Toto is one of those great musical collectives that people (hopefully unintentionally) tend to define by two hits from their most successful album â âRosannaâ and âAfrica.â Iâm putting it out there â Iâm not one of those people. While the bandâs latest compilation, 40 Trips Around The Sun, includes both songs, what makes me happiest is knowing that any hits are rounded out by several album cuts that had the power to become hits.
New tracks like âAloneâ and âSpanish Seaâ also boast the unchanging talents of members David Paich, Steve Lukather, Joseph Williams and Steve Porcaro. Itâs hard to believe 40 years has passed since the bandâs eponymous debut. At the same time, as this set reminds me, itâs hard to believe this band never had a âpowerhouseâ label attached to it.
I admit, Iâm a little biased. After all, Iâve owned five of their studio albums for more than 15 years. Remember, these are the same guys who made names for themselves backing up Boz Scaggs on Silk Degrees â they deserve to be heard. At the same time, there are so many other great Toto songs that deserved room on the final roster â âRockmaker,â âAll Us Boys,â âTurn Back,â âGift with a Golden Gunâ and âGood for Youâ included.
Have no fear, â99,â âHold the Line,â âI Wonât Hold You Backâ and âIâll Be Over Youâ are all here. What draws me instead to this album though are the inclusion of tracks like âAfraid of Love,â âIâll Supply the Love,â and one of my personal favorites, âStranger in Townâ (also the bandâs greatest music video, featuring Academy Award-nominated actor Brad Dourif).
And letâs not forget the bandâs greatest instrumental since âChildâs Anthem,â âJake to the Bone,â which has a mighty fusion edge as Lukather does his best Allan Holdsworth impressions. Though we laud Toto for their single successes, itâs important to realize one thing â the songs on 40 Trips Around The Sun are destined to help the band land on a future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee ballot.
~ Ira Kantor