Disgraceland Bonus Episode Summary: Great Girl Groups au Go Go

Release Date: May 29, 2025

Introduction to the After Party

In this bonus episode, hosted by Jake Brennan of Double Elvis Productions, listeners are welcomed to "Disgraceland," the podcast's after-party segment. This segment serves as a bridge between main episodes, offering an informal space to delve deeper into the week's topic, engage with listener interactions, and preview upcoming content.

Main Discussion: The Go Go's – Pioneers of Female Pop Groups

The focal point of this episode is the Go Go's, a trailblazing all-female band celebrated for their unique achievement of releasing a number one album entirely composed of their own songs. Jake emphasizes the significance of this accomplishment in an industry often dominated by male songwriters and producers.

Key Highlights:

• Historical Significance: The Go Go's were the first all-female group to top the charts with self-written material, challenging the industry's skepticism about female musicians' songwriting capabilities.

  Jake Brennan [04:50]: “They were the first group of all female musicians to have a number one album of songs that they wrote themselves. That’s noteworthy because they were told by industry insiders they couldn’t expect to write their own songs and have a hit album.”

• Comparative Analysis: Jake contrasts the Go Go's achievements with other prominent female artists and groups, noting that while solo artists like Taylor Swift and Madonna have multiple number one albums, these were predominantly co-written with other writers, unlike the Go Go's entirely self-composed hits.

  Jake Brennan [10:15]: “Taylor and Madonna relied on co-writers for their number one albums... The Go Go’s wrote their own songs as the band members themselves.”

AI and Recognition of the Go Go's

A significant portion of the discussion critiques the oversight of the Go Go's in AI-generated lists of the greatest girl groups.

Key Points:

• AI Limitations: Jake explores responses from Google’s Gemini and ChatGPT, highlighting their omission of the Go Go's from top girl group lists. He expresses disappointment and concern over this exclusion, suggesting it reflects a broader lack of recognition.

  Jake Brennan [15:45]: “It’s beyond discouraging that AI doesn’t recognize the Go Go’s. They have the first and only number one record in pop music history for an all-female group that wrote their own songs.”

• Cultural Impact: Despite their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and ongoing performances with contemporary artists, the Go Go's remain underrepresented in mainstream accolades, a point that Jake finds troubling.

  Jake Brennan [18:30]: “The fact that the Go Go’s aren’t even mentioned is a fricking disgrace. It’s alarming.”

Upcoming Content Preview

Jake teases future episodes, including a "Rewind" segment on Madonna, discussing her wild career moments and the iconic song "Borderline." Additionally, a new episode on Marilyn Manson is announced, exploring his subversive impact in the 1990s.

Jake Brennan [20:50]: “Next Tuesday, our brand new episode on Marilyn Manson is dropping. We’ll dive into his inhumanity and rock star depravity.”

Listener Engagement: Voicemails and Texts

The episode features interactions with listeners, sharing their perspectives on the Go Go's and other girl groups.

Notable Contributions:

• Tony from the 206: Advocates for both the Go Go's and the Bangles, suggesting a versus battle between the two.

  Tony [16:10]: “I definitely say the Go Go's, but I also say the Bangles. They would make for an interesting versus battle.”

• Johnny Vinyl: Extends appreciation for the Go Go's while also giving honorable mentions to other groups like the Runaways and Vixen.

  Jake Brennan [17:18]: “Johnny Vinyl… you’re putting the Runaways at number one because the Go Go's…”

• 303: Offers insights into hair bands and their criminal backgrounds, requesting an episode focused on this topic.

  303 [17:50]: “If you could have one episode on one hair band, who would it be?”

Jake responds by acknowledging the input and hinting at potential future episodes covering these interests.

Additional Content and Announcements

The episode also touches on other podcast-related content, including a sneak peek into the "Hollywoodland Minute" segment featuring stories from the Annex of Hollywood and true crime. Additionally, Jake encourages listeners to support the show through reviews and membership to access exclusive episodes.

Conclusion

Jake wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of recognizing the Go Go's contributions to music history and expressing anticipation for upcoming discussions. He underscores the podcast's commitment to exploring the intertwined narratives of music and true crime, inviting listeners to stay engaged and participate in ongoing conversations.

Notable Quotes:

• Jake Brennan [04:50]: “They were the first group of all female musicians to have a number one album of songs that they wrote themselves…”
• Jake Brennan [15:45]: “It’s beyond discouraging that AI doesn’t recognize the Go Go’s. They have the first and only number one record in pop music history for an all-female group that wrote their own songs.”
• Tony [16:10]: “I definitely say the Go Go's, but I also say the Bangles…”

Upcoming Episodes:

• Rewind Episode on Madonna: Exploring her career and the song "Borderline."
• Marilyn Manson Episode: Delving into his influence and controversies in the 1990s.

Listener Engagement:

• Contributors like Tony and Johnny Vinyl share their favorite girl groups and suggest topics for future episodes.

Membership Invitation: Jake encourages listeners to become Disgraceland All Access members for ad-free listening and access to exclusive content.

For more detailed discussions and exclusive content, visit www.disgracelandpod.com.