Sophomore albums are always a tricky proposition for many artists and acts. Oregon based outfit Quarterflash found out for themselves during their early tenure as a major label act.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Quarterflash
ALBUM: Take Another Picture
LABEL: Geffen
SERIAL: GHS-4011 (LP), 4011-2 (CD)
YEAR: 1983
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Rindy Ross – lead vocals, saxophone * Marv Ross – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals * Jack Charles – guitars * Rick Giallonardo – keyboards * Rick Gooch – bass, backing vocals * Brian David Willis – drums, percussion
Additional Musicians:Bill Chaplin – guitars, backing vocals * Paulinho DaCosta – percussion * Joe Walsh – guitars * Tom Kelly, Tommy Funderburk, Timothy Schmit – backing vocals
TRACK LISTING: 01 Take Me To Heart * 02 Take Another Picture * 03 Shane * 04 Eye To Eye * 05 It Don’t Move Me * 06 Shakin’ The Jinx * 07 Make It Shine * 08 One More Round To Go * 09 Nowhere Left To Hide * 10 It All Becomes Clear
WEBLINK: Site Link
Background
Sophomore albums are always a tricky proposition for many artists and acts. Oregon based outfit Quarterflash found out for themselves during their early tenure as a major label act.
However, they passed the test, as ‘Take Another Picture’ made it to #6 on the Billboard Album Charts during 1983. Retaining the same lineup from the 1981 debut, Quarterflash pick up where they left off, delivering another warm set of AOR friendly tunes for the American masses.
The Songs
‘Take Me To Heart’ is near perfect radio fodder for 1983, and with a sax solo to boot, though not as hooky as the one on their hit ‘Harden My Heart’. The title track is next up, a radio rocker with a new wave and power pop vibe. It’s friendly and effective.
Both ‘Shane’ and ‘Eye To Eye’ are reasonable ballads but the band come into their own when they spruce up the energy, as with ‘It Don’ t Move Me’, while ‘One More Round To Go’ is a rabble rouser. For something different, the band deliver a folk oriented piece ‘It All Becomes Clear’, with multi-part harmonies and a nice acoustic backdrop.
In Summary
Despite the success, I found this a weak follow-up to the debut, and of all the four studio albums they released, this comes in at #4. We have reviewed all the Quarterflash albums, so you can have you say on each of them, click the tag below.
Quarterflash on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
