What Makes This Song Great (Toto Content)

[DWBass]

Wonderful music, wonderful arrangements, too bad their heyday was also the Era of Big Hair. Seriously, my only complaint is that I wish they'd hired Fagan and Becker to write lyrics for them. "Pamela Don't break this heart of mine" doesn't do much for me.

Funny! I didn't 'get them' back then. I was (still am) into funk and R&B. Found a greatest hits in a bargain bin and said what the heck. Took a chance to really listen to the music and voices. Great stuff. I don't mind the 'lyrics'. I just sing the words. Now I don't like all their stuff but they do have some great tunes. Some classic.

By the way, Becker and Fagan aren't known for lyrics that make sense.

 

[songwriter21]

I suppose I'm old fashioned, but I miss Mike Porcaro...dude was so smooth in his playing, and his attitude was infectious.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

By the way, Becker and Fagan aren't known for lyrics that make sense.

You say that like it's a bad thing!

 

[txdahaley]

My favorite Toto album was 1978s "From The Inside", but that singer was kinda rough.

 

[Guitarodeo]

I really never appreciated how great that rhythm section was at the time. They really were a super talented group, and I'd feel really lucky to tour and record with musicians of that caliber.

 

[LBS-bass]

There were a few other bands kind of like that at the time (Journey comes to mind, the Eagles a bit earlier), but these days very few bands that have so much vocal horsepower.

And that's a shame. It's really hard to find people in music these days who can even hear a harmony, much less sing one.

 

[azureblue]

When I listen to the drums and percs I can hear a pretty clear go-go influence. Maybe it was just coincidence. Definitely falls into the "they don't make 'em like this anymore" category.

Go Go? Man, the song is a straight up rip off of a New Orleans groove. The drum part came right off of Johnny Vidacovich, the piano right off of professor Longhair / Dr. John. The give away is the jam at the end...

 

[Altitude]

Wonderful music, wonderful arrangements, too bad their heyday was also the Era of Big Hair. Seriously, my only complaint is that I wish they'd hired Fagan and Becker to write lyrics for them. "Pamela Don't break this heart of mine" doesn't do much for me.

At risk of hijacking my own thread - this is what I think also every time I hear Incognito. Great band, sophomoric songs. Jamiroquai, for being more or less the same recipe, is several levels superior. To my ears.

 

[2tonic]

.......I love the earlier 'Georgy Porgy' (the chord changes kill me . . . . ) and the huge propulsion of Jeff and Mike P on 'Pamela' is like watching the engine room on a large ship. God Rest their souls.

Umm...er......are you sure Jeff and Mike's huge propulsion is the only thing you like about that video??

Just asking for a friend...........

 

[lermgalieu]

The premise is the problem. It's not a great song (to me); I've hated it since the first time I ever heard it, and Weezer has renewed my hatred for it.

 

[bass12]

Go Go? Man, the song is a straight up rip off of a New Orleans groove. The drum part came right off of Johnny Vidacovich, the piano right off of professor Longhair / Dr. John. The give away is the jam at the end...

You're not hearing what I'm talking about? Maybe it's just me.

 

[2tonic]

You're not hearing what I'm talking about? Maybe it's just me.

You're alright......I hear it.
Perhaps your terminology is unfamiliar.

 

[JimK]

Hired killers in a band named after a little dog...

They're not named after the little dog...

 

[JimK]

Funny! I didn't 'get them' back then. I was (still am) into funk and R&B.

Hey, DW...the Toto guys played on a lot of those late '70s/'80s R&B albums/hits.
1983, Steve Lukather-Bill Champlin (in Chicago at this time)-Jay Graydon (guitar sessioneer; played the solo on "Peg") won a Grammy for Best R&B song. George Benson's "Turn Your Love Around".
"Human Nature" is a very nice Steve Porcaro tune.

Another time, the guys in Toto won Producer Of The Year (IIRC, for Toto IV).
Quincy Jones was up for it, David Foster, too.
Lukather sez this really chapped Foster's behind.
Quincy was OK with it.



Check out Lukather's book...there's a discography in the back. It is overwhelming he played on so much stuff!

 

[DWBass]

My little tribute to Toto I did a couple years ago. Should have been done on my 5 string though.

 

[JimK]

My little tribute to Toto I did a couple years ago. Should have been done on my 5 string though.

Cool!
Check out the outro on "99"...
~4:45 in, Hungate gets melodic.

 

[LBS-bass]

The premise is the problem. It's not a great song (to me); I've hated it since the first time I ever heard it, and Weezer has renewed my hatred for it.

Did Weezer cover this one too?

 

[LBS-bass]

You're alright......I hear it.
Perhaps your terminology is unfamiliar.

There are a lot of people not from DC who don't know what Go Go is.

 

[lermgalieu]

Did Weezer cover this one too?

No, lol, my response is about Africa, because I hate the song so much that my eyes read "Africa" when the OP clearly says "Rosanna." That said, I also hate Rosanna, passionately, but to my knowledge Weezer did not cover it. To clarify, the musicianship is clear, singing well executed etc. I just think both songs are LAME. And before anyone says "let's see you try to write a song half as good" - I acknowledge I can't (although even if I could, I wouldn't, I would write a song that was actually good). YMMV

 

[LBS-bass]

No, lol, my response is about Africa, because I hate the song so much that my eyes read "Africa" when the OP clearly says "Rosanna." That said, I also hate Rosanna, passionately, but to my knowledge Weezer did not cover it. To clarify, the musicianship is clear, singing well executed etc. I just think both songs are LAME. And before anyone says "let's see you try to write a song half as good" - I acknowledge I can't (although even if I could, I wouldn't, I would write a song that was actually good). YMMV

I hear ya. I didn't like this band when they were in the charts because it all seemed too vanilla and over produced for me, and I don't like soft rock very much. That said, I have come to respect the abilities that all these players brought to the table, even if I didn't much like the genre.