Past to Present 1977-1990

Engineers include: James Guthrie, Al Schmitt, Tom Knox.
Recorded at Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, New York; Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, California; Sunset Sound, Studio 55, Villa Studios, Manor Studio, The Complex, Los Angeles, California from between 1977 and 1990.
Personnel: Steve Lukather (vocals, guitar); David Paich (vocals, keyboards); Jean-Michel Byron (vocals); Jeff Porcaro (drums, percussion).
Recording information: Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, NY (1977); Manor Studio, Los Angeles, CA (1977); Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, CA (1977); Studio 55, Los Angeles, CA (1977); Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA (1977); The Complex, Los Angeles, CA (1977); Villa Studios, Los Angeles, CA (1977); Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, NY (1982-1988); Manor Studio, Los Angeles, CA (1982-1988); Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, CA (1982-1988); Studio 55, Los Angeles, CA (1982-1988); Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA (1982-1988); The Complex, Los Angeles, CA (1982-1988); Villa Studios, Los Angeles, CA (1982-1988); Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, NY (1986); Manor Studio, Los Angeles, CA (1986); Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, CA (1986); Studio 55, Los Angeles, CA (1986); Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA (1986); The Complex, Los Angeles, CA (1986); Villa Studios, Los Angeles, CA (1986); Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, NY (1986-1988); Manor Studio, Los Angeles, CA (1986-1988); Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, CA (1986-1988); Studio 55, Los Angeles, CA (1986-1988); Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA (1986-1988); The Complex, Los Angeles, CA (1986-1988); Villa Studios, Los Angeles, CA (1986-1988); Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, NY (1990); Manor Studio, Los Angeles, CA (1990); Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, CA (1990); Studio 55, Los Angeles, CA (1990); Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA (1990); The Complex, Los Angeles, CA (1990); Villa Studios, Los Angeles, CA (1990).
Illustrator: Mark Ryden.
Toto's compilation is to be recommended in that it contains all four of the group's Top Ten hit singles -- "Hold the Line," "Rosanna," "Africa," and "I Won't Hold You Back." It also contains four more of Toto's 14 pop chart singles -- "Georgy Porgy," "99," "I'll Be Over You," and "Pamela." But that means it leaves out six chart entries, including the Top 40 hits "Make Believe," "Stranger in Town," and "Without Your Love." In their place are an album track from the most recent album, The Seventh One, and four newly recorded songs co-written and sung by the group's fourth lead vocalist, Jean-Michel Byron, who is more soulful than his predecessors, but no more memorable. As such, this is not the ideal Toto best-of and earns its "pick" designation over Toto IV only by virtue of its inclusion of the group's first hit, "Hold the Line." ~ William Ruhlmann