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Toto - Toto Audio CD

A fair review of the Toto "Toto" 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.

Toto Band: Toto
Title: Toto
Rating:
Release Date: 2008-02-01
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Child's Anthem 2: I'll Supply the Love 3: Georgy Porgy 4: Manuela Run 5: You Are the Flower 6: Girl Goodbye 7: Takin' It Back 8: Rockmaker 9: Hold the Line 10: Angela

Great Late 70s Rock
Few of the songs would seem to be great for the radio nor do they really mesh well if listening to the album as a whole, but individually they are great to listen to. Take some of the top studio musicians of the 70s (particularly in their work on Boz Skaggs' classic "Silk Degrees"), create an album, and what do you get? Not surprisingly, Toto's eponymous debut shows excellent musicianship with extremely catchy songs. Take the hard rock and powerful open of "Girl Goodbye," the fast-paced instrumental middle of "I'll Supply The Love" or the rock-disco of "Georgy Porgy" and I bet your feet will be tapping. Then wait for the best song of the album-"Rockmaker"! What's really special about Toto is the superior production--listen intently and you can hear the small transitions by some of the instruments (like the mezzo keyboards in the middle of Girl Goodbye or the woodchop in "Takin' It Back"). Great drumwork, excellent guitar solos, and plain catchy harmonics. This isn't 1980s-era "Africa" or "Rosanna"--it's a heck of a lot better! .


Amazing debut album
Been awhile since hearing these on vinyl, so it was like discovering the albums again for the first time. Went on a nostalgia kick and picked up the first 4 Toto albums on CD. Didn't expect their debut album to hold up as well as it did, and TOTALLY forgot about 'Girl Goodbye'. . . great tune!

When you consider that all these guys were in their early-to-mid 20s and already seasoned studio musicians when they recorded this, it's mind-boggling.

If Sony/Columbia ever gets around to remastering the Toto catalog, this album would easily merit 5 stars.


Good band
This is their first CD, and it really shows how good they are and is just really solid musically, especially the first song "Child's Anthem. I like these guys a lot, I first heard the song "Africa" a while back and I've been hooked on their music ever since. " They are pretty adventurous musicians, and on this CD in particular they use elements of funk and soul in their singing (check out "I'll Supply the Love") as well as straightforward rock on one of their biggest hits "Hold the Line," and even what sounds like Spanish guitar on the song "Taking it Back. " One song I don't really like that much from this album is "Georgy Porgy," a major hit of theirs, but I prefer it when they do regular rock songs and not soft rock. Unfortunately their next 2 albums were not as good as this one from what I've heard, but their 4th CD was excellent. If you are new to the band I'd suggest getting this CD and "TOTO IV," which was basically their best album. Overall this is a band full of talented musicians, they have written some wonderful songs and you should check them out by starting with this album or their 4th one. .


And the winner is......
Both were embarking on the road to long and distinguished fame so who would come out on top? And the winner is. In 1978, both Toto and the Cars were up for the Grammy for Best New Artist. . . . . . . . . A Taste Of Honey and their one hit song, Boogie Oogie Oogie! Needless to say, that was the last year I watched the Grammys. As one of our hometown heroes, Sam Phillips, used to say, "This was one rockin' album!" RIP Sam. "Make Believe" what a great song! I've always wished I could meet the woman who thinks as much of this song as I do. I'm glad it's been remastered. I can't wait to get my copy.


Great classic rock album, one of the best 'first' albums out there...
I'm really not sure where some of the reviewers get their ideas from, methinks some of them think too much instead of actually listening to the music. .

This is one of my all-time favorite rock albums. There is certainly a great deal of different material, but all of it very good to listen to, and sold my wife the first time she heard it. . . years after it was released.

'Hold the Line' was the first song that captured me, when I first heard it on K-SHE 95 in St Louis, I knew I had to go out and buy it. I did, and have never regretted it, in fact, it was one of the first CDs I bought when CDs came out.

It's hard to pick a favorite, but the songs are not all like 'Hold the Line'. 'Girl Goodbye' was played briefly on KSHE, but for some reason really didn't make it more although it is much more powerful in beat, tone and rhythm than 'Hold the Line'. 'Rockmaker' is another great tune. . . very upbeat and fun.

'Manuela Run' and 'You are the Flower' are different from the rock songs on the album, but are no less good compositions. They have a more breezy jazz feel, and are just excellent songs.

Georgy Porgy was actually my least favorite song from the album, very R&B and was not to my liking then or now. However, some seem to like it so guess it hit the spot.

If you like Toto and have never heard this album, or like 70s-80s pop rock, certainly give this a whirl. I don't think you'll be disappointed.


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.

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