Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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QUARTERFLASH

USA AOR group formed in Portland OR '80. Lineup: Rindy Ross, vocals and sax; Marv Ross and Jack Charles, guitars and vocals; Rick Gooch, bass; Davis Willis, drums; Rick DiGiallonardo, keyboards; David Willis, drums. Rosses husband and wife; quit teaching '77 and recruited ex-members of Pilot (not the UK group) to form Seafood Mama; new name from Australian colloquialism. Held-over Seafood number "Harden My Heart' was first hit (no. 3 USA; no. 1 in Japan, Australia, Italy, France) on newly formed Geffen label. Sound dead ringer for Fleetwood Mac given added sheen by prod. John Boylan (Little River Band, Association, Linda Ronstadt) with Ross's keening vocals over jogalong backing. "Find Another Fool' also from eponymous '81 debut LP, made no. 16; while Take Another Picture '83 yielded "Take Me To Heart', no. 14 hit. Back Into Blue '85 was prod. in France by Culture Club prod. Steve Levine. The three albums went from no. 8 to 34 to 150 in the Billboard chart; the band slimmed down to Rosses, Gooch and Willis, retained a gleaming sanitised sound that sparkled but lacked passion. A favourite on MTV for a while, their trademark image was Rindy and his saxophone.