Chords for Quarterflash Interview #1

_ [Em] _ _ _ [D] _ _ _ [G] _
_ _ [Em] _ _ _ _ [Gbm] _ _
_ _ [G] _ _ _ _ _ _
[E] _ _ [Dm] _ _ _ [B] The rock group Quarterflash played in small clubs around Portland, Oregon, hoping to make it big.
Well, now they're on the verge of stardom if they play their cards right, which in today's music scene means not only having your songs heard, but also having them [Bm] seen.
I'm gonna harden my _ _ heart.
[E] I'm gonna swallow my _ [A] tears.
[G] I'm gonna turn _ [Bm] _ _
blue.
I'm [G] gonna turn blue. _ _ _ _
_ _ [Bm] The rock group [G] Quarterflash with their smash hit Harden My Heart, [E] a song currently number six on the [G] charts.
We caught up with the group taping the [Bm] song for a video promo in this vacant [G] warehouse where band leader Marv Ross [E] explained how they got their first [G] contracts. _
_ _ [Bm] _ [B] We had a [B] real good following in the Portland area [E] and we had a lot of people [G] that were fans that came to see us quite a bit of the time.
Radio was real receptive and it started [E] going up the charts in Portland.
I immediately left for [A] Los Angeles [B] and started shopping the [B] tape and the [G] buzz that was on the [B] street in L.A. about the regional success.
_ _ [Bm] Waiting in the rain, I [A] swear I'll never ever wait again.
[Bm] You gave me a world of words for you all [A] _ I've. _ _ _
_ [G] Ladies and gentlemen, this is Randy Ross and [N] Marv Ross from Quarterflash. _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [B] _ _ This is the album.
_ I'll just show it so it doesn't glare.
This is Quarterflash.
That's the name of the album, Quarterflash.
Why not?
It's a new name.
When were you and why were you and why did you change Seafood Mama?
That's three [B] questions in one.
_ Why were you Seafood Mama?
I know the lyrics came from an old Fats Waller tune, but.
That's right.
It was called Hold Tight.
We were [Bb] Seafood Mama.
Marv and I were in that band for about five years in the Portland area.
And about the time that the band was getting signed, we were also breaking up.
And so we changed some personnel and a little bit changed our [N] direction more toward rock and roll.
And it seemed fitting to change the name.
So we changed the name to Quarterflash, which is _ short for an Australian phrase.
That means one quarter flash and three parts foolish.
I see.
OK. _
_ [B] _ Now, things are happening very fast, are they not?
I mean, you have accelerated.
Now, that piece of film or tape we saw was played on [N] coin Kion like in October.
Yes.
Two months ago.
Two months ago. _
Is it all been happening since then?
Does that have anything to do with it?
A television appearance?
Or are you just that good and you got to the right agents or what?
How's it all going?
How's it happening?
Well, that actually that piece of [Bb] film was shot after [Ab] the album was done.
I don't think it had all that much influence on the national market because it was only played here in Portland.
_ _ [E] But [B] it's just that the single Heart in My Heart has just really [A] taken off [Ab] across the nation.
And I think that's really the reason why things have happened so fast.
OK.
Now, the forty five [N] of Heart in My Heart is number six in Billboard magazine.
Right.
The album is number 20.
Now that's big stuff.
I mean, we all know number one to five.
But when you're six, you're selling some stuff, aren't you?
We're pleased.
You must be.
Who's behind you?
Geffen.
Geffen Records.
Geffen.
Yes.
I've never heard of that.
But do you have a manager, an agent, somebody that's really got a hold of you and said, I'm taking these kids all away or what?
Jay Isaac here in Portland, _ _ who is a lawyer and is now just managing us full time.
And he's helped us so much as far as just making it all happen, as far as getting the record deal and then just polishing.
OK.
The forty five record, the small one, is number one on album oriented radio stations, _ which are give me one in Portland, an album oriented station.
Is there one?
KGON.
That's album oriented.
Right.
Or Kink.
They're usually FM stations.
OK.
I'm just going with these notes.
I'm very impressed.
New Year's Eve, you're appearing in Knott's Berry Farm in California.
Yeah.
Ever been there?
No.
That's big time.
I mean, it sounds like a kid show, but that's a pretty big deal down there.
You've been on a 14 day, 14 city tour.
Where?
What cities?
Omaha, Peoria?
Well, we started out in St.
Louis, St.
Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati.
So what kind of crowds?
What kind of reception?
It was great.
We were so amazed.
Are you when you say rock and roll today, it's a punk rock or it's I don't know what it is.
I'm not sure what it is.
I don't listen to KGON that much, but I don't know what _ I'm pretty much.
_ Kink radio.
I listen to jazz.
I'm sorry to tell you where I am.
I hear your [B] record all over the _ world.
What was my question?
I was talking to myself.
What kind of rock?
I think what kind of rock are you?
[C] Are you the new a new wave?
No, no, no.
_ Our music is is for rock music is is sort of _ it's not hard rock, but it's but it's [Ab] not soft rock either.
Sort of plays right in the middle of between those two rocks.
A line.
Yeah.
Walks line.
There's a little bit of new wave [A] influence on the [Dbm] album, but there's also [B] some music on the [Ab] album that I would say is influenced by much earlier 70s.
[G] _
Style of rock and roll, [N] too.
You know, I've seen a lot of rock bands on, you know, the solid gold you're going to be on to want to mention that in January.
You're going to be an American bandstand January 9th. _ _
The entertainment tonight, January 21st.
Is that the weekend version or is that a Friday?
I think it's the Monday through Friday.
Is this OK?
[B] _ _ Now, this is something your attorney agent manager or whatever.
He takes care of all that, doesn't he?
Yeah.
He calls up producers, says, listen, I've got a band here.
They're number six in the charts, a billboard.
And they sign you up like that.
Isn't that how it goes?
And there's and there's another agency involved in L.A. that.
So the connections are made between J and ICM.
Are you living in a suitcase on the road?
Is that the way your life is now?
Oh, no.
This is this was just our first tour.
We've been living here in Portland and we'll be here for a while.
And then we're back on the road.
If you're that successful with album two and three and you can't operate out of Portland, [Bb] can you?
Sure.
We just too far away from the rest of the world.
Well, it makes it so that you have to travel to to record and [Bm] and tour, which you do [B] anyway.
It's so much more comfortable here, though.
I don't want to move to L.A.
Have you met any other groups that you've listened to on the radio and now you're meeting [Bb] them in the same league?
Yeah.
And what do they tell you?
[Bb] Met the players and in lover [N] boy.
Who else will we met?
We met Little Richard, which Little Richard.
Yeah, that was Little Richard.
What?
What?
The loop?
I _ _ go back.
I remember _ _ that Sheena Easton, Sheena Easton.
Yeah, I wouldn't know.
Yeah.
But these are people that have been around and they're telling you things, I suppose.
Here's what you do and here's what you shouldn't do.
And don't let it all go to your head and stay sweet and all that stuff.
That's an idealist kind of way to do it.
Can you do that?
Is it a tough life being out there or do you just love it?
Well, it's _ it's hard work, but we're having a really good time.
And I think that all the people in the band have their have their feet on the ground and they know what their priorities are.
And I think we'll be all right.
What are albums selling for today?
Nine something.
I think List is eight ninety nine.
Yeah. _
And when I was talking before to other guests about albums, _ _ Michael Redman, I hear record companies.
They don't they're very, very selective when they you know, they don't just cut an album like they used to for anybody and hope it takes off.
They have to have some kind of feeling about it and do some surveys, a lot of market studies.
See if you're the group's going to sell it, make them some bucks because these are expensive to make and to sell.
It's true.
It's a business [B] like anything else it takes.
You have to look into everything you're doing.
Now, this is what Griffin, what is it?
Giffin, Giffin, G.E.F.F.E.N. Right.
_ [Bb] They put it else.
Do they have you with it's a subsidiary.
_ It's one of those. _
Right.
Warner Brothers.
And they also have.
Well, they had the late John Lennon and Elton John and Donna Summer.
Good company.
You're very good.
Now, what do they have planned for you?
For promotional tours or anything, are they going to send you to the White House or back to Madison Square or someplace?
I mean, you know.
Well, not yet.
At this point, we will we will be doing a tour as the opening act for a band called Loverboy _ in February and March.
And [B] from then, I think it's just touring and getting our our faces and our [N] our name and the record known as much as you're going to have to keep producing.
And my right, some songs.
Do you all write songs in the group or no?
Mainly, mainly the songwriter.
You've got to keep coming up with the hits.
You know that the pressure's on.
Yeah, she can sing.
Are you [Bm] known as the lady that sings the lady that plays the saxophone?
You play.
I think I'm more known as the lady who plays the saxophone because it's different.
We wish you all the luck.
Thank you.
Terrific.
Thank you.
Thank [B] you very much.
Wendy and Marv, you're married, by the way, brother and sister in case you want to order flash.
Here's the album.
Cost [E] eight bucks or something.
And [D] we'll buy a bunch.
We'll be back.