Washington D.C.
Go go recordings
Albums
- Bustin' Loose by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers, 1979, Source Records/MCA
- Any Other Way to Go? by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers, 1987 Rhythm Attack Records, Germany
- EU Live: 2 Places at the Same Time by EU, 1986 TTED/Island Records
- Trouble Over Here, Trouble Over There by Trouble Funk, 1987 TTED/Island Records
- Go Go Crankin': Paint the White House Black by various artists, 1985 4th & Broadway Records/TTED/Island Records
- The Go Go Posse by various artists, 1988 I Hear Ya! Records
- Go Go Live at the Capital Centre by various artists, 1988 I Hear Ya! Records
- Good to Go: Jump to the Beat original motion picture soundtrack, various artists, 1986 TTED/Island Records.
Singles
- Dance to the Drummer's Beat by Body and Soul with Trouble Funk, 1989 Delicious Vinyl/Island Records
- That'll Work 2001 by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers, 1988, I Hear Ya! Records
- We Need Some Money by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers, 1984, TTED Records
- Da Butt by EU, 1988, Virgin Records
- Buck Wild by EU, 1989, Virgin Records
- Happy Feet by Mass Extension, 1985, 4th & Broadway/TTED/Island Records
- Shake Your Thang by Salt-N-Pepa with EU, 1988, Next Plateau Records
- Say What? by Trouble Funk, DETT Records
- Good to Go by Trouble Funk, 1986, TTED/Island Records
- Still Smokin' by Trouble Funk, 1985, Island Records
- Straight Up Funk Go Go Style 2 disc single, 1981 blank label
Recordings influenced by go go music
A go-go dancer is a scantily-clad dancer, often in an erotic revue. In Thailand, a go-go boy is a young man working as a prostitute. [1]