Been filled with paranoia the past few days, worried that my credibility as a metalhead has been destroyed for posting the Bonnie Tyler album. Let's just say that in 1983, while I had declared myself to be a total metalhead, there was enough non metal material around that I liked. Most of which, I have already posted about and though I didn't miss anything from not buying Bonnie's "Faster Than the Speed of Night" it wasn't that bad. Besides, there are a ton of metal albums from this year waiting to be posted.
For those who have been following me for a while, you might remember that during my tour of 1981, I stated that the band Quarterflash were one hit wonders in said year for their enormous hit, "Harden My Heart." Nothing else they ever recorded reached my attention nor do I remember hearing anything played on the radio. Note: Commercial radio didn't completely suck in 1983. Like the last three albums I have visited, someone suggested I write about Quarterflash's 1983 album, "Take Another Picture." So, thanks to Youtube, I have given it a couple of listens and can post about it. Before I write anymore, given a choice, I would have bought this album before the Bonnie Tyler one.
With "Take Another Picture," Quarterflash don't seem to veer very far from the formula that made them big with their self titled debut album. Quite a few of the songs remind me of "Harden My Heart" and that's not a bad thing. Quoting an article I read about the band in 1982, there is a smoky jazz feel to many of the songs on the album and it fits in nicely to the rockier edge they have as well. The combination is nicely done and the best example is the track "Nowhere Left to Hide. "Take Me To Heart," and the title track and follow the jazz/rock formula much more and I do get the feeling that I have heard those to songs somewhere before. On the other hand, "Shakin' the Jinx" and "One More Round to Go" are good rock tunes with the latter song having a cool guitar solo. The rest of the tracks fall somewhere in line between those two points with "Make It Shine being the median. It could have easily be a rock single with its anthem feel. So why wasn't it released as one?
When I posted about Quarterflash on the 1981 tour, I mentioned that back then, many people identified lead singer Rindy Ross as the next Pat Benatar. She looks a little like Pat and her voice sounds similar and she plays the saxophone as well. However, there is only one Pat Benatar so I chose to point out that Rindy was talented musician in her own right.
Track Listing:
- Take Me to Heart
- Take Another Picture
- Shane
- Eye to Eye
- It Don't Move Me
- Shakin' the Jinx
- Make It Shine
- One More Round to Go
- Nowhere Left to Hide
- It All Becomes Clear
[caption id="attachment_2308" align="aligncenter" width="305"]
Quarterflash[/caption]
Rindy Ross- vocals, saxophone
Marv Ross- guitars
Jack Charles- guitars
Rick DiGionallardo- keyboards
Rich Gooch- bass
Brain David Willis- drums, percussion
I'm surprised "Take Another Picture" by Quarterflash managed to escape my attention. Possibly because they were bigger in the Northwest than in the Northeast. I don't know. What I do know is that while it is an enjoyable album, it's not one I would have completely rocked out to. None of the tracks, with the possible exception of number 9, have me singing them long after they are finished. Maybe that was down to me turning into such a metalhead at the time.
Next post: Don Felder- Airborne
To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment