Let's all appreciate the brilliance of Toto

Isn't Lukather playing the solo on Peter Cetera's (only good solo song ever) "Livin' in the Limelight"?

 

Ah, the thing is, I was around (hence my dig at her thespian skills)... don't get me wrong, I understand her appeal.

 

I only really know Toto IV, but didn't they also back Lionel Richie's Can't Slow Down ? Quite a few Grammy's in these two, for whatever that indicates.....

 

Yes. I always thought the same about Firefall (under-appreciated). Looking back, there was a lot of good music on AOR/FM rock stations in the 70's (more diverse back then than the dreaded "classic rock" that they play today), that was better than what I thought it was at the time?

 

I think Toto is slightly better than Kansas and slightly worse than Asia.

Yes, I realize that's faint praise.

 

I always appreciated the bona fide hits off of Toto IV. In general, I am not a big fan, but I do think Africa is one of the best commercial tracks to come out of the 80's.

 

Yes, Toto also played on Lionel Richie's Can't Slow Down as well.

 

new album received a perfect score over at Melodicrock.com

 

Hold The Line reminded me of Boston for some reason. \The only Toto thing I really love is the last 30 seconds of Rosanna, when they turn to tempo upside down and Lukather plays every note on the guitar three times in 20 seconds.

 

I don't know much about Toto but I love Hold The Line, Rosanna, Africa and their version of Bodhissatva.

The little fella with the moustache and the high voice is a stunning singer.

 

I like Toto a lot. As an act I only liked when the vocals were done by Bobby Kimball, Steve Lukather, David Paich and Joseph Williams. I didn't like the other singers that much as talented as they are.

 

Sad news today with the passing of Mike Porcaro at 59

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/n...ral?utm_source=yahoomusic&utm_medium=referral

 

Joseph Williams - great lead singer, the band at their best when he's leading the line...
Frederikson and Luke - pretty fine upfront, tho Luke is essential in whatever he contributes...
Kimball - tolerable early on...
Byron - I think not...

 

First heard Toto when I was 9, lots of songs stuck in my head ever since. Still trying to dive deeper into their discography, acquired a Mindfields CD I haven't heard yet but will see to one day. Favorites are their first two albums, Holyanna, some stuff off Toto IV and Pamela.

For what it's worth: In the hip and happening cafe/concert venue/record shop in town, a surprising amount of 16-to-20 year olds request Toto often, especially Rosanna and Africa. Lots of their records have because of this fact made their way from the farty cardboard boxes on the floor to the alphabetized racks. I suppose they inherited the love for this music via their parents, in the eighties and for a good part of the nineties Toto were quite popular here. They get some flak, but that's no surprise, really. It is very calculated, very well planned and so forth - but what I've heard has mainly been good and exciting music despite of this fact. And as players, especially live, from what I can gather, they're on fire and very innovative.

 

Check out the recent album, and the Live in Poland DVD...

 

So, am I the only one that thinks Isolation and Fahrenheit are their two best albums then?

My mate plays guitar for Bobby Kimball, but he sounds awful these days (apparently due to hearing problems and he's OK in the studio)

 

Sorry to dissent, but I find them unlistenable

 

Fahrenheit is definitely up there, the first of Joe's albums, but always thought they went one better with the following Seventh One...

 

I've not yet heard Fahrenheit except for the singles, but I started listening to Seventh One in the past couple years and think it's really good. Not better than the first album and IV though.

 

Steve Lukather on the guitar solo for "Running With The Night":

 

I always found The Seventh One to be aping IV a little, and I really don't like IV!

 

Fahrenheit is my favourite Toto album. Love Joseph Williams voice and Miles Davis' guest appearance on "Don't Stop Me Now". Great songwriting as well, "Could This Be Love", "Somewhere Tonight", "Till The End" and "I'll Be Over You" are among their best songs.

I don't like Isolation nearly as much. Fergie Fredericksen wasn't the right voice for Toto's music and the songs are very inconsistent. For every "Stranger In Town", "Angel Don't Cry" and "How Does It Feel" there's an awful "Mr. Friendly", "Change Of Heart" or "Holyanna". When it comes to Jeff Porcaro's drums sound, it's certainly the worst of any Toto album.

 

I liked Fergies voice and I loved the drum sound on that album (not listened to it in a while though!)

Holyanna was rubbish though