Composed entirely of seasoned studio musicians, Toto seemed to come out of nowhere. They did not get known first on the club circuit as nearly all bands do prior to being signed by a label. Their reputations in the studio were enough. For example, Paich, Hungate and Jeff Porcaro wrote songs for and performed on Boz Scaggs' album Silk Degrees.
Toto released their debut album Toto in October 1978, selling two million copies based on their top ten hit Hold the Line. The next two albums Hydra and Turn Back had little success, but Toto IV (released in 1982) featured the number one hit Africa as well as the top ten single Rosanna. Toto IV went multi-platinum and earned several Grammy Awards including 1983 Album of the Year and Record of the Year (for "Rosanna").
Their only film work to date was for the 1984 David Lynch science fiction film Dune. In addition to their own score, they also recorded the Prophecy Theme, composed by Brian Eno.
After the release of Toto IV, Mike Porcaro (brother to Jeff and Steve), joined the group on bass, replacing Hungate. In 1984, Bobby Kimball left the group after being arrested for selling cocaine and was replaced by Dennis Frederiksen aka Fergie Frederiksen, who was replaced not long after by Joseph Williams.
Steve Porcaro left the band in 1988, however, he still contributes as a sideman.
In 1990, Jean-Michel Byron replaced Williams for the new recordings on Past to Present 1977-1990, then left with Lukather becoming the group's lead singer.
On August 5, 1992, Jeff Porcaro died of a heart attack, days after completing work on Kingdom of Desire. The group considered disbanding, before adding British drummer Simon Phillips for the subsequent tour. In the years since Porcaro's death, Lukather has seemingly succeeded Paich as the band's de facto leader.
In 1999, Bobby Kimball returned to the lineup after a 15-year absence.
Greg Phillinganes joined the lineup in 2004 to fill in for David Paich during a tour, then officially joined Toto in 2005.
After a period of rumours and some allusions, on June 5th, 2008 Steve Lukather made an official announcement on his website stevelukather.net, stating: "The fact is yes I have left Toto. There is no more Toto." Lukather further stated that after 31 years of recording, producing and playing with Toto without even missing one single gig, he couldn't do it anymore: "I just can't do it anymore and at 50 years old I wanted to start over and give it one last try on my own." With Lukather being the only original member left in the band (Bobby Kimball was also an original member, but was out of the band from 1984-1998) there was no other option than to call it quits. As the main motivation for his decision, Lukather said: "When Dave retired that was REAL hard for me 'cause we started the band together. Hell, it's 35 years if you count High School where the core all met. When Mike fell ill and had to leave that was it for me. If there isn't Paich or at least one Porcaro how can we even call it Toto?" Luke also stated: "Honestly, I have just had enough. This is NOT a break. It is over. I really can't go out and play Hold The Line with a straight face anymore." The break-up of Toto after 31 years received mixed reactions from the fans, but in general the decision was understood and many agreed with Lukather's reasons to quit the band.
On April 5th, 2008, Toto played what would be their last show ever, in Seoul, Korea, as a part of their Falling In Between Live tour. This left lots of fans without a real farewell tour.
On February 26th, 2010, Steve Lukather announced on his Twitter-account that Toto are reforming for a brief tour in Europe in the summer of 2010 to honor bass player Mike Porcaro, who's suffering from ALS syndrome. Line-up will include David Paich, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Simon Phillips, Joseph Williams and Nathan East.
Toto released their fourteenth studio album and their first in nine years titled Toto XIV on March 20 (Europe), March 23 (UK and Oceania), and March 24, 2015 (North America). To promote the newly finished project, the band started a world tour running with an extensive European headline arena tour including appearances at key festivals, along with a North American tour to follow in the summer of 2015 and Asia later that year.[43][44]
On March 15, 2015, former bassist Mike Porcaro died, due to complications from his battle with ALS, in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles.[45]
On 6 April 2015, Toto announced that they would embark on 7 August 2015 in Mashantucket, Connecticut with veteran progressive band Yes on a joint summer tour of North America due to end on 12 September 2015 in Coquitlam, British Columbia.[46][47][48] Shannon Forrest has continued to perform as the band's drummer.
On 29 September 2015, Toto announced the first leg of their 2016 Tour in support of Toto XIV consisting of European and Japanese dates. Leland Sklar, who joined them on their 2007 and 2008 tours, replaced founding member Hungate.[49] Sklar left Toto in early 2017 and was replaced by Shem von Schroeck.
Toto will release their anniversary album "40 Trips Around The Sun" on February 9, 2018. Then, they'll embark on their world tour promoting their album and celebrating 40 years of music.
The original lineup (1978)
* David Paich - vocals and keyboards
* Steve Lukather - guitar and vocals
* Bobby Kimball - vocals
* Steve Porcaro - keyboards
* David Hungate - bass
* Jeff Porcaro - drums
The last lineup (2017)
* David Paich - vocals and keyboards
* Steve Lukather - guitar and vocals
* Joseph Williams - vocals
* Steve Porcaro - vocals and keyboards
Angel Don't Cry
Toto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You weaved your spell on me
I was taken by the look in your eyes
For all the wrong reasons
You must have been a spiteful child
Full of anger
Raised by the hand of a duchess, a mother and a heathen
Your neck was sweetly laced with a scent I did not mind
I can't lie
I can't lie
I can't lie
Angel don't cry
Angel don't cry
Queen of darkness
You got your way with me
You caressed ev'ry part of me soul
You got what you were after
A savage and an angel
You innocently hunger for love
Still shivering from the coldness of you laughter
You laid your tender trap of crystals and wine
Your neck was sweetly laced with a scent I did not mind
I can't lie
I can't lie
I can't lie
Angel don't cry
Angel don't cry
No, angel don't cry
Angel don't cry
No, no, no
The lyrics to Toto's song Angel Don't Cry are intriguing and confessional in nature. The singer describes being seduced by an "uncanny woman" who wove a spell on him with her eyes. Even though he was aware that he was taken for "all the wrong reasons," he couldn't resist her tender trap of "crystals and wine." He reflects on her upbringing, suggesting that she was raised by a "duchess, a mother, and a heathen," which may have contributed to her spiteful nature. Despite being both "savage" and "angelic," she "hungered innocently for love" while the singer was still shivering from the coldness of her laughter.
The theme of seduction and danger runs throughout the song when the singer describes being entrapped by the woman's "tender trap of crystals and wine." He is unable to resist her, and although her neck was sweetly laced with a scent that he did not mind, he admits that he was taken for "all the wrong reasons." The lines "you innocently hunger for love, still shivering from the coldness of your laughter" depict the woman as someone who may have been hurt before, causing her to put up a tough exterior. The chorus "I can't lie, angel don't cry" suggests that he now realizes that his indiscretion was a mistake that he regrets deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
Uncanny woman
A woman with an unusual or mysterious quality
You weaved your spell on me
You enchanted me with your charm or magic
I was taken by the look in your eyes
I was captivated by the expression or emotion you conveyed through your eyes
For all the wrong reasons
Despite knowing that it was not good for me, I was drawn to you
You must have been a spiteful child
You may have grown up with a mean or vengeful attitude
Full of anger
Possessing a great deal of resentment, rage or fury
Raised by the hand of a duchess, a mother and a heathen
You were brought up by various women, one of whom was a noblewoman while another may have had no religious beliefs
You laid your tender trap of crystals and wine
You set a delicate but clever snare for me using luxury items and alcohol
Your neck was sweetly laced with a scent I did not mind
You wore a fragrance that I found alluring and pleasing
I can't lie
I am incapable of deceiving or lying to you
Angel don't cry
Please don't shed tears, angel
Queen of darkness
A woman who rules over a domain marked by mystery, danger or sinister forces
You got your way with me
You had complete control or power over me
You caressed every part of my soul
You touched or affected every aspect of my being including my innermost thoughts and emotions
You got what you were after
You successfully obtained what you desired
A savage and an angel
A person with both violent and kind qualities
You innocently hunger for love
You crave affection or tenderness in a pure or genuine way, despite any negative traits you may have exhibited
Still shivering from the coldness of your laughter
I am still affected by the cruelty or lack of compassion demonstrated by your expression of amusement
No, angel don't cry
Please refrain from crying, angel
No, no, no
Emphatic repetition of the previous request
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID PAICH, FERGIE FREDERIKSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@peevee605
The Way Jeff Porcaro leans into his groove and fills.....he’s still Master Of The Groove. Unsurpassed. RIP.
@andreaboys
Jeff un maestro en la bateria
No sabia de este vocalista pero se ve que era un grande..
Espectacular cancion..quizas poco conocida..
@nickavenoso7851
@@andreaboys Bobby Kimball was fired due to drug abuse. They auditioned many singers, but Jeff wanted to try Fergie (the singer in this video) from LeRoux (the band he was in that time) and they hired him. He had stage fright problems, problems recording in the studio and drugs (from what I’ve heard). He was ultimately fired in early 1986 and then hired Joseph Williams as their new lead singer. Fergie’s backing vocals can be heard on the song “Could This Be Love” from the Fahrenheit album.
@mrpinch1
Yep 👍
@waterbabe759
❤❤💯
@mohammedmiqdadi4265
Amazing how this band can play any style that suits lead vocalist and come up with a masterpiece every time
@leonardschoenborn9209
The vocals in this song are some of the most dynamic of any song Toto has ever done. Absolutely GREAT songwriting and a vocalist with
the vocal power, range and talent to make it happen. I can't think of another vocalist out there that could have done it as well. This is one
of my all-time favorite songs from Toto, but one of the many that made Toto a legendary band.
@ralphflores4422
Damn! What a voice!!!
@davidyork2775
Love Fergie Frederiksen's range in this song. May not have been their best selling album, but one of my personal Toto favorites.
@Slamazzar
I listened to their whole discography and this is indeed one of their best albums (the stand-outs being 'Stranger in Town' and 'Endless'). And their absolutely highest-pitched singer!