Beauty and the Beat is the debut album from Californian new wave band the Go-Go's. Released in 1981 on the I.R.S. Records label, the album was preceded by the single and signature song "We Got the Beat", which became a club hit in Europe and, later, the United States. When the album was eventually released, it steadily climbed the "Billboard" 200 chart, ultimately peaking at number one, where it remained for six consecutive weeks, ranking second among "Billboard"'s Top 100 albums of 1981. The LP sold in excess of two million copies to reach double platinum status, making it one of the most successful debut albums of all time. Critically acclaimed, it has been described as one of the "cornerstone albums of American new wave".