The Quick -

The Quick was the English synth-funk duo of vocalist Colin Campsie and bassist/keyboardist George McFarlane. The pair released assorted singles and two proper album on Epic between 1979 and 1984, plus a third on A&M in 1986. Their first album, On the Uptake, appeared Down Under in 1981 to capitalize on the Australian success of the single “Hip Shake Jerk.” In 1982, the album was repacked for the Northern Hemisphere as Fascinating Rhythm to emphasize the U.S. club hit “Zulu.”

Campsie and McFarlane first teamed in California as part of the melodic-rock band Grand Hotel, which issued the album Do Not Disturb on CBS in 1978. After folding The Quick, the pair recorded a dance-pop album as Giant Steps in 1988. Throughout the decade, they also worked as a production team on recordings by Endgames, Blue Zoo, Fiat Lux, Girls Can’t Help It, Haywoode, and Deon Estus among others.

Members: Colin Campsie (vocals) George McFarlane (bass, keyboards)

The Quick were an English studio duo formed by singer Colin Campsie and bassist/keyboardist George McFarlane. Epic issued their first singles during 1979–81 before Australian demand for “Hip Shake Jerk” prompted the album On the Uptake. The label reconfigured those recordings as Fascinating Rhythm for international release in 1982, followed by International Thing on Epic and Wah Wah on A&M.

Campsie and McFarlane also operated the Quick Organisation as songwriters and producers. Their outside work included the 1983 Endgames album Building Beauty and the Girls Can’t Help It single “Baby Doll.”

Background

McFarlane met fellow Englishman Campsie at a Los Angeles party during 1978. The pair returned to England and assembled Grand Hotel with guitarist/keyboardist Ivan Penfold and drummer Graham Broad. Guitarists Rob Greene and Danny McIntosh Jr. expanded the recording lineup for the CBS album Do Not Disturb.

Campsie and McFarlane continued as the Quick following the Grand Hotel release. Rhett Davies produced an initial demo that secured a contract with Epic Records. The label introduced the duo in September 1979 with “Sharks Are Cool, Jets Are Hot” (b/w “Arabian Nights”), followed by “Ship to Shore” (b/w “Eastern Promise”) in April 1980.

Epic issued “Hip Shake Jerk” in Australia during 1980 (b/w “Expresso Bongo”). The single reached No. 12 on the Australian chart and No. 32 in New Zealand, creating the demand for a full album.

On the Uptake

The Quick released their debut album, On the Uptake, in 1981 on Epic in Australia.

The album collects the duo’s first Epic recordings and adds “Shanandoah,” which remained exclusive to the Australian configuration. Campsie and McFarlane wrote the material apart from “Sharks Are Cool, Jets Are Hot,” composed with former Grand Hotel member Ivan Penfold.

A1. “Young Men Drive Fast” (6:37)
A2. “Hip Shake Jerk” (5:17)
A3. “Katy Can’t” (2:36)
A4. “Small Blonde Box” (3:14)
A5. “To Prove My Love” (4:01)

B1. “Sharks Are Cool, Jets Are Hot” (3:44) – Campsie, McFarlane, Penfold
B2. “Don’t Take Me for Granted” (3:31)
B3. “Ship to Shore” (4:01)
B4. “Shanandoah” (3:40)
B5. “Eat Your Words” (3:07)

The Quick produced On the Uptake, while Rhett Davies produced “Ship to Shore.” Davies had recently produced the 1979 Roxy Music album Manifesto and its 1980 successor Flesh + Blood.

Epic coupled “Young Men Drive Fast” with “Small Blonde Box” for a January 1981 UK single. The label followed in April with “Zulu” (b/w “Eat Your Words”), although neither track appeared on the Australian album.

“Zulu” reached No. 1 on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and retained the position for two weeks. John Luongo issued the recording through his CBS-associated Pavillion label in the United States.

Fascinating Rhythm

Epic issued the international reconstruction of the debut, Fascinating Rhythm, in 1982.

The revised sequence retains “Young Men Drive Fast,” “Katy Can’t,” “Small Blonde Box,” “To Prove My Love,” “Sharks Are Cool, Jets Are Hot,” and “Don’t Take Me for Granted.”

“The Rhythm of the Jungle,” “One Light in a Blackout,” “Zulu,” and “Twisted” replace four Australian tracks. The Canadian edition appeared under the title One Light in a Blackout.

A1. “The Rhythm of the Jungle” (4:00)
A2. “Katy Can’t” (2:32)
A3. “Young Men Drive Fast” (4:04)
A4. “One Light in a Blackout” (3:29)
A5. “To Prove My Love” (3:59)

B1. “Zulu” (5:50)
B2. “Small Blonde Box” (3:23)
B3. “Twisted” (4:42)
B4. “Sharks Are Cool, Jets Are Hot” (3:26) – Campsie, McFarlane, Penfold
B5. “Don’t Take Me for Granted” (3:30)

The Quick produced and arranged Fascinating Rhythm. New York producer and remixer John Luongo co-produced “One Light in a Blackout” and remixed “Zulu,” while Jay Mark engineered the album with additional engineer Carla Bandini. Luongo had established his club-market profile through extended versions of recordings by Melba Moore and Patti LaBelle; Mark served as his regular studio engineer.

CBS art director Rosław Szaybo directed the packaging, and Joanna Webb designed the sleeve. Szaybo’s recent CBS work included the 1980 Judas Priest album British Steel and its 1981 successor Point of Entry.

Epic released “The Rhythm of the Jungle” in March 1982 (b/w “To Prove My Love”). The single reached No. 13 in Australia, No. 9 in the Netherlands, No. 41 in the United Kingdom, and No. 14 on the US dance chart.

“Touch” followed as a standalone August 1982 single backed with the album track “Twisted.”

A. “Touch” (4:11)

B. “Twisted” (4:42)

International Thing

The Quick released their second album, International Thing, in 1984 on Epic.

Campsie and McFarlane wrote, arranged, and produced the album through the Quick Organisation. Guitarist Danny McIntosh Jr. returned from the Grand Hotel lineup, while keyboardist Richard Cottle joined the sessions. McIntosh also played on the 1983 Endgames album Building Beauty, which the duo produced.

A1. “It’s an International Thing” (4:20)
A2. “This City” (5:30)
A3. “Missing You Now” (4:10)
A4. “Love in Motion” (3:57)
A5. “Where Is the Lion in You?” (3:57)

B1. “Listen to Your Heart” (3:13)
B2. “Do Not Erase This Heart” (3:49)
B3. “No Day at the Beach” (4:47)
B4. “The Biggest Factor” (4:00)
B5. “All Hung Up on You” (4:22)

The Quick Organisation produced and arranged International Thing with engineer Nick Sykes, proprietor of Rooster Studios in London. The production followed the duo’s work on Building Beauty and the Girls Can’t Help It single “Baby Doll.”

XL Design prepared the sleeve with an illustration by Lawrence Cole. Cole worked with the same design studio during 1984 on Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Welcome to the Pleasuredome.

Epic issued “It’s an International Thing” in March 1984 (b/w “Voodoo”), a non-album Campsie–McFarlane exclusive.

B. “Voodoo” (5:20)

“Missing You Now” followed in April (b/w “Walk Away Girl”), another non-album Campsie–McFarlane exclusive.

B. “Walk Away Girl”

Wah Wah

The Quick released their third album, Wah Wah, in 1986 on A&M.

Drummer Jimmy Copley and guitarist Jim Williams join Campsie and McFarlane on the album. Producer Phil Thornalley adds guitar, while Matt Barry sings backing parts. Several songs had entered the duo’s repertoire during an earlier BBC radio session, including “Down the Wire,” “We Can Learn from This,” “The Big Decision,” and “Sharon.”

A1. “Adventures Tonight” (3:58)
A2. “Down the Wire” (3:12)
A3. “We Can Learn from This” (4:44)
A4. “Cry Baby” (4:27)
A5. “Poise” (3:53)

B1. “I Needed You, You Needed Me” (3:53)
B2. “The Big Decision” (5:07)
B3. “The Last Victim” (3:42)
B4. “Sharon” (4:12)
B5. “Bed of Nails” (3:43)

Phil Thornalley produced and engineered Wah Wah. His preceding work included production on the Cure’s 1982 album Pornography and the 1983 single “The Love Cats.” Thornalley also earned a Grammy nomination for his engineering on the 1984 Thompson Twins album Into the Gap.

A&M introduced the album campaign in July 1985 with “Down the Wire” (b/w “The Specialist”), a non-album Campsie–McFarlane exclusive. The single reached No. 88 on the UK chart.

B. “The Specialist”

“Bed of Nails” followed in March 1986 (b/w “The Guarantee”), another non-album Campsie–McFarlane exclusive.

B. “The Guarantee” (4:00)

A&M released “We Can Learn from This” in August (b/w “All You Want Is Heaven”), followed during 1987 by “I Needed You, You Needed Me” (b/w “You Don’t Reach for Me No More”). Both B-sides remained outside the album.

B. “All You Want Is Heaven”

B. “You Don’t Reach for Me No More”

Later Activity

Campsie and McFarlane returned to Los Angeles and continued their partnership as Giant Steps. Producer Gardner Cole joined the pair for the 1988 A&M album The Book of Pride. “Another Lover” reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Into You” reached No. 58 during 1989.

The duo subsequently recorded additional Giant Steps material with producer Preston Glass, including “What We’re Made Of” with bassist and singer Larry Graham. No second album followed.

McFarlane continued as a songwriter, arranger, producer, and composer for television. Campsie maintained songwriting and production work, including later collaborations with André Cymone and Phil Thornalley.