Toto IV

''Toto IV'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band Toto released in the spring of 1982 by Columbia Records.

The lead single, " Rosanna", peaked at number 2 for five weeks on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 charts, while the album's third single, "Africa", topping the Hot 100 chart, became the group's first and only number 1 hit. Toto USA chart history Billboard.com. Retrieved September 10, 2011. Both songs were hits in the UK as well, reaching number 12 and 3, respectively.Toto UK chart history
, The Official Charts. Retrieved September 10, 2011. The fourth single, "I Won't Hold You Back", also peaked within the top ten on the Hot 100, at number 10, but atop the '' Billboard'' Adult Contemporary charts for three weeks. It also went into the top 40 in the UK. With the success of "Africa", the album climbed back into the top 10 in early 1983 on both sides of the Atlantic.

''Toto IV'' received six Grammy Awards in 1983 including Album of the Year, Producer of the Year for the band, and Record of the Year for "Rosanna". It reached number four on the ''Billboard'' 200 album charts in the United States, shortly after its release. It also reached the top ten in other countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Japan. It was also the last Toto album to feature their original bassist David Hungate until his return in 2014 (with the release of their 2015 album ''Toto XIV'') when he was replaced by Mike Porcaro after the band’s recording of the album, and also the final album to feature original lead vocalist Bobby Kimball until his comeback in 1998 (with the release of the 1999 album ''Mindfields'').

Background

After the success of their self-titled debut, Toto struggled to sustain success on their next two albums, '' Hydra'' and '' Turn Back''. The band was under heavy pressure from Columbia Records to deliver a hit album with their next release or be at risk of being dropped from the label.

The band went back to the formula that helped them succeed on their first album, having an album that touched on many different genres of music. They also utilized many outside musicians to help give the sound a more polished, fuller feel than they had on past albums.

This was the final album with the original Toto lineup. David Hungate, who moved to Nashville during the recording of the album, left the band to spend more time with his family. Two years later, prior to beginning recording of their follow-up album, Bobby Kimball was fired by the band due to drug issues that were damaging his voice.

The band delayed touring after the release of the album to instead help in the production of Michael Jackson's ''Thriller'' album, as well as collaborating on Chicago's comeback album ''Chicago 16'' that same year.

Production

The recording took many months during 1981 and 1982 and the band was allowed a much larger than average recording budget. At a time when most bands were using a single 24-track recorder Toto used as many as 3 separate 24-track recorders at the same time.Classic Tracks: Toto's "Africa"
Mix Online. Retrieved June 30, 2015.

The 24-track recorders were linked with a computerized SMPTE timecode system. One track of each machine contained the time code synchronization signal while the remaining 23 tracks of each machine were available to record sound. It should also be noted though that a significant number of these tracks were copied and mixed down from musical parts already recorded on another synchronized reel of tape. This was done to reduce the amount of wear on the first generation tapes. It also helped to maintain high quality sound during the extensive overdubbing and mixing process.

Cover art

Philip Garris's original emblem from the ''Toto'' album was updated to show four rings since this was their fourth album. The newer looking, well-polished ring around the hilt of the sword represented their latest work. Each successive ring showed a little more wear and a few more chips which represented the band's previous records.

Track listing

Personnel

Adapted from album's liner notes.

Toto
* Bobby Kimball – lead vocals , backing vocals
* Steve Lukather – guitars, lead vocals , backing vocals , acoustic piano
* David Paich – keyboards, backing vocals , horn arrangements , orchestral arrangements , lead vocals
* Steve Porcaro – keyboards, lead vocals
* David Hungate – bass guitar
* Jeff Porcaro – drums, percussion

Additional personnel
* Roger Linn – synthesizer programming
* Ralph Dyck – synthesizers
* Lenny Castro – congas and percussion
* Joe Porcaro – percussion , xylophone , timpani , marimba
* Jim Horn – saxophone , recorders
* Tom Scott – saxophone
* Jon Smith – saxophone
* Jimmy Pankow – trombone
* Gary Grant – trumpet
* Jerry Hey – trumpet and horn arrangements
* James Newton Howard – orchestral arrangements and conductor
* Marty Paich – orchestral arrangements
* The Martyn Ford Orchestra – strings
* Mike Porcaro – cello
* Tom Kelly – backing vocals
* Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals

Production

* Produced by Toto
* Engineers – Dick Gall, Bruce Heigh, Tom Knox, Greg Ladanyi, David Paich, Steve Porcaro and Al Schmitt.
* Tracks recorded by Al Schmitt , Tom Knox and Greg Ladanyi .
* Strings recorded by John Kurlander
* Additional recording by Niko Bolas, Terry Christian, Jamie Ledner, Lon LeMaster, David Leonard and Peggy McCreary.
* Mixed by Greg Ladanyi and Elliot Scheiner
* Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York ).
* Photography – Glen Christiensen, Sam Emerson and Jim Hagopian.
* Illustration – Joe Spencer
* Album package concept – Steve Porcaro

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

References

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Toto (band) albums
1982 albums
Grammy Award for Album of the Year
Albums arranged by Marty Paich
Columbia Records albums
Albums recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders
Albums recorded at United Western Recorders
Albums recorded in a home studio
Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical