Great Rock Albums of 1981: Quarterflash- Take Another Picture

 

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:

1. Take Me to Heart
2. Take Another Picture
3. Shane
4. Eye to Eye
5. It Don't Move Me
6. Shakin' the Jinx
7. Make It Shine
8. One More Round to Go
9. Nowhere Left to Hide
10. 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 

Great Rock One Hit Wonders of 1981

Originally, this post was going to be a promotion for an unsigned band whose demo has happened to come into my possession. When I told the band I was going to write about them, they were going to send me a picture of themselves but since that hasn't happened yet, I'm afraid it will have to wait till next time. So instead I will post about the one hit wonders that graced us in 1981.

[caption id="attachment_2303" align="aligncenter" width="284"] Joe Dolce[/caption]

NO this isn't a wind up! I am including "Shaddap You Face" by Joe Dolce among the one hit wonders. Yes, the song was a total wind up but Mr Dolce was probably laughing all the way to the bank. Besides, I have a more mercenary reason for putting it here. See, my ex wife was a big fan of Ultravox back in the 80s and in 1981, their hit "Vienna" was destined for the number in the UK charts. However, this strange song by Joe came along and usurped the top spot. My ex has never forgiven him for that and although we're on amicable terms now,  the thought does bring a sinister smile to my face.

This might seem a wind up too but if you were around in 1981, you will remember Pac Man. This was the game to play at video arcades and it caught on so much that a group named Buckner and Garcia made a song about it. "Pac Man Fever" was very cheesy to say the least, the lyrics prove that. So, why am I including it here? The answer is that, "Pac Man Fever" gets my vote for being the worst song with a cool guitar solo. That's the only reason why I liked it. After all, I never played Pac Man that much; instead I was getting my initials down on the top ten lists on Bezerk.

[caption id="attachment_2031" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Bezerk[/caption][caption id="attachment_2307" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Climax Blues Band[/caption]

My British readers are now jumping up and down in sheer anger for calling the Climax Blues Band one hit wonders. I know they had much more success in the UK and were still going strong ten years after their only US hit "I Love You" was in the charts. Back in 1991-2, I used to work at a factory down the road from the famous Royal Standard pub in Walthamstow, London and I would see the band posted on the board outside for a Saturday night gig on several occasions. But, "I Love You" was the only song I would remember them for, especially as it's one I can associate with yet another dancer at The Driftwood. I can never remember her name though.

[caption id="attachment_2308" align="aligncenter" width="275"] Quarterflash[/caption]

Now it's the turn of American readers to blow a gasket, especially those in the Northwest but I have always considered Quarterflash to be one hit wonders. After a little research, I saw that they had some other hits but that was in early 1982 and I was on my second tour overseas. Other songs didn't make it across the Atlantic and like the Rolling Stones' "Waiting on a Friend," Quarterflash's greatest hit, "Harden My Heart" was also blasting out of juke boxes in cafes in Toulon, France. This is the best of the songs I have mentioned so far, it is a true rock song. Back then, some were calling lead singer Rindy Ross, the next Pat Benatar. I wouldn't go that far but Ross did have an excellent voice.

[caption id="attachment_2309" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Kim Carnes[/caption]

Always sounding like she had a frog in her throat, Kim Carnes dominated the US and other countries' singles charts with her most famous hit, "Bette Davis Eyes." Like Quarterflash and the Climax Blues Band, there is much scope for debate as whether or not she should be a one hit wonder. She has many song writing credits to her name including songs for David Cassidy, Kenny Rogers and Barbra Streisand, I know not real rockers. That's why I was glad that this song tended to be slightly more rock.
We can sum up that the songs from one hit wonders in 1981 went from the ridiculous to the serious. Two of the ones mentioned here evoke the John McEnroe, "You can't be serious" approach but the the ones that were are definitely good songs in their own right.

Next post: Hopefully- Great Soundtrack of 1981

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