The 1981 Listening Post - Quarterflash - Quarterflash

 Quarterflash -  Quarterflash

#573

October 10 1981

By Tami Fitzkoff

Quarterflash

Quarterflash

Allen’s Rating: 3 out of 5

Tami’s Rating: 0.25 out of 5

Genre: Flash in the pan

Highlight:

Harden My Heart

“Harden My Heart.” One song. A good cheesy 80’s song. It gave good sax. The female lead singer played that saxophone. Impressive. But that’s it. The rest of the album requires a barf bag. With a song on the album called “Cruisin’ With The Deuce” need I even say more? I read that Quarterflash was listed as one of the artists whose  material was lost in the Universal fire of 2008. This is a blessing to our ears. I guess you could say my heart is hardened. Ba dum bum.

https://open.spotify.com/album/4kW6CPrK2OPc0OrEcwOFQN?si=mTcNmmmLTJKVhibUQkpnbA

The 1985 Listening Post - Quarterflash - Back Into Blue

Quarterflash - Back Into Blue

#32

1985 Housekeeping

Quarterflash

Back Into Blue

Genre: Pop Rock

3.25 out of 5

Highlights:

Walking on Ice

Caught in the Rain

Talk to Me

The bouncy New Wave opener, “Walking On Ice” is an almost welcome piece of confection which is like a replacement for Pat Benatar who decided to forgo rock in favor of a softer, more mature sound. 

But, New Wave is so early 80s and the band never really manages to sound like anything more than a montage song provider for an 80s teen flick, “Caught in the Rain” is a perfect example. Great chorus hook which works especially if you imagine laughing teens, standing at their lockers, laughing, wearing acid wash jean jackets and unironic fedoras over crimped hair.

The whole album is competent. It never really reaches any heights but it’s also never turgid or ugly. It’s a piece of 80s MOR pop.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/back-into-blue/580706230

The 1983 Listening Post - Quarterflash - Take Another Picture

Quarterflash - Take Another Picture

1983 Housekeeping
Quarterflash
Take Another Picture
2.75 out of 5

Highlights:
Take Another Picture

Take Pat Benatar. Add a saxophone. Strip away all edges and dial down the charisma and you got yourself some Quarterflash.
Easy listening soft rock that’s run out of ideas as evidenced by the “Harden My Heart” redux called “Shane”. Only it’s even more plodding and dull.
And then…and then!!! Marc Ross takes over the lead vocals on “Eye to Eye” and if you wanted to know what really shitty Foreigner would sound like…welp, there it is.
Who is the intended audience for this? Just how old were the people who were buying this? If you bought this, I have to ask, did you ever listen to it again? We should find someone who went to the store, put down their heard earned cash and said, “I have been waiting for the new Quarterflash album!” and went home and put this thing on. It’s not “bad”, it’s just…a thing that exists. It’s wholly unmemorable. I want to know who bought this. If you are that person or know that person I have some questions…