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Music snobs love to deride Toto as exemplars of MOR, radio-ready commercial product, a criticism not entirely off the mark for a supergroup formed by high-profile studio musicians intent on mixing pop styles into a glossy, accessible package. But Toto weren't all chops and no substance, especially when it came to writing memorable pop songs, as one listen to their hugely successful 1978 self-titled debut will attest.
Whether squeezing nursery rhymes into smooth grooves ("Georgy Porgy"), mixing funky verses with anthemic choruses ("I'll Supply the Love"), or honing their focus to unleash some genuine rock & roll here and there (the hit single "Hold the Line"), Toto crafted smart hooks and made them stick, wrapping them in a guitar/keys-heavy sound that straddled soft rock, hard rock, and lite R&B. Consequently, their debut made significant strides in sales and radio play. In fact, anyone within earshot of a radio in the '70s will recognize the aforementioned mentioned songs, and those who don't will find TOTO to be a polished, well-crafted pop-rock period piece.
Also available in a 3-pack with HYDRA and TOTO IV.
Live Recording
Personnel: Steve Lukather (vocals, guitar); David Paich, Steve Porcaro (vocals, keyboards); Cheryl Lynn, Bobby Kimball (vocals); David Hungate (guitar); Sid Sharp, Marty Paich (strings); Jim Horn (saxophone, wind); Chuck Findley (horns); Roger Linn (synthesizer); Jeff Porcaro (drums, percussion); Lenny Castro (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Tom Knox.
Recording information: Davlen Sound Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Studio 55, Hollywood, CA; Studio 55, Hollywood, Californi; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA.
Toto Songs
| 1 | Child's Anthem | 2:45 | $0.99 | |
| 2 | I'll Supply the Love | 3:45 | $0.99 | |
| 3 | Georgy Porgy | 4:08 | $0.99 | |
| 4 | Manuela Run | 3:55 | $0.99 | |
| 5 | You Are the Flower | 4:17 | $0.99 | |
| 6 | Girl Goodbye | 6:14 | $0.99 | |
| 7 | Takin' It Back | 3:46 | $0.99 | |
| 8 | Rockmaker | 3:19 | $0.99 | |
| 9 | Hold the Line | 3:56 | $1.29 | |
| 10 | Angela | 4:44 | $0.99 | |
Toto Music Review
Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)    List All 8 Reviews best album toto ever producedby toto.
even for so long ago, this is the best album/cd that TOTO ever put out. i have a couple of theirs', and they are good, but this is the best. child's anthem, angela.... i could keep going.
Submitted by dgosnell (new hampshire) 
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Great Album
Although this album is over 20 years old, the music doesn't get old. Childs Anthem and Gorgy Porgy are classsics!
Submitted by a reviewer (Lafayette, IN)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Awesome
One of the best albums of the 70's. Great writing and flawless musicianship, which you would expect with the pedigree of these guys. Lots of highlights, including all of "Girl Goodbye", which boasts incredible drumming from Jeff Porcaro and a great solo from 'Luke'. Plenty of keyboard heroics as well.
There is not a bad song on this album, "You are the flower" probably suffering from being the most dated.
Submitted by Woody (Kiama, NSW, Australia)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No There is a GOD!!
This is what Toto fans have been waiting for. Wow, the sound quality is excellent and the packaging is the exact replica of the original LP. Even the glitch that was all the previous CD pressings for "Taking It Back" is fixed. Get all the remasters if you can. Worth every penny.
Submitted by ynotmusic (Mission Hills, CA, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
This review is for a different format. Birth of the legend!
Like it's successor, Hydra' which mined the Punk-Rock explosion, this debut straddled the disco and funk rock genres of the 70's music world. The band hit the jackpot the first time around and the album was a great success musically and financially though the critics loathed the group.Setting new standards in sound helped greatly. For the first time you could hear the instruments the musicians were playing. ToTo were at the forefront of musical technology and pioneered a full blooded sound, which inspired generations of musicians.It's no surprise that they were called in to beef up people's arrangements throughout the 70's and 80's.This was due to the solid rhythm section consisting of the Paich/Porcaro/Hungate trio who had found industry fame by propelling Boz Scaggs to grammy status. Being on so many people's records meant that the ToTo sound was familiar, but not strikingly original. This didn't matter though as anonymity did not hinder their commercial hit making potential.Cheryl lynn's contributions to the funky, 'Georgy porgy' made it a disco smash.Staying in the disco vein,the Latino flavoured,'I'll supply the love', was also a huge hit.Crossing over to the rock genre, 'Girl goodbye' was a brooding, downbeat rocker which became a fan favourite. However it was the release of, 'Hold the line' that propelled the band to superstardom.Today the track easily retains it's status as a perennial rock classic. With all the musical diversity on offer, it was no surprise that ToTo were the first band to have hits in the soul/r&b/disco and rock charts almost simultaneously. No mean feat!
Submitted by bullesse (Birmingham,England)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
This review is for a different format. List All Reviews | Have you heard this album? |  |
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