(Pop Rock) Quarterflash - Quarterflash - 1981(1996), FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Quarterflash is one of those 80's groups that were short-lived and only had a few singles to their name. What's generally overlooked is their sound, a unique brand of 80's new-wave, snarling guitar rock, a great vocalist/sax player, and synths that became more prominent with the last album.
From the opening wailing sax and upbeat pace, and the snarling guitars that come late in the song, "Harden My Heart" was Quarterflash's first big hit, and some say only, though given the fact I have all three of their albums, I take issue with that. OK, so it was their only Top Ten hit, but since when do chart positions alone determine greatness? Rindy Ross delivers of those bittersweet lyrics with great aplomb. She reminds me of Cyndi Lauper without the gooniness, more polished, and with a higher range.
With its breakneck bass and drums, with jangling electric guitar, slamming riffs, "Find Another Fool" rivals Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker." Yet another song of being let down and disappointed, and Rindy's upper register is pretty to listen to. Bruce Sweetman has a violin solo accompanied by that fierce guitar, adding to the exoticness of Q's sound.
"Critical Times" proved the template for future sad introspective Styx-like ballads backed with string synths like "Eye To Eye" and "It All Becomes Clear." Like those two, this is sung by Jack Charles. The sense of insecurity of a fading love is highlighted here. "you lose all track of yourself when you're feeling that way/you can always hide yourself in a corner/worrying about the miserable pain/but everyone seems to swim in it/it makes the world go round."
"Valerie" is Cyndi Lauper type new wave with jangling guitar riffs, and no, it's not the Frankie Valli or Steve Winwood song. This could've been a single easy.
"Try To Make It True" could be a Journey song if it weren't for Rindy's sax and characteristic guitars.
"Love Should Be So Kind" is another slow ballad with quiet keyboards and guitar that demonstrates Rindy Ross's vocal talent.
The near eight minute jam "Williams Avenue," where there's a big night life, where "the wine is red and the song is blue," combines 70's disco synths with funky brass section and Rindy's sax. Bruce Sweetman's violins come in during the slow sections of the song.
After this, they would do a song for Fast Times At Ridgemont High before coming out with the one of the first albums I bought--Take Another Picture. The irony is that I picked this one last, but it doesn't detract from my appreciation of them. Now, if they'd do like the Go-Go's and Bangles for one last hurrah, because their sound softens my heart.
Quarterflash was an American rock group formed in 1980 in Portland, Oregon. The band was made up of lead singer and saxophonist Rindy Ross, her husband, guitarist Marv Ross, guitarist Jack Charles, keyboardist Rick DiGiallonardo, bassist Rich Gooch and drummer Brian David Willis.
The group was formed by merging two popular Oregon bands, Seafood Mama and Pilot. They originally released the single "Harden My Heart" in spring 1980. It was a big hit on Portland radio stations, and got the band a one-hour TV special, Seafood Mama In Concert, on KOIN on June 5, 1980. "Harden My Heart" would later be rerecorded by the band after they renamed themselves Quarterflash. The name came from an Australian slang description of new immigrants as "one quarter flash and three parts foolish", which the Rosses found in a book at producer John Boylan's house.
Quarterflash signed to Geffen Records and released their self-titled debut album Quarterflash in 1981. It reached #8 on Billboard's Top LPs & Tapes list, and sold over a million copies, earning RIAA gold certification on February 5, 1982, and platinum status on June 29, 1982. The album contained the new version of "Harden My Heart", which became their biggest single. It reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 (it also reached the Top 20 in France). Their follow-up single off the album, "Find Another Fool", reached #16. A second one-hour Portland television special, Quarterflash In Concert, was broadcast on KOIN on October 22, 1981, and simulcast on KGON. This concert was taped at the Paramount Theatre on October 15, 1981.
Quarterflash released their second album, Take Another Picture, in 1983. It reached #34 in Billboard, and scored the single "Take Me to Heart", which reached #14. The group released their final album, Back Into Blue, in 1985. It peaked at #150 in Billboard. The group later disbanded after getting dropped from their record label.
In 1990, Quarterflash reunited, hiring session musicians, including bassist–vocalist Sandin Wilson, drummer Greg Williams, guitarist Doug Fraser, and Mel Kubik on saxophone and keyboards. The group released Girl in the Wind on Epic Records. In 1991, Rindy and Marv Ross founded the historic music ensemble The Trail Band, which was formed at the request of the Oregon Trail Advisory Council to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Oregon Trail.
In June 2008, Marv and Rindy Ross released a new Quarterflash CD, Goodbye Uncle Buzz.

Personnel
* Rindy Ross: Vocals, Saxophone
* Marv Ross: Guitars
* Jack Charles: Guitars
* Rick DiGiallonardo: Keyboards
* Rich Gooch: Bass
* Brian David Willis: Drums, Percussion
Additional personnel
* Paulinho DaCosta: Percussion
* Bruce Sweetman: Violin
* John Boylan: Additional Vocals
* Timothy B. Schmit: Additional Vocals