Holyanna

"Holyanna"
Single by Toto
from the album Isolation
B-side	"Mr. Friendly"
Released	January 1985
Recorded	1984
Length	4:19 (album version) 3:53 (single edit)
Label	Columbia
Songwriters	David Paich Jeff Porcaro
Toto singles chronology
"Dune (Desert Theme)" (1984) "Holyanna" (1985) "How Does It Feel" (1985)

"Holyanna" is a song by the American rock band Toto. It was released as the final song and third single from their fifth studio album Isolation . It was written by keyboardist David Paich and drummer Jeff Porcaro. It peaked at No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 as the second charting single from Isolation, following "Stranger in Town. ^[1]

The song features former member Bobby Kimball performing on backing vocals. "Holyanna" also received a music video, which was produced by Simon Fields. ^[2]

Background

Paich wrote "Holyanna" about a composite of girls that flirted with him during his time attending a Catholic school. ^[3] In an interview published in December 1983 during the making of the band's Isolation album, Steve Lukather mentioned that "Holyanna" was one of the songs planned for the album. ^[4] In the United States, "Holyanna" was serviced to contemporary hit radio in January 1985, where it was added to 33 radio station playlists in that format. ^[5]

Reception

Billboard described "Holyanna" as featuring "jumpy rock n’ roll observations of life in high school’s fast lane." ^[6] Cashbox called "Holyanna" a "good single" with "punchy" horns and an "airtight sound". They also wrote that the song "utilizes acoustic guitars and pure pop hooks with a countryish lyric and melodic sound", which they believed was indicative of "another CHR hit." ^[7]

Track listing

1. "Holyanna" - 3:53
2. "Mr. Friendly" - 4:18

Personnel

Toto

• Fergie Frederiksen – backing vocals
• Steve Lukather – guitars, backing vocals
• David Paich – keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocals
• Steve Porcaro – keyboards, electronic sounds
• Mike Porcaro – bass
• Jeff Porcaro – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Mike Cotten – additional synthesizers
• Lenny Castro – congas, percussion
• Joe Porcaro – percussion
• Tom Scott – saxophones
• Chuck Findley – trumpet
• Jerry Hey – trumpet
• Bobby Kimball – backing vocals

Chart performance

Chart (1985)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100 [8]	71

References

1. "Billboard". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. February 16, 1985. p. 75. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
2. "New Video Clips" (PDF). Billboard . March 9, 1985. p. 39. Retrieved December 2, 2025– via World Radio History.
3. Prato, Greg (May 15, 2015). "David Paich of Toto : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts . Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
4. Rosen, Steve (December 1983). "Total Toto". Music U.K. p. 27. Retrieved December 5, 2025– via Mu:Zines.
5. "Contemporary Hit Radio" (PDF). Radio & Records . January 25, 1985. p. 102. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
6. "Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . February 2, 1985. p. 82. Retrieved December 2, 2025– via World Radio History.
7. "Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox . February 2, 1985. p. 7. Retrieved December 2, 2025– via World Radio History.
8. "Toto Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2025.