Samples of a prototype composite tape conductor have been prepared consisting of a thick layer of Y Ba2 Cu3 O7 (123) on a metallic substrate. A thick coating of 123 precursor powder was applied to the substrate by a mechanical compaction process. A melt-quench-growth technique was then employed to effect a textured grain development and improved current density. The resulting melt processed structure showed a textured 123 orthorhombic matrix with a dispersion of the 211 phase. The orthorhombic 123 phase was highly developed with an onset temperature of 90K and current density near 104 A/cm2 at 4T and 50K measured by a steady-state magnetization method.