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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"I hear the drums echoing tonight.", December 28, 2005
Toto has often taken a beating from critics, but they were Grammy darlings in the early 1980s. I started listening to pop music in 1982, and "Roseanna" was one of the first songs I truly loved. So, I'll always have a soft spot for Toto, even if their overly glossy pop sound sometimes comes across somewhat hollow today. The group was formed by established studio musicians, and they certainly knew how to make hits. They scored four Top Ten hits during their peak (1979-1983): Hold the Line, Roseanna, Africa, and I Won't Hold You Back. All of those songs are here, along with Top 40 hits such as 99, Georgy Porgy, I'll Be Over You, and Pamela.
Overall, "Past to Present 1977-1990" does a good job at highlighting the group's biggest and arguably most memorable songs. Unfortunately, Toto also decided to release four new songs on this CD, all by their new lead singer, Jean-Michel Byron. These new songs aren't bad and would sound at home on any earlier Toto record. However, none of them stand up to the hits and Byron sounds quite a bit like a Richard Marx clone. For fans wanting to focus only on the hits from Toto's prime line-up, you can do better with "Essential." Byron didn't even stick with the group for long, making him pretty non-essential in the band's history.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Toto has a better greatest hits album, April 26, 2000
I don't know if you are aware, but there is a better compilation of Toto (Toto's greatest hits) that is much more complete as this one, since it's on a double CD. You will lose the songs from Jean Michel Byron (bonus tracks from past to present), but is that so important ? (I don't like him, he imitates Michael Jackson); and what you win is "Stranger in town, If you belong to me, Holyanna, Don't chain my heart, gypsy train, straight for the heart..." , isn't it much better ?
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reasonable compilation of Toto, June 14, 2005
Another rock group whose big splash was in the 80's was Toto, who peaked at having their album Toto IV and single "Rosanna" winning Grammies for 1982. That worthy tune, which spent 5 weeks at #2, being kept from the top spot by first the Human League and then Survivor, sported the characteristic sizzle of Steve Lukather's rock guitar, smooth and soaring vocals by Bobby Kimball, and a horn section for additional flourish as well as some great keyboard work by David Paitch and Steve Porcaro. Oh, and Rosanna referred to Lukather's then-girlfriend, actress Rosanna Arquette. Two other hits from that album included the Top 5 "Africa" with its prominent synth keyboards and the #10 ballad "I Won't Hold You Back" with its orchestral backing.
They began with "Hold The Line" from their eponymous 1979 debut, a #5 hit and an introduction to their signature rock sound, specifically Lukather's guitar. "Georgy Porgy" veers more towards adult contemporary with its laid back but brisk morning pop aura, intercut with lines from the old nursery rhyme.
The video for the heartbreak song "I'll Be Over You" was my first exposure to Toto, though I had heard their music on David Lynch's adaptation of Dune. A line that rang true with me October 2004 was "as soon as my heart stops breaking/and disappears/as soon as forever is through/I'll be over you." This song along with "Rosanna" are my two favourite Toto songs here. Michael McDonald can be heard giving backing vocal assistance in the chorus. This single from their album Fahrenheit, features the debut of new lead singer Joseph Williams, son of John Williams of the Boston Pops.
For The Seventh One, Joseph Williams, son of John Williams of the Boston Pops, took the helm as lead singer. "Stop Loving You" combined some of elements of their earlier style, horns, electric guitarwork and was snazzy pop/rock. "Pamela," their last Top 40 hit (#22) lacked the oomph of their earlier singles. Rather, it has watered down elements of "99", the #28 song from their second album Hydra. It puzzles me that this did better than "Stop Loving You."
Of the four unreleased songs here, sung by Jean-Michel Byron "Love Has The Power" is the weakest, while "Animal" tries, but fails to bring back the glory of the old days. "Out Of Love" is a decent ballad, with that reminder "that fools never remember to fall out of love" while "Can You Hear What I'm Saying" isn't half bad.
Two years after the release of this compilation, drummer Jeff Porcaro died of a heart attack. While not a bad compilation, I still think the rocker "I'll Supply The Love" from their first album should've been included.
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is one of Toto's 
