Toto (album)

Last updated
Toto
Toto Toto.jpg
Studio album by
Toto
ReleasedOctober 1978 (1978-10) [1]
RecordedOctober 1977 – June 1978 [2]
Studio Sunset Sound (Los Angeles, California)
Studio 55 (Los Angeles, California)
Davlen Sound Studios (North Hollywood, California)
Length40:46
Label Columbia
Producer Toto
Toto chronology
Toto
(1978)		 Hydra
(1979)
Singles from Toto
  1. "Hold the Line"
    Released: September 1978
  2. "I'll Supply the Love"
    Released: January 1979 [3]
  3. "Georgy Porgy"
    Released: April 1979 [4]
  4. "Rockmaker"
    Released: 1979

Toto is the debut studio album by American rock band Toto. It was released in 1978 and includes the hit singles "Hold the Line", "I'll Supply the Love" and "Georgy Porgy", all three of which made it into the top 50 in the US. [5] "Hold the Line" spent six weeks in the top 10, and reached number 14 in the UK as well. [6] Although not initially very well received by critics, the band quickly gained a following, [7] and the album gained a reputation for its characteristic sound, mixing soft pop with both synth- and hard-rock elements.[ citation needed ] The band would venture deeper into hard rock territory on their next album.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Classic Rock ReviewB+ [8]
Sea of TranquilityStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Rolling Stone found Toto's attempt to transition from career session players to a band in their own right a failure, calling David Paich's songs "excuses for back-to-back instrumental solos" and saying that none of the four lead vocalists are better than passable. [10]

In a retrospective review, AllMusic argued that the album received a strongly negative critical reaction only because critics felt threatened by Toto's demonstrated ability to create outstanding songs in any genre, which was a contradiction to popular critical assumptions about genre delineations and inspiration's supremacy over craft. They commented on the irony of the critics' reaction, in that it was this ability that made the album so well-liked by listeners of the time. [7]

Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated four songs from the album − "Hold the Line", "Girl Goodbye", "I'll Supply the Love" and "Georgy Porgy" among Toto's seven greatest songs. [11]

Cover art

Philip Garris, well known for painting many Grateful Dead album covers, created the album's emblem after listening to a lyric from the song "Manuela Run" ("You better watch that sword that's hanging over you") which referred to the Sword of Damocles. The sword also represented the band's powerful, hard-edge sound, and, due to their ability to play many types of music, Garris made the sword double-edged to show their versatility. The iron ring represented a piece of work being constructed (the record itself), and the ribbons represented the Year of the Child. [12]

Usage in media

Home video

Track listing

All tracks are written by David Paich, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Child's Anthem" instrumental2:46
2."I'll Supply the Love" Bobby Kimball3:46
3."Georgy Porgy"  Steve Lukather 4:09
4."Manuela Run" David Paich3:54
5."You Are the Flower" Bobby Kimball Kimball4:11
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Girl Goodbye" Kimball6:13
2."Takin' It Back" Steve Porcaro S. Porcaro3:47
3."Rockmaker" Paich3:19
4."Hold the Line" Kimball3:56
5."Angela" Lukather with Paich5:31

Singles

Personnel

Toto

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [26] Platinum70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [27] 2× Platinum200,000^
Germany (BVMI) [28] Gold250,000^
United States (RIAA) [29] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Toto IV</i> 1982 studio album by Toto

Toto IV is the fourth studio album by American rock band Toto, released on April 8, 1982 by Columbia Records.

<i>Isolation</i> (Toto album) 1984 studio album by Toto

Isolation is the fifth studio album by American rock band Toto, released in November 1984. Isolation is the first album to feature longtime bassist Mike Porcaro and the only album with Fergie Frederiksen as the primary vocalist. Isolation failed to achieve the popularity of its predecessor, Toto IV, although it achieved gold record status and gave the band their highest charting mainstream rock single "Stranger in Town". Relatively few songs from this album were featured in live performances after 1985's Isolation World Tour.

<i>Fahrenheit</i> (Toto album) 1986 studio album by Toto

Fahrenheit is the sixth studio album by Toto, released in 1986. It was their first album to feature Joseph Williams on lead vocals. Former lead singer Fergie Frederiksen was fired due to problems with his ability in the studio. However, he sings backing vocals on the song "Could This Be Love". It was also the last Toto album until Toto XIV in 2015 to feature keyboardist Steve Porcaro as a permanent member, as he left after the Fahrenheit tour. The album failed to go gold until 1994, but featured two top forty singles in "I'll Be Over You" and "Without Your Love". "I'll Be Over You" featured Michael McDonald on backing vocals, who also made an appearance in the song's music video. Singer/dancer Paula Abdul appears in the video for the third single, "Till The End." The final song "Don't Stop Me Now" features Miles Davis on trumpet.

<i>Turn Back</i> (album) 1981 album by Toto

Turn Back is the third studio album by the American rock group Toto, released in 1981. Although it yielded the band's first top-ten hit in Japan and steady sales in that country, the album was a commercial disappointment elsewhere, failing to produce any charting singles and selling approximately 900,000 copies worldwide.

<i>Hydra</i> (Toto album) Studio album by American rock band Toto

Hydra is the second studio album by American rock band Toto, released in 1979. It reached #37 on the Billboard Pop Albums. While most of the album's singles failed to make any impact in the charts, "99", a song inspired by the 1971 science fiction movie THX 1138, reached #26 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Live in Amsterdam</i> (Toto album) 2003 live album by Toto

25th Anniversary: Live in Amsterdam is a live album by Toto, released in 2003, in the 25th anniversary of the band. And this was also the band's last live album to feature keyboardist/vocalist David Paich and bassist Mike Porcaro; Paich, before his semi-retirement from touring in 2005 until his return to the band in 2010 with Greg Phillinganes taking his place, and Porcaro, before his retirement from touring due to a ALS four years later and his death on March 15, 2015.

<i>Other Roads</i> 1988 studio album by Boz Scaggs

Other Roads is the tenth studio album by Boz Scaggs released in 1988. After an eight-year hiatus from recording, Scaggs returned in 1988 with this album, a record aimed primarily at the adult contemporary market.

<i>The Seventh One</i> 1988 studio album by Toto

The Seventh One is the seventh studio album by the American rock band Toto. It was released in 1988, and became the best-received Toto album since Toto IV. The title track, "The Seventh One", is featured only on the Japanese version of the album and on the B-side of the single "Pamela". It was also released on some compilations on a later date. It would be their second and last studio album with lead vocalist Joseph Williams until Toto XIV (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold the Line</span> 1978 single by Toto

"Hold the Line" is a song by American rock band Toto from their 1978 eponymous debut studio album. Written by the band's keyboardist David Paich, the lead vocals on the song were performed by Bobby Kimball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosanna (song)</span> 1982 single by Toto

"Rosanna" is a song written by David Paich and performed by the American rock band Toto, the opening track and the first single from their 1982 album Toto IV. This song won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 1983 ceremony. "Rosanna" was also nominated for the Song of the Year award. It is regarded for the half-time shuffle which drummer Jeff Porcaro developed for the song. The groove has become an important staple of drum repertoire and is commonly known as the "Rosanna shuffle".

<i>Toto XX</i> 1998 compilation album / studio album by Toto

Toto XX: 1977–1997 is a compilation album by Toto to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The album features rare original demos, outtakes, previously unreleased recordings and live tracks from the band's 20-year career. Despite its being labeled as a compilation album, Steve Lukather in 2014 defined the album as the tenth studio album overall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make Believe (Toto song)</span> 1982 single by Toto

"Make Believe" is a song by the American rock band Toto, released as the second single from their triple platinum 1982 album Toto IV. It peaked at number 19 in Cash Box magazine and at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 25, 1982. The song was also featured on the 2006 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories on the radio station Emotion 98.3.

<i>Vagabond Heart</i> 1991 studio album by Rod Stewart

Vagabond Heart is the sixteenth studio album by British recording artist Rod Stewart, released on 25 March 1991 by Warner Bros. Records. The album reached No. 10 in the US, and reached No. 2 in the UK. The album features five singles, among them a cover of Robbie Robertson's song "Broken Arrow" and Van Morrison's song "Have I Told You Lately", which would become a hit two years later, and is Stewart's most recent top five solo hit in the US and the UK. The two biggest hits from the album were "Rhythm of My Heart" and "The Motown Song". The latter song features Steve Lukather, David Paich, Steve Porcaro and Jeff Porcaro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Won't Hold You Back</span> 1983 single by Toto

"I Won't Hold You Back" is a song by American rock band Toto, written and sung by Steve Lukather for their fourth album, Toto IV, released in 1982. The song features the Eagles' bass player Timothy B. Schmit on backing vocals during the choruses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Supply the Love</span> 1979 single by Toto

"I'll Supply the Love" is a song written by David Paich and recorded by Toto, with lead vocal's by Bobby Kimball. It was issued on Toto's debut album, Toto, and released as a single in January 1979. It peaked at number 45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, where it spent nine weeks on the chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgy Porgy (song)</span> 1979 single by Toto

"Georgy Porgy" is a song by American rock band Toto. It was written by band member David Paich and included on their self-titled debut album in 1978. Released as the album's third single in 1979, the song reached number 11 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and number 48 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number 18 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stranger in Town (Toto song)</span> 1984 single by Toto

"Stranger in Town" is a hit song by American rock band Toto from their 1984 album Isolation.

<i>Toto XIV</i> 2015 studio album by Toto

Toto XIV is the thirteenth studio album by the American rock band Toto. Toto released the album on March 20, 2015. It is the band's first studio album since Falling in Between in 2006.

<i>40 Trips Around the Sun</i> 2018 greatest hits album by Toto

40 Trips Around the Sun is a greatest hits album by American rock band Toto, released on February 9, 2018. The album was released in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Toto's self-titled debut album (1978).

<i>Old Is New</i> 2018 studio album by Toto

Old Is New is the fourteenth and final studio album by American band TOTO. It was released as part of the band's All In box set on November 30, 2018, and separately on April 3, 2020. The tracks "Devil's Tower", "Spanish Sea" and "Oh Why" feature deceased band members Jeff and Mike Porcaro.

References

  1. ↑ Lukather, Steve (2019). The Gospel according to Luke (1st ed.). Post Hill Press. p. 78. ISBN   978-1-64293-285-0.
  2. ↑ Lukather, Steve (2019). The Gospel according to Luke (1st ed.). Post Hill Press. p. 64. ISBN   978-1-64293-285-0.
  3. ↑ "Toto singles".
  4. ↑ "Toto singles".
  5. ↑ Toto USA chart history, Billboard.com. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  6. ↑ Toto UK chart history Archived 2013-03-13 at the Wayback Machine , The Official Charts. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 Toto at AllMusic
  8. ↑ "CRR Review - Toto – Remasters (Toto, Hydra, Turn Back)".
  9. ↑ Fleck, Steve. "Toto: Toto". Sea of Tranquility. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  10. ↑ Shewey, Don (January 25, 1979). Toto review, Rolling Stone.
  11. ↑ Kachejian, Brian. "Top 10 Toto songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  12. ↑ "Jeff Porcaro Interview about Toto's Sword". YouTube . Archived from the original on 2021-12-19.
  13. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  14. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0118a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Toto – Toto" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Toto – Toto" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  17. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   978-4-87131-077-2.
  18. ↑ "Charts.nz – Toto – Toto". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Toto – Toto". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Toto – Toto". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Toto Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  23. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  24. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6920". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Top Pop Albums of 1979". billboard.biz. December 31, 1979. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  26. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Toto – Toto". Music Canada . Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Toto; 'Toto')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  29. ↑ "American album certifications – Toto – Toto". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 1, 2012.
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