Kingdom of Desire [Import]

Toto | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000025OG6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,190 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Gypsy Train

2. Don't Chain My Heart

3. Never Enough

4. How Many Times

5. Hearts

6. Wing Of Time

7. She Knows The Devil

8. Other Side

9. Only You

10. Knigdom Of Desire

11. Jake To The Bone

Editorial Reviews

titolokingdom of desireartistatoto etichettacolumbian. dischi1data5 aprile 1995supportocd audiogenerepop e rock internazionalehard rock e metal----brani1.gypsy trainascolta2.don't chain my heartascolta3.never enoughascolta4.how many timesascolta5.2 hearts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Toto Gem!!, September 28, 2003

By 

Louie Bourland (Garden Grove CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kingdom of Desire (Audio CD)

"Kingdom of Desire" is a lost treasure in Toto's large body of work. Released in Europe in 1992 and in the U.S. one year later, this album was only in print for a relatively short period of time. This is rather unfortunate because "Kingdom of Desire" is quite a strong effort and shows an edgier side to the band that's not always present in their other works.
After a short-lived disastrous stint with South African singer Jean-Michel Byron as their front man, Toto temporarily disposed of having a lead vocalist and carried on as a solid four-piece group consisting of drummer Jeff Porcaro, his brother Mike on bass, keyboardist David Paich and guitarist Steve Lukather who handles all the lead vocals on this album. The absence of a front man brings out more of Toto's solid musicianship and extended instrumental passages (only two of the album's 12 tracks are under five minutes with the rest being between 5 and 7 minutes long). Lukather's guitar work is at its best here and he proves to be no slouch as a vocalist singing both the ballads and the rockers.
Standout tracks includes the metal-rocker "Gypsy Train", "Never Enough", "Two Hearts", "Wings Of Time", "The Other Side" and the instrumental "Jake To The Bone" which combines elements of jazz, improvisation and odd-progressive rock time signatures. This is a showcase for drummer Jeff Porcaro's precision-based playing and David Paich's dexterous keyboard work.
Although it is out-of-print, "Kingdom of Desire" is worth searching for especially if you're a Toto fan. This album has personally grown on me since I first heard it 10 years ago. I used to think that this was the band's worst album. Not so anymore. There really isn't anything on this album that sounds like "Rosanna", "Hold The Line" or "Africa" however, the tight musicianship and solid group playing is extraordinary.
Sadly, "Kingdom Of Desire" wound up being Jeff Porcaro's final album with Toto. In the summer of 1992, Jeff died of a chemically-induced heart attack. He is still missed by many but his drumming as well as his band live on. This final album includes what is arguably his best drumming - another reason to seek out this album.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, if you can find it., April 24, 2003

By 

"carryonwaywardson" (Salt Lake City, Utah United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kingdom of Desire (Audio CD)

If you're like 98% of the people reading this review, you probably weren't even aware this album existed. That's too bad, because "Kingdom of Desire" is one of Toto's better efforts. The band finds redemption on this disc after the disastrous new Jean-Michel Byron material on "Past to Present". Unfortunately, "Kingdom of Desire" is extremely difficult to find.

It's important to note that this is not the Toto most casual fans are used to. This album sounds almost nothing like "Toto IV", "The Seventh One", or "Mindfields." This disc shows Toto rocking at their hardest, with even the inevitable 'love gone wrong' ballads having a distinct edge. Think "Toto" or "Isolation" with a late eighties or early nineties hard rock sound, or a harder version of "Tambu", and you're not too far off. It's not grunge or alternative--the members of Toto are all very capable, highly trained musicians, so this album will never be mistaken for Nirvana or others of that ilk. Think of it as hard rock performed by people who can really play their instruments.

Steve Lukather, in addition to his accustomed role as the band's guitarist, also handles the lead vocals. And yes, he can sing more than the above-mentioned ballads. David Paich plays keyboards with his usual skill, though this is primarily a 'drum and guitar' album. Drums are provided by the late Jeff Porcaro; this is the band's last studio album before his death. Mike Porcaro plays bass, as he has since "Isolation".

Several of the songs on the album stand out to me. The experience starts with "Gypsy Train", a rocker in the `hair band' vein with a Lukather guitar solo reminiscent of Ted Nugent. "Don't Chain My Heart" is an infectious, energetic little groove powered by shuffle rhythms provided by the Porcaro brothers. "Never Enough" is a scathing criticism of materialistic attitudes, while "2 Hearts" is a power ballad better than many that sold millions of copies for the band. "Kingdom of Desire" is a seven-minute atmosphere piece, for lack of a better term, and is probably the strongest song on the disc. The collection ends with "Jake to the Bone", an extended instrumental that may have you thinking of "Dave's Gone Skiing" from the following album. The rest of the disc is expertly played as well, even if the songs didn't stand out to me as much.

All in all, this is a very solid effort from the band, and exactly what they needed after the Byron experiment went wrong. It's unfortunate that this album is not readily available, but if you can find it, it's worth having. And no, you can't have mine.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MONSTROUS!, April 24, 2006

By 

Theresa L. Blackwell "RaincloudMusic" (Richton, MS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kingdom of Desire (Audio CD)

I read an interview with Luke somewhere online, and his description of "Gypsy Train" is, "...that first track is second-line meets Zeppelin".

For someone who grew up listening to these guys; when I first heard "Kingdom of Desire", I was stunned. My first thought when those opening notes from Jeff's floor tom hit the speakers was, "WHOA......!" My next thought, "Grab something and hang on; this is going to be a wild and crazy ride."

I knew that the musicianship was going to be top shelf; as these guys grew up in the L.A. session scene during the early 70's and through the 80's. Of all the players here, Porcaro, it seems, somehow, shone brightest.

Lukather's vocals on every track are impressive. At that point, there were four guys: Paich, Porcaro, Porcaro, and Lukather. Somebody had to step up. Gone were Kimball, Williams, and Frederickson. That left Lukather to do the lion's share.

And instead of flinching; he just DID it, and it cooked.

For "Gypsy Train", they recruited Jon Elefante (Word/Epic, at the time). Great background vocals also show up here from Richard Page (Mr. Mister).

But it's the take-no-prisoners playing that turned my head. As a musician; I'm always looking for new inspiration. This album

had to grow on me; but once it did---there was no looking back.

This was Paich heavy handed; Luke burnin' the house down, and then there was that magical, drop-the-hammer combination of Porcaro (Jeff) and Porcaro (Mike) that created the deepest pocket I'd ever heard from those two upto that point.

The drum track on "Gypsy Train": churning.

Steady as a Rock on "Don't Chain My Heart"

Jeff is even granted a place at Keith Cronin's website ("Drum Licks from Hell") for the beastly fill at 4:06 into "How Many Times?". THAT fill alone, proves that yes, Jeffrey did possess mad chops; though he'd have spoken otherwise. (He always differed to his heroes; Keltner...Purdie...Gordon).

Porcaro had found a harder edge to his playing, yet even on the ballads, he's still just Jeff. Solid, groovin'...remaining musical the entire time. As I write this; I'm listening, and there are tracks where he never lets up on Paiste's Signature Series 13" hi-hats. He worked those over. The same applies to the Gretsch kit he was behind. Yes; he played Pearl in live settings, and designed the DR-1 drum rack with Paul Jamieson--for Pearl--but those are Gretsch drums possibly on "K.O.D"

It wouldn't have mattered. They'd have taken a beating regardless.

And then to hear the last tune on the album: "Jake to the Bone"--and to realize that Jeffrey possessed very tasteful Jazz chops as well, was just the icing on the cake. That whole band slam-dunked that last track! As far as I am concerned, this tops "IV" as my favorite TOTO album, with "Falling In Between (2006) a close 2nd behind "K.O.D."

It's all about that pocket; and just how deep Mike and Jeff carved it for the rest of them to fall into.

Only God knows what we'd be hearing now from Jeff had he lived to see today. It is appropriate enough, to note that he picked out the album cover art for Kingdom of Desire; right down to the Angel pictured above the "in Memory of Jeff Porcaro" line on the back cover. (They had just enough time before the record hit shelves to note that line on the reverse).

Sure, this album may not appeal to all TOTO listeners, but there is so much musicality even in this hard-rocking, barn-burner. It's not one to overlook. Those who haven't heard this; should. What the critics hated; was that TOTO was POLISHED; slick...."too good" musically. The thing is that these cats ALL knew the instruments they played, and PLAYED like there was no tomorrow. They still do; even with the addition of Simon Phillips. He, being different from Jeff, is going to add a new sound.

But for some of us; it's difficult-when the music is this good--(Kingdom of Desire) to break away from what we've heard before.

This album shows and entirely different side of TOTO not seen previously; it showed that they could stretch...and grow; instead of stagnating. It also shows that a careful listen will stretch the listener's ear; and brain.

Some of this stuff is MIND bending.

Brilliantly played "time" and "groove" from some of the best guys out there. Get it! ;)