Seafood Mama (early Quarterflash) - Harden My Heart (1980)

[@bonniegreatorex72]

Hard to believe that this band when it was seafood mama played at the Monticello hotel in Longview Washington back in the early 80s, and we danced to this song! Amazingly wonderful! Too bad my marriage didn't last as long.

[@samuelmorado70]

I saw them open for Rick Springfield in 83 maybe 84 in Lubbock Texas. Awesome show.

[@MunchkinKF]

Three quarters foolish and one quarter flash... Fell in love, got my heart broke and got back up again all to the soundtrack of Marv & Rindy's debut album. er- uh cassette and a lot of gasoline. Cruisin' (with the deuce) can be a great cure.

[@bonniegreatorex72]

Sounds great!

[@saltwatercb]

This is so cool to come across after being a fan of the Quarterflash "updated" version for nearly forty years. I think Rindy's vocal on this one is perhaps a little more interesting because she seems more wrecked; i.e., that her assertions are not necessarily guaranteed in terms of getting over the guy. In the Quarterflash version she sounds more resolute, a stance which has its own charm and power, but there's something to be said for the emotional uncertainty captured in this version.

[@toddhawley2226]

Worked as a Top 40 DJ for a station in Lebanon in 1980-81 (K104). Used to play this version and loved it. Was not at all surprised to hear the more polished version on the radio several months later.

[@osmondthewicked2013]

Man I just love that old late 70's early 80's sound. It's so raw you can actually hear the bass on the drums. Taking me way back.

[@MrTBoneMalone]

Growing up in Portland, this is the version I remember, and I actually prefer. Loved this band.

[@zallmine]

I remember seeing Seafood mama so many times back in the day in Portland. They were awesome! Portland Music back in their day was something else. I am so lucky to have lived it.

[@bonniegreatorex72]

I was there!!! Stevie Ray Vaughn baby!!! Loved Portland

[@alltim7]

I prefer this version. thanks.

[@CoffeeinAmerica]

The Quarterflash version remains definitive, but this is cool. Thanks for posting.

[@tonyab1972]

Well technically, this is two of the founding members of Quarterflash. They recorded this version in their basement before they were signed with Geffin records.

[@johnfantozzi2499]

1980-what a time to live in the n.w.! it was happening! Heart-Seafood Mama-Lover boy, all played the clubs in and around Portland OR. We had a club in Vancouver, WA. called the Hayloft-sat 1800 by the fire marshals code. We rocked the area for years!!!

[@circusitch]

I know exactly what you mean. I didn’t grow up with them, but in the Philadelphia area. Among other groups we had the Hooters in the early eighties. They were constantly appearing at local venues. The same can be said about most groups that started out local and hit it big. Good for them, and us.

[@bonniegreatorex72]

I'm from the NW I was there!!

[@GroomLeader]

Thanks for posting this gem! I have never heard this version, she sounds a little less resolute, wavering, than she does in the QF version.

[@journeyquest1]

1980 i was a HS senior in Portland Oregon. But i think we were listening to AC DC and Ozzy. My friend took me by the place he worked and told me a local band Quarterflash played there.

[@MrMarco6900]

Interesting, I was a sophomore in HS (David Douglas) in Portland Oregon at the time. I remember them as Seafood Mama, I'm glad they changed their name.

[@LadyWriter]

My hometown faves Seafood Mama

[@lisadisbrow6063]

Thanks for posting! Wish we could blend this version with the newer versions better guitar play

[@TravelinBand747]

Interesting early version, sounds a bit like a demo. Beautifully written and sung. They polished and tightened it for the Quarterflash release and struck gold. That ended up being one of the biggest hits of 1982.

[@clemflynn7067]

That is an EXCELLENT way to put it, b/c that’s exactly what they did - well said…..

[@BDP701]

thank you for this treasure

[@akkat5169]

wowza!! thanks for sharing im actually kinda digging this version

[@osmondthewicked2013]

This raw version is awesome!

[@ravisriram6746]

Nice version. I think the one they made as "Quarterflash" is better, in my opinion. But then again, I heard that one first and was unaware of an original version.

[@BasementBerean]

I grew up in the Greenwood district of North Seattle. There was a club called the "G Note Tavern" next to the Lucky supermarket where I used to shop. I remember seeing on the sign that a band called "Seafood Mama" was there. "Wow, I'll bet they stink" I thought. I didn't go see them, obviously. That was just before they changed their name and made the big time.

[@BrandonHixson1996]

Wow - this is a different vocal arrangement that my SEAFOOD MAMA record from 1980. They must have pressed more than one vocal arrangement.

[@alvinharville1333]

I seen this band in 1980 Southern Oregon call on their self Quarterflash I guess I had just changed her name this is just exactly what they sounded like love them still do.

[@astroblast9352]

Different than my 1980 45 also

[@belisarioguerra1279]

Original: Seafood Mama ( U.S. ) - Harden my heart ( Marv Ross ) ( 1980 ), became: Quarterflash ( U.S. ) - Harden my heart ( 1981 ). Covers: Marie LaForet ( France ) - Que J'bétonne mon coeur ( 1982 ). Mache ( Perú ) - Rompiendo mi corazón ( 1982 ).

[@katiegulker6445]

My friend did a tap routine to this

[@MrJjs77]

I like this version better it just sounds raw. I like it.

[@thejoeyharp]

Sorry Kids to disappoint you, but somebody got the dates wrong... Now I cannot speak for Seafood Mamma and their gigging in Portland back in the day.... I was in Eugene in '76, having moved there after 3 years in Coupeville, Whidbey Island, San Juan Islands, WA. Now Seafood Mamma was "the" band working Eugene so often, I had no personal idea originally that they were from Portland. I too was a musician. Worked with buddy James Thornbury, later to go by "James T." (and picked up in Eugene, by "The Canned Heat" in 1982, to replace Bob Heite (The Bear) who had passed about 2 years before). Now Seafood Mamma was doing many of the monthly outdoor fundraisers we were always putting on in one of the parks in town, starting in '77/'78. I too was involved in both playing AND in putting on those Fundraisers... That's how I found out they were from Portland. I maintained my ties in Eugene, but I moved to Portland in 1979. Seafood Mamma had broken up when Barry Gibbs (not the Barry Gibbs of The Bee Gees) in Portland had suggested them to David Geffin, who was looking specifically for a NW based band, having success out of Seattle (Golden Earring I think it was, or Heart.. one of the two or both). The band had already broken up! Rindy first convinced husband Marv to come together and take on the sessions that Geffin was offering to record down in L.A. With that, the rest of the band worked it out and decided to go for it... And so the sessions went well, as did the "up-front" money and they then got the power of Geffin Records & Tapes behind them and the rest was history.... David Geffin did NOT like their name, Seafood Mamma. He thought it too much like "The Gully Wampers" which I thinks was the name of Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) before they popped. Not uncommon to change the names of bands back in the day. It was a shame that the rest of the band, after their first, just shy of two years on the road touring the album, decided they were tired and wanted a real break. None of them had any real money in their lives before that. Rindy did not want to break and new it would be a tenuous thing to take off a year. As it turned out, it was closer to two years and she was right. That is what killed them with the DJ's. It was hard to get radio play/support after that. Now 90% of what I just laid out is accurate. 10%, you'd have to ask them. It's the best I can remember...

[@Nick68S]

As ever, it's always good to hear the development of a song - from original recordings to more polished studio releases and even (dare I say it) the absolute live turds when the band were hammered or on the downward slide. I like this version, different to the Quarterflash version but not really massively so.

[@BDP701]

you're right, there is another version of Seafood Mama on youtube (with a silly audio watermark every 30 sec). It sounds totally different. More polished than this one.

[@Lesrevesdhiver]

Sounds a little different than the one that was recorded on their self-title Quarterflash. This version actually sounds really good, like it was more "natural". The version that charted sounds more forced. Just a wild speculation of course but if this song had come out recently, like in the 2010's, I imagine this version would have been used and popular on indie stations.

[@marcelobaez4474]

Sounds COUNTRY

[@davidswubc]

do you have the B-side to this? City of Roses?

[@pasqualedavino8911]

sorry the sax is not really best sound the best sound of the other version a name quarterflash

[@hinjurock]

Worst band name ever?

[@jacelandry5987]

No it isn't. I've heard far worse. What is wrong with Seafood Mama, anyway? It sounds very interesting and original. The band chose Quarterflash just to sound cooler.

[@jacelandry5987]

Obscure band names are always the most creative and interesting. Seafood Mama, Tuna Lorenzo, Froth Albumen. etc

[@mikemig2002]

It's in the top 10 for sure, but, um, Hoobastank and Goo Goo Dolls leapfrog over it.

[@MajorSeventh]

Don Knotts Overdrive

[@Rhezoloution]

Very subjevtive. I mean we get used to band names. If fornexample The Doors werent famous and i suggested that as a name u May say The Doors? R u fkn kidding me? A Door? Why not The Windows?

[@sandytinky]

Glad they polished the guitar solo - it was awful.