The Essential Toto

Toto: David Paich (vocals, Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizer); Bobby Kimball, Joe Williams (vocals); Steve Lukather (guitar, background vocals); Steve Porcaro (keyboards); David Hungate (bass); Jeff Porcaro (drums, percussion); Simon Phillips (drums).

Additional personnel: Tom Scott (saxophone); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Michael McDonald (background vocals).

Producers: Toto, Tom Knox, Bill Pyane, George Massenburg, Elliot Scheiner.

Compilation producer: Jeff Magid.

Recorded between 1978 & 1998. Includes liner notes by Jaan Uhelszki.

Formed in the late 1970s by a group of Los Angeles session musicians (including keyboardist/vocalist David Paich, guitarist/vocalist Steve Lukather, and lead vocalist Bobby Kimball), Toto turned the ensemble's collective industry experiences into meticulously crafted pop-tinged rock. Although the band achieved only a handful of hits--most notably the urgent "Hold the Line," the lightly funky "Rosanna," and the soaring "Africa"--they proved to be massive singles. This well-selected 2003 compilation is frontloaded with those radio staples, and also presents standout tracks from other Toto albums, while wisely avoiding songs from maligned records such as TURN BACK and ISOLATION. The result is a disc that perfectly lives up to its name, making it ideal for casual fans of the long-running band.