The Essential Toto

by Toto

Overview

While there have been a bunch of Toto budget-line compilations over the years, 2003's The Essential Toto is the first high-profile hits collection since 1990's Past to Present 1977-1990. At 14 songs, The Essential is one track longer than that compilation, but it shares eight cuts with Past to Present, which, of course, are all the big hits: "Africa," "Hold the Line," "Georgy Porgy," "Rosanna," "I Won't Hold You Back," "99," and "Pamela." What differentiates the two compilations, then, is that The Essential boasts a much better remastering and a better selection of songs, including the single "Make Believe" and a good selection of album tracks from their peak period, like "I'll Supply the Love." While this is missing some hits, they're minor ones that won't be missed by most listeners -- "Live for Today," "Afraid of Love," "Loves in the Night," "Waiting for Your Love," "Stranger in Town," and "Holyanna" -- and what's here is very good, an accurate representation of Toto at their best, making this their best compilation to date. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/30/2003
Label:	Legacy / Columbia
UPC:	0827969062326
Rank:	3363

Tracks

1. Hold the Line
2. Rosanna
3. Africa
4. 99
5. Make Believe
6. I'll Supply the Love
7. Georgy Porgy
8. I Won't Hold You Back
9. I'll Be Over You
10. Without Your Love
11. Pamela
12. The Turning Point
13. Mindfields
14. On the Run

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Toto   Primary Artist
Tom Scott   Guest Artist,Saxophone
Paulinho Da Costa   Guest Artist,Percussion
Michael McDonald   Guest Artist
David Paich   Keyboards,Synthesizer,Fender Rhodes,Organ (Hammond),Vocals (Background),Vocals
James Pankow   Trombone,Vocals (Background)
Jeff Porcaro   Drums,Percussion
Lenny Castro   Congas,Percussion
Jerry Hey   Trumpet
Joe Porcaro   Vibraphone,Vocals (Background),Marimba,Percussion
Jim Horn   Recorder,Saxophone
Steve Porcaro   Vocals,Keyboards,Electronics,Synthesizer
Steve Lukather   Guitar,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
John James   Vocals (Background)
Tony Walthers   Vocals (Background)
Sidney   Percussion
Jo Smith   Saxophone
Jacki Magee   Vocals (Background)
Martyn Ford Orchestra   Strings
Bobby Kimball   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jimmy Pankow   Trombone
Chuck Findley   Vocals (Background)
David Hungate   Bass
Phillip Ingram   Vocals (Background)
Mike McDonald   Vocals
Tom Kelly   Vocals (Background)
Gary Grant   Trumpet
Chris Trujillo   Percussion
Gary Herbig   Vocals (Background)
James Newton Howard   Conductor
Fred White   Vocals (Background),Vocals (Background)
Paulette Brown   Vocals (Background)
Rick Nelson   Vocals (Background)
Toto Horns   Vocals (Background)
Jenny Douglas McRea   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

David Paich   Group Member,Horn Arrangements,Orchestral Arrangements,Composer
Jeff Magid   Compilation Producer
Jeff Porcaro   Composer,Group Member
Lenny Castro   Group Member
Joseph M. Palmaccio   Mastering
Joseph Williams   Composer
Jerry Hey   Horn Arrangements
Marty Paich   Orchestral Arrangements
Steve Porcaro   Programming,Group Member
David Coleman   Design,Art Direction
Jaan Uhelszki   Liner Notes
Keely, Dennis   Photography
Toto   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Stan Lynch   Composer
Steve Lukather   Composer,Group Member
Bobby Kimball   Composer,Group Member
Bill Payne   Engineer,Producer
Fee Waybill   Composer
Elliot Scheiner   Engineer,Producer
David Hungate   Group Member
Mike Porcaro   Composer
Tom Knox   Producer
Simon Phillips   Composer
James Newton Howard   Orchestral Arrangements
Randy Goodrum   Composer
Tom Scott   Horn Arrangements
George Massenburg   Engineer,Producer
Dirk Schubert   Engineer
Jim Shea   Photography