Past To Present 1977-1990 - Toto > Reviews > A first but not ultimate best of...

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Fantastic if you want to sample TOTO's music
Disadvantages:	The Byron songs .  .  .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

As everyone probably knows now, I am a great fan of the American band called TOTO. They are not very popular in England, but their more than 25 years on the musical scene has made them one of the greatest bands on Earth (honestly do you really think Britney will still be around entertaining her fans in 25 years?). Not that I am biased, but they have released some very famous songs, like Rosanna and Africa, have always been satisfying fans all over the world, from the US to Japan with loads of album releases and concert tours, and they don't just come and go like other very popular - but too fashionable - artists.

This first Best Of album was released in 1990. TOTO had already been known for 13 years, and the songs were picked from the first seven albums released by TOTO since they started.
By then, TOTO had already had three main lead singers. The first one, Bobby Kimball, featured on the first four albums. He then left the band, and they chose Freddie Fredriksen to replace him. Freddie only did one album, and then the band got Joseph Williams to sing most of their songs.
But already you can see the variety that those three singers have brought to TOTO's music. Unfortunately on this album there are no songs from the Isolation album, the one featuring Freddie, but it's a shame as among TOTO's fans this album is much appreciated. So on this Best Of album, the only two voices you experience are those of Bobby and Joseph, with the exception of a couple of songs sung by David Paich, who plays the keyboars/piano for the band, and Steve Lukather, their main guitarist. Oh and I forgot Jean-Michel Byron's voice, but I will leave that for later.

This Past to Present album is probably one of the best albums you can listen to if you want to discover TOTO. For us fans, there are a lot more songs that we absolutely love and that could have made it on this album, but at least people that don't know TOTO can sample the variety and diversity of their music. I discovered TOTO through one of their Best Ofs (a later one, not released in the UK to my knowledge), and I literally fell in love with the band... Sadly really, TOTO is all I listen to... But I never get fed up of their songs.

I will not comment this album songs by songs as it is a Best Of album, but if you want to know more do have a look at my reviews for other TOTO albums - I have done a few and there are some more to come.

On this album, you can find their most famous songs. I expect even if you didn't really pay attention you have all heard of "Rosanna" and "Africa", as they are two of TOTO's biggest hits.
You can listen to other ballads as well, such as the superb "I Won't Hold You Back" (you probably have heard the computer-engineered remix of this song - "If I had another chance tonight/ I'd try to tell you that the things we had were right"). Also worth hearing is the lovely "I'll Be Over You" sung by Joe Williams. Another pretty ballad is Steve's "99". I love the lyrics of those songs, they always create so many emotions inside me!
On this album there are also some more upbeat love songs, like "Pamela" and "Stop Loving You". Joseph Williams' voice is absolutely magical, and compliments the instruments so well... Fans of Disney cartoons probably know of Joseph for his works on The Lion King original soundtrack. Indeed, all the members of TOTO participate in other things, they worked with giants like Bruce Sprinsteen and Elton John, and I am sure that if you look in their discography on the toto9.com website you' ll find that a member of TOTO has probably worked with your favourite artist either as a musician or vocal or as adviser. Obviously if you are fan of 18th century classical music there's no point in looking... ;o)
Finally, if you listen to this album, you'll probably get lifted up by the phenomenal "Hold the Line", and the more groovy "Georgy Porgy", both from the first TOTO album ever made.

Now is time to come to the Byron songs...
At that time in the band's life, their last lead singer, Joseph Williams, had left the band. A world tour was on the way, and they had to find him a successor, someone to replace him especially in concerts. So the record company imposed Jean-Michel Byron to the band. They just had no choice. Personally I think it was probably better than nothing, but as many other TOTO fans, I am really not keen on him at all. I don't like his looks (his effeminate body shape and his long hair don't really pair with the band), and I don't really like his voice. The four songs that he will ever release with the band are on this album: "Love Has The Power", "Can You Hear What I'm Saying", "Animal", and the only one that's worth mentioning in my opinion (only because Steve makes it sound so perfect when he sings it instead of Byron) is the ballad "Out of Love".

Over all, I think this album is a good one for someone to get introduced to TOTO. It shows a bit of the variety of styles played by TOTO (which ranges from bluesy-type to reggae-y-types through ballads and more progressive-rock songs), and you can experience the magic of the lyrics as well as the stunning instrumentals.

I cannot say that this Best Of album says it all, as TOTO gave us a lot more surprises afterwards. Indeed, after this album, they ditched Byron, and Steve Lukather became the main lead singer for a couple of albums, before the come back of Bobby Kimball and the release of another couple of albums. For 15 years after the release of "Past To Present" TOTO kept entertaining their fans, and be up to all of our expectations. Their love for music is so that even when Jeff Porcaro, their drummer (and the best of all) died in 1992 they kept on going just for us (and thanks to their fantastic new drummer Simon Phillips). And there is so much more to come... Another album entitled "Falling In Between" is out in February next year, and another world tour is on the way... !!

Extra note: the album is available from the main CD selling websites, and retails as little as a fiver. Inside the booklet you get loads of photos, and even a mini-story of TOTO in the special edition (at least in France)
A Best Of version of the video clips released by TOTO is available (same title) well worth it... Nothing more enjoyable than seeing wonderful musicians and singers at work on their video clips !

About my comments on the originality - can't say this album is very original as it is a Best Of