Turn on the radio anywhere in the world, and sooner or later you will hear 'Africa'. Along with just a handful of songs by other artists, Toto's worldwide hit is one of the most ubiquitous musical works of our time, written by a group of musicians who grew up together in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. Together they helped define the sound of the late 70s and 80s, appearing on numerous hit records by Michael Jackson, Boz Scaggs and SteelyDan. But it was as Toto, that they found their true form, fashioning a fine blend of funk, hard rock, pop and progressive rock. 'Hold the Line', 'Rosanna' and 'Pamela' are just a few of their other major hits. However, from the early days, Toto were a target for the music press, who disdained their slick chops and polished sound. Yet the band have always persevered, driven by their love for the music and their fans' love for them. Still led by founder Steve Lukather, Toto have been riding a renewed wave of popularity, fuelled by hard touring, not to mention a belated restitution from the rock media. Much revised and expanded, this book discusses each of their albums in detail, track by track, from their smash-hit debut to 2015's magnificent Toto XIV. AUTHOR: Jacob Holm-Lupo is a musician and journalist from Norway. He has written extensively about progressive rock, hard rock and AOR, including Blue Öyster Cult On Track for Sonicbond, published in 2019. With his own bands White Willow and The Opium Cartel, he has released ten albums, and he runs a recording and mixing studio. He is also active on the Classic Album Sunday circuit, where he has, among other things, covered Toto IV and The Seventh One. He lives on an island with his wife and two children.
