Quarterflash Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
Quarterflash's debut album sported the fiery saxophone playing of lead singer Rindy Ross, helping it achieve platinum status, as well as posting two Top 20 hits. "Harden My Heart" reached the number three position in 1981, thanks to a complimentary blend of sax and expert bass riffs from Pilot's Rick Gooch. The second single, "Find Another Fool," was bolstered by Ross' high-pitched vocal attack, gaining a respectable number 16 chart position. While the album's novel appeal of having a sexy female saxophone player at the forefront was well worth the attention, it didn't mean the rest of the album lacked in pop attractiveness. Marv Ross' guitar playing is more than substantial throughout the nine tracks, making songs such as "Valerie," a song about the then taboo subject of lesbianism, and "Right Kind of Love" stand out, and ballads like "Critical Times"and "Williams Avenue" are typical keyboard-aided love songs. After this album, Quarterflash's allure began to fizzle, and the material on their next couple of releases lacked the contagious riffs or congenial radio formula that made this album a success. ~ Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide
'Back into Blue'
Release Date 1/1/1985
Tracks 10
Label David Geffen Co.
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Back into Blue has Quarterflash sounding less like a rock band and more like a synth-driven dance club quartet, which makes only a couple of the tracks hook-worthy before the rest of the album comes off as predictable and tiresome. "Walking on Ice" is a charged little number with a hard thrust, making smart use of the keyboards, while "Back into Blue" is a friendly sounding love song that highlights Rindy Ross' seductive vocals. Even "Caught in the Rain" displays an attempt at tightening up the songwriting after the unsuccessful release of 1983's Take Another Picture. But after these three tracks, the album ceases to rise out of the conventional pop doldrums, with Ross and her husband sounding like they want to stay young forever. Thinly played out efforts like "Talk to Me," "Love Without a Net," and "Welcome to the City" center the band in pop limbo, without any of the riffs or spirited saxophone rides that made their first release a success. Not knowing whether to take the '80s pop route or the more mature-sounding adult contemporary path, Back into Blue ends up foreshadowing the fact that this would be their last album and that a breakup was pending. Both "Walking on Ice" and "Back into Blue" can be found on Harden My Heart: The Best of Quarterflash. ~ Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide
'Take Another Picture'
Release Date 1/1/1983
Tracks 10
Label David Geffen Co.
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
"Take Me to Heart" was Quarterflash's third and last Top 40 single, peaking at a respectable number 14 in July of 1983. Sparked by Ross' attractive saxophone playing and a sexiness that leaped from bridge to chorus, it was just as solid as any single that came from their debut album. Unfortunately, Quarterflash's novelty wore off by this, their second release, and Take Another Picture's material fell short of the same stylishness and pop sophistication that the band presented on 1981's Quarterflash. Even with Joe Walsh playing guitar on "It Don't Move Me," or another Eagle, Timothy Schmit, lending his vocals to a few of the other songs, the album still fails to get off the ground. "Shakin' the Jinx" and "Make It Shine" come off as hurriedly written and unattended, too, while both "Shane" and "Nowhere Left to Hide" sound overly contoured without the same guitar/sax bite that made their first album successful. Except for the single, the rest of Take Another Picture represents Quarterflash's flawed attempt at duplicating their first album's success. ~ Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide
