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Toto IV

Toto - Toto IV Audio CD

A fair review of the Toto "Toto IV" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Toto reviews here, or go back to the Toto tabs.

Band: Toto
Title: Toto IV
Rating:

Release Date: 2008-02-01
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Rosanna 2: Make Believe 3: I Won't Hold You Back 4: Good for You 5: It's a Feeling 6: Afraid of Love 7: Lovers in the Night 8: We Made It 9: Waiting for Your Love 10: Africa

Thank you for the memories
Or rather the memories of the early 80's. I ordered TOTO IV a few days ago on an impulse triggered by a memory. TOTO's Africa was playing on the radio and it instantly felt like all resistance was futile - MTV's Moon landing promo clip - the one with the chainsaw - forced itself into my head, ZZ Top girls parading their legs possibly unaware that the Commissar was in town investigating the case of Video allegedly having killed the Radio Star. Science!!! - a voice was shouting - Dr. Dolby's team could surely prove that Billy Jean was never my girl. After all, we were all living in the Twilight Zone. Those were the last days of happy-go-lucky music and irresponsible fun.

I had no choice but spend a few hard-earned dollars and get me the Africa CD - TOTO IV, that is. All I knew of TOTO until yesterday were Africa and Rosanna and that's what I wanted to listen to again and that's what TOTO IV delivers, with 8 more tunes in-between. Great 80's video tunes the two are. The rest. . . more Steely Danish-like pieces, what I would call coffee-table songs. Nicely and skillfully performed but forgettable. To be enjoyed but not to be missed.

But I'm glad I had my Africa and my Rosanne, playing in my car. Kind of makes me feel like in those days and, having just traded in my gas-guzzling, thrill-making Mustang GT for a responsible and cautious hybrid, I need to feel like "the 80's" from time to time.

Toto's best!

It's too bad this album has not been remastered the way other albums from the CBS/Sony catalog have been (all the Billy Joel albums and the majority of
the 'classic' David Bowie albums from the 70's for instance). This is Toto's greatest album by far; in addition to the classics "Rosanna" and
"Africa" it contains other excellent songs like "I won't hold you back" and "Afraid of love". The sound of
the CD version that I currently have and even the SACD version of this album
were very dissapointing.

Please Sony, re master an re release this album!.

This Paper Moon Shines and a little dog, too!
" The most popular song on the disc, "Africa," is the 80's answer to the "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens from the 60's, the 50's "Wimoweh" by Seeger and S. What a wonderful reprise of the early 80's from a group that is named after the little dog in "The Wizard of Oz. Linda's "Mbube" of the 30's. With sophisticated rhythms and harmonies, Toto provides good melodies, interesting lyrics and bright, competent production. The album is also a journey through grief about a break-up, so be prepared.

The album starts with "Rosanna" expressing disbelief that a love affair with Roseanne Arquette, the most eligible bachelorette of Toto's time has ended. The next track is a window on a process of denial - "Make Believe" as in "make believe we are in love again. " Then comes the pain and guilt stage, "realizing how much I am to blame" in "I Won't Hold You Back. " There is an attempt at bargaining, with a suggestion the jilted lover could be "Good for You. " The furtive and dark visions of depression and loneliness dominate "It's a feeling. " Expressions of fear accompany acceptance of the end of one affair and the need to start another in the next two songs. Ambivalence about a new entanglement and the dread of rejection by a new lover begin with "Afraid of Love" and dominates "Lovers in the Night. " But alas there is an upturn or light at the end of the tunnel, Despite the mistakes in this new affair, "We Made It" celebrates overcoming the problems and the continuation of the new relationship. "Waiting for Your Love" demonstrates the maturity developed in this journey from broken relationship to a new, deeper, and more expressive love.

Oddly the most popular song on the album does not fit this progression-- or maybe it does. "Africa" details a choice between a lover's attachment to a woman versus Africa. The song implies that the lover will be rejecting his woman and "salvation" to stay on the continent. On the other hand, though the song says that one hundred men could not drag him away from Africa, there is the chance that one woman might. But who can tell, when the author laments not "taking the time to do the things we never have. " What ever the words mean, "Africa" is a beautiful blend of native and rock and roll instruments and a haunting melody.

The album is occasionally over-done with some odd lyrics and the occasional weak melody carried by production shine. However, "Africa" is a classic and the rest is good listening. After all, "who says the paper moon don't shine. " .

A legendary album on SACD!
Having released a strong debut, their second & third were OK but far from brilliant. Toto was in limbo when they recorded their fourth and best album, back in 1982. For their fourth effort though they stroke gold. With two pairs of golden ears behind the desk (Greg Ladanyi and Al Schmidt) and James Newton Howard being assigned the orchestral arrangements and conducting, Toto were set to deliver another massive production of an album. But what really made IV a soft rock masterpiece was the songs. Cleverly entrusting David Paich with more songwriting work, they scored big with "Africa" having earned another hit already with "Rosanna" (written for the actor Rosanna Arquete).

This edition is the first release of the album in glorious Super Audio CD. Being a Sony release, this was one of the first outputs in SACD's DSD format, therefore it lacks the CD layer losing the compatibility with traditional CD players. Though the hybrid version that followed is certainly the best buy, folks with SACD players will not miss the 16bit version. This remastered DSD version has more depth and detail than the original (compared to the vinyl version) but it feels a little excessive on the highs. And while the hybrid version is long gone and out of print, this DSD only version is a very good choice if one wants to listen to one of the greatest pop albums of the 1980's. If you lack the money to take a trip to Africa, this will compensate nicely.

The ESSENTIAL Toto album!
They are great songs, and are all on this CD. My mom had this on cassette when I was little, and I remember listening to "Rosanna", "Afraid of Love", and "Africa", and just falling in love with them. This is quite possibly the best CD Toto ever put out. As a drummer, this is a must have because Jeff Porcaro (R. I. P. ) was quite possibly the most talented drummer since Buddy Rich. Playing to his songs are challenging, but extremely fun.

You can see a complete list of all Toto discography, or go back to the Toto tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.