Initially known as "Seafood Mama", the group gained a strong local following playing bars and nightclubs in Portland, Oregon. In the spring of 1980, Seafood Mama recorded Marv's new composition "Harden My Heart" on a private record label. The single received considerable airplay on Portland radio stations, and the band felt that they were ready for something more
Signed by a then young label, Geffen Records, the group released their first album, 'Quarterflash', in 1981. The label's marketing organization had urged getting rid of the "Seafood Mama" name, so they changed things. The new name supposedly came from an colloquial Australian reference to new immigrants as "one quarter flash and three parts foolish".
A new version of "Harden My Heart" was recorded and released; and rose to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album reached number 8 on Billboard's Top Albums, and sold over a million copies, earning RIAA gold certification on February 5, 1982, and platinum status on June 29, 1982. Their follow-up single from the album, "Find Another Fool", reached #16.
Quarterflash released their second album, Take Another Picture, in 1983. It reached #34 on 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, and group disbanded after getting dropped from their record label.
In 1991, Marv & Rindy Ross were awarded a commision by the state of Oregon to produce a stage musical based on diaries of migrants on the historic Oregon Trail. From that project came a nine disc collection of traditional Americana music, recorded as The Trail Band.
"Harden My Heart" still receives air play on "Classic" rock radio.
Talk To Me
Quarterflash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who's lost and lonely, too
There's a heart beating just with mine
There's a voice in the air
But it just can't get through
I'm hoping that someday I'll find someone
I don't want to wait here anymore, lonely
I can't face another closing door
Talk to me, open up your heart
Oh love's so lonely when you're in the dark
Talk to me, take it from the start
Oh, love comes easy when you show your heart
There's a song in the air,
But I can't hear the words
There's a promise that's never made
There's a voice in the streets
That no one's ever heard
I'm hoping I'll hear it someday calling
I don't want to wait here anymore, lonely
I can't face another closing door
Talk to me, open up your heart
Oh love's so lonely when you're in the dark
Talk to me, take it from the start
Oh, love comes easy when you show your heart
Somewhere there's a voice that's calling
Someone who's alone and falling
I don't want to wait here anymore, lonely
I can't face another closing door
Talk to me, open up your heart
Oh love's so lonely when you're in the dark
Talk to me, take it from the start
Oh, love comes easy when you show your heart
The lyrics of Quarterflash's song “Talk To Me” describe feeling lonely and seeking connection with someone else. The singer acknowledges that there are others out there who are also lost and lonely, but cannot seem to reach them. They hope to find someone who will open up to them, and they don't want to wait and face the pain of another closed door. The singer desires for someone to talk to them and open up their heart, indicating a longing for intimacy and emotional connection.
The song beautifully captures the idea that communication is vital in a relationship, and love can only thrive when both partners show vulnerability and openness. The reference to the voice in the air and the voice in the streets that go unheard indicates a pervasive feeling of disconnection and loneliness. The singer desperately yearns to hear a voice calling out to them and struggles with the fear of rejection and wondering if their time to find someone will ever come.
This song is a poignant insight into the human condition of feeling lonely and yearning for emotional connection. It speaks to the universal need for love and the importance of communication and vulnerability in any relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
There's some out there tonight
There are lonely people out there tonight
Who's lost and lonely, too
Others are lost and lonely, just like me
There's a heart beating just with mine
I feel a connection with someone
There's a voice in the air
There is a message being conveyed
But it just can't get through
But I cannot grasp the message
I'm hoping that someday I'll find someone
I hope to find someone who understands me
I don't want to wait here anymore, lonely
I am tired of waiting alone
I can't face another closing door
I cannot bear another rejection
Talk to me, open up your heart
Please communicate with me and share your feelings
Oh love's so lonely when you're in the dark
Being in the dark, without communication, makes love feel lonely
Take it from the start
Let's begin our communication again
Oh, love comes easy when you show your heart
Love grows when we are honest and open with one another
There's a song in the air,
Music is being played
But I can't hear the words
But I cannot decipher the lyrics
There's a promise that's never made
There are unspoken promises
There's a voice in the streets
There are unheard voices in society
That no one's ever heard
These voices have not been given a chance to speak out
Somewhere there's a voice that's calling
Somebody out there is reaching out for help
Someone who's alone and falling
Someone is struggling and feeling hopeless
Talk to me, open up your heart
Please talk to me and share your feelings
Oh love's so lonely when you're in the dark
Love feels lonely when there is a lack of communication
Take it from the start
Let's start our relationship over
Oh, love comes easy when you show your heart
Love grows stronger when we are honest and vulnerable with one another
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL ROBERT MCLANEY, JEREMY GRAHAM ROSS, RAASHI SHEEHAN, RHIAN TALISEIN SHEEHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@toober4013
I wish Quarterflash could be forever young...
Hell, I wish we all could.
@buddrossi6451
Quarterflash never got the recognition they deserved. They were amazing. Though I love Harden My Heart, they had a whole lot of other great tracks, including this one.
@GORF_EMPIRE
RIndy: Talent, beauty and class. When music was still amazing.
@melissadavis638
You got that right ...
@edevanko160
Quarterflash should of been a way bigger global success so much talent in the band!!!!
@user-kt8cu3td1j
She had a very pure voice and played Sax fantastically.
@ejomo11
This really is an amazing song! I agree with everyone here, they should have been given more props. I think Rindy is one of the best rock sax players on the planet! So many of their live performances show just how great of a sax player she is. Definitely not enough credit given to this amazing band. 👏👏👏
@Freddytheking1979
I miss Sax so much in modern music. THANK GOD for the 80s!!!!
@johnwillemen540
one of these bands never heard off in Europe
@blinkybill2198
They dont even have much electric guitar any more