Background and recording
While Toto IV was a massive, Grammy-winning success, Toto elected not to mount a U.S. tour for Toto IV, the album, a decision Steve Lukather has since regretted as a missed opportunity to become a "US-arena rock band." [9] Part of the reluctance to tour was the ongoing drug-related, legal, and personal problems of lead vocalist Bobby Kimball.
As the band began sessions for Isolation, Kimball reportedly struggled badly with his vocals. [9] Kimball said in 2005 that he sang lead on all the tracks on the album, [10] although Lukather has stated that he only recorded one lead vocal, for the track "Lion." [9] He also recorded background vocals for three songs on the album and co-wrote the song "Right Part of Me", which ended up the Toto XX album. Kimball's parts required weeks of work, primarily because of his tendency to not show up for sessions. When Kimball did attend the album's recording sessions, he struggled with the vocals, which were at the top of his range. [9]
The usual practice of the band using multiple lead vocalists from the band on their albums, e.g., Lukather and Paich. Over the course of the next year, Toto would focus on other projects, notably the soundtrack for the film Dune.
When the band finally began auditioning potential lead vocalists, the band sifted through around 15 video auditions. [11] The job was first offered to Richard Page, who ultimately declined the offer because he had a contract for his band, Mr. Mister. [9] Lukather then wanted to offer the job to Eric Martin, later of Mr. Big, but Jeff was interested in Fergie Frederiksen, then lead singer of the band LeRoux. [9] Frederikssn, who at the time was doing production work in Germany, joined the band in a rehearsal hall and secured the position after running four songs with the band. [11] On Isolation Frederiksen co-wrote "Angel Don't Cry", "Mr. Friendly", "Change of Heart", and the title track.
The first cover design for Isolation was created by David Lynch, with whom Toto had worked on Dune. Though the band reportedly spent $25,000 on the work, [9] the members were ultimately disappointed in it and did not use it. Jeff ultimately persuaded the band to use a surreal image by artist Robert Kopecky.
While the band was proud of the finished album, Lukather has noted that it was clear Isolation did not "sound like the work of the same band that had made Toto IV." [9] Toto wanted to release the track "Endless," on which Frederiksen sang lead, as the first single. However, Columbia Records opted for "Stranger in Town," sung by David Paich and thought to be more similar to the hit "Africa." [9] While "Stranger in Town" was a Top 30 hit, it was a disappointment compared to the chart topping success of the singles from Toto IV. The promo music video (featuring actor Brad Dourif) for the track was, however, nominated for MTV Video of the Year.
Lukather thought that the tour to support Isolation was disastrous; Toto had been booked into arenas based on the success of Toto IV, the 10,000-seat venues were sparsely attended and, according to Lukather, the band "lost their shirts" on the tour. [9] A tour of Europe was ultimately cancelled and Toto fired their booking agents.
Isolation would eventually achieve gold status in the United States and triple platinum status in Japan. Although Frederiksen would begin work with Toto on their sixth album, Fahrenheit, he struggled with the vocals for the first track, "Could This Be Love," and the band moved on to Lukather's childhood friend (and son of Academy Award-Winning Composer John Williams) Joseph Williams.
