Toto began life in an unusual way. In 1977, L.A.-based session musicians keyboardist/singer David Paich and drummer Jeff Porcaro assembled three other sessions players – guitarist/singer Steve Lukather, bassist David Hungate, and keyboardist/singer Steve Porcaro – along with lead singer Bobby Kimball to form the genre-spanning group. Paich contributed several songs and played on Boz Scaggs’ quintuple-Platinum Silk Degrees album (1976), on which Hungate and Jeff Porcaro also contributed.
The classic Toto lineup found an immediate chemistry, and on their first four albums explored a wide range of musical styles, from sophisticated soft rock to soulful pop-rock. They scored four Top-10 hits, including “Rosanna” and the No. 1 hit “Africa,” which has sold 8 million copies. After Kimball’s departure in 1984, the band went through a succession of singers (and other players) until his return in 1998 for another decade. Joseph Williams currently fronts the band, with Lukather and Paich remaining as the two original members. Sadly, Jeff Porcaro passed away in 1992, as did his brother Mike, who replaced David Hungate after Toto IV, in 2015.
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Although known for exploring changing trends and their own musical whims, Toto didn’t develop a reputation as a hard rock band. But they have superior chops, and once in a while when something heavier slips through they tackle it with aplomb. Following are choice cuts from Toto’s first five albums that show how adept this sextet has been at tackling harder stuff.
“White Sister” from Hydra (1979)
While Toto had the chops to play songs of varying complexity, this one is a more straightforward hard rock anthem driven equally by guitar and piano. Kimball serves up angsty vocals as he tells the relatable story of a man enamored with a hot mess of a lover whom he knows isn’t the right fit. To top it off, Lukather unleashes a couple of epic, wailing solos, and Porcaro pounds those toms hard at the end.
“English Eyes” from Turn Back (1981)
The tale of a woman who beguiled a man on a trip overseas but who now seems to live within his romantic memories, “English Eyes” is slightly less hard rocking than the other tunes on this list. But it all comes down to the attitude that Lukather brings to his final solo and the chord sequence he works over throughout the song. Kimball’s vocal energy elevates after the mellow mid-section that could have served as a springboard for another tune altogether.
“Lovers in the Night” from Toto IV (1982)
This is one of a number of Toto songs with rich symphonic rock overtones. It’s certainly the most lively track on Toto IV, which is most famous for its soft rock epic “Africa,” which has been streamed close to 2 billion times on Spotify. The heaviness of “Lovers in the Night” comes from its combination of glorious vocal harmonies, robust guitar riffs, and Lukather’s badass soloing. Paich sings lead on this one, with Kimball enriching the vocal harmonies.
“Carmen” from Isolation (1984)
After Bobby Kimball was fired from the band (and they had won three Grammy Awards for Toto IV), singer Fergie Frederiksen joined them for one album/tour cycle. And what an album it was. Isolation often walked the line between power pop and hard rock and showed the group could keep pace with the changing times. This catchy opening rocker about an unexpectedly departed lover showcases Frederiksen’s powerful pipes alongside nice keyboard flourishes and guitar squeals.
“Angel Don’t Cry” from Isolation (1984)
This is the only selection on this list to have a video – evidently the song was released as a single in Australia. It’s a propulsive track from start to finish, with a soaring Frederiksen hitting some great high notes. Then there’s the invigorating keyboard and guitar solos tearing through the middle. Isolation was very much plugged into the time it came out, and while it didn’t sound like classic Toto it remains a vastly underrated rock gem from the mid-1980s. The song left a strong impact on Frederiksen, who released a heavier rendition in September 2013, four months before he passed away from cancer.
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