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 (4 Customer Reviews)
Recorded between 1978 & 1998. Includes liner notes by Jaan Uhelszki.
Formed in the late 1970s by a group of Los Angeles session musicians (including keyboardist/vocalist David Paich, guitarist/vocalist Steve Lukather, and lead vocalist Bobby Kimball), Toto turned the ensemble's collective industry experiences into meticulously crafted pop-tinged rock. Although the band achieved only a handful of hits--most notably the urgent "Hold the Line," the lightly funky "Rosanna," and the soaring "Africa"--they proved to be massive singles. This well-selected 2003 compilation is frontloaded with those radio staples, and also presents standout tracks from other Toto albums, while wisely avoiding songs from maligned records such as TURN BACK and ISOLATION. The result is a disc that perfectly lives up to its name, making it ideal for casual fans of the long-running band.
Producers: Toto, Tom Knox, Bill Pyane, George Massenburg, Elliot Scheiner.
Compilation producer: Jeff Magid.
Personnel: Steve Lukather (vocals, guitar, background vocals); David Paich (vocals, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, synthesizer, background vocals); Steve Porcaro (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, programming, electronics); Bobby Kimball (vocals, background vocals); Mike McDonald (vocals); Martyn Ford Orchestra (strings); Jim Horn (recorder, saxophone); Jo Smith, Tom Scott (saxophone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey (trumpet); James Pankow (trombone, background vocals); Jimmy Pankow (trombone); Joe Porcaro (vibraphone, marimba, percussion, background vocals); Jeff Porcaro (drums, percussion); Lenny Castro (congas, percussion); Chris Trujillo, Sidney, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Chuck Findley, Jacki Magee, Tony Walthers, Fred White , Gary Herbig, John James , Jenny Douglas McRea, Toto Horns, Rick Nelson, Fred White, Paulette Brown, Phillip Ingram, Tom Kelly (background vocals).
Liner Note Author: Jaan Uhelszki.
Recording information: A&M Recording Studios (1978-1998); ATS Studios, Calabasas, CA (1978-1998); Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA (1978-1998); Davien Sound Studios, North Hollywood, CA (1978-1998); EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England (1978-1998); Hogg Manor (1978-1998); Hollywood Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA (1978-1998); Montreux Jazz Festival (1978-1998); Record One, Los Angeles, CA (1978-1998); Reggies (1978-1998); Royaltone Studios, North Hollywood, CA (1978-1998); Schnee Studios (1978-1998); Studio 55, Hollywood, CA (1978-1998); Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA (1978-1998); The Complex (1978-1998); The Manor (1978-1998); The Villa (1978-1998).
Photographers: Keely, Dennis; Jim Shea.
Toto: David Paich (vocals, Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizer); Bobby Kimball, Joe Williams (vocals); Steve Lukather (guitar, background vocals); Steve Porcaro (keyboards); David Hungate (bass); Jeff Porcaro (drums, percussion); Simon Phillips (drums).
Additional personnel: Tom Scott (saxophone); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Michael McDonald (background vocals).
Essential Toto Music | List Price | $7.99 (You save $0.40) | | Category | Rock/Pop Albums, Pop CDs, Rock | | Label | Legacy | | Orig Year | 2003 | | All Time Sales Rank |  3705  | | CD Universe Part number | 6338595 | | Catalog number | 90623 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Sep 30, 2003 | | Studio/Live | Studio | | Mono/Stereo | Stereo | | Engineer | Elliot Scheiner; George Massenburg; Dirk Schubert; Toto; Bill Payne | | Personnel | Jerry Hey - trumpet
Lenny Castro - congas, percussion
Jeff Porcaro - drums, percussion
Steve Lukather - vocals, guitar, background vocals
David Paich - vocals, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, synthesizer, background vocals
Jim Horn - recorder, saxophone
Steve Porcaro - vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, programming, electronics
Gary Grant
Chuck Findley
David Hungate - bass
List all 37 contributors
| | Additional Info | Remastered |
Essential Toto Music Review Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)   AN EXELLENT COMPILATION !
THIS ONE IS ONE OF THE BEST EVER TOTO COLLECTION !
LOW PRICE + VERY GOOD SONSG = EXELLENT DEAL !!
Submitted by a reviewer (JERUSALEM, ISRAEL) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
 Could've been the essential
Like all the other single-disc compilations that Toto, Sony, or whoever has put out, this one's biggest flaw is not including the #30 hit "Stranger In Town", a very underrated song with haunting lyrics and a nice chorus.
Also not included is the great "Stop Loving You" and the one good Jean-Michael Byron song, "Can You Hear What I'm Saying", both of which can be found on Past to Present. If those three songs, along with maybe one or two of Toto's instrumentals from the Dune soundtrack had been included, this could be called the "essential" Toto.
Submitted by Jason (Troy, AL USA)
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Thanks Toto for a Great Compilation!
I really enjoyed this collection covering the band's 20+ years of music. It starts with the signature rock staple "Hold the Line" as well as the versatile "I'll Supply the Love." The CD has several tracks from the classic Toto IV, "Rosanna," "Africa," "I Won't Hold You Back" and "Make Believe." You also get a couple of late 80's tracks from the CD's Fahrenheit and The Seventh One as well as the title track to critically-acclaimed "Mindfields." This is a great collection for a band with great talent that has been underrated here in the U.S. This is a nice buy to start a collection of truly professional band.
Submitted by wolverinedave22 (Middletown,NJ)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Best Rock Band Ever
This album is an excellent work of art of the Modern Rock.
Submitted by Miguel (Ponce, PR, USA)
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