With this album the gentlemen Paich, PORCARO, LUKATHER, KIMBALL, PORCARO and Hungate made the breakthrough from rock stars to absolute pop stars. Following this, there was (apart from all the awards) no star who refused to be refining the musical involvement of a TOTO-member, his album. Why will already from the opening bars to clear the outstanding casual Played Shuffle to "ROSANNA" by Jeff Porcaro drives today (more than 20 years after the recordings) drummers worldwide tears of emotion in his eyes. Beautiful can not grooving drums. Alone so that Jeff had secured his place in rock Olympus. This rhythm remained on lifetimes and beyond the "signature" of the unfortunately died much too early over-Drummers. But not only because of Grooves "ROSANNA" one of the best and most played rock songs of all time. It combines everything that makes a good song, melody, catchy chorus, dynamics, tension and a finish to kneel. TOTO dared at that time already over musical boundaries go and built a good dose of jazz and funk in her skirt. Welcome to the wonderful world of fusion. The whole album teeming with excellent songs and was awarded rightly six Grammys (including best song for "ROSANNA", and as the best album). On TOTO IV, the six musicians prove both their mutability of experimental rock songs about gentle ballads (who certainly contributed considerably to the popularity of "Kuschel Rock" series), and Pop Art-sounds and disco. The outstanding instrumentalists playing song always useful. This album really has something for everyone. No wonder that TOTO were for a time the uncrowned kings of the AOR (Adult Oriented Rock). With "Make Believe", "Good for You" and "We Made It" TOTO have also three songs at the start, which makes an impressive way the strengths of Californians clearly. Although this is songs from the pop field, they are never too cheesy or boring. Both are somewhat reminiscent SUPERTRAMP. The songs inspire a good chorus and instruments effectively used (with "make believe" the guitar, with "GOOD FOR YOU" the synthesizer, while enthusiastically "We Made It" by tempo changes and excellent vocals). Between them is with "I WILL NOT HOLD YOU BACK" the first killer ballad of TOTO. Because even if already are very nice cuddly songs on the previous album Turn Back, these borne by piano ballad suggests it by a mile. From delicate start with lighter strings accompaniment on the minimalist guitar solo in the middle section to the resolution of the suspense with full orchestra is "I will not hold you back," a perfect ballad. On top of the very clear vocals of guitarist Steve Lukather. Fans of rock group are likely to feel most approached by the titles "AFRAID OF LOVE" and "LOVERS IN THE NIGHT" Besides the aforementioned "ROSANNA" which almost seem like a song because they merge almost seamlessly. Where "AFRAID OF LOVE" a driving rock song that lives mainly on the guitar work and drumming. Keyboards are used only very sporadically. The song was even harder to early 90s part of TOTO live shows. In contrast, "LOVERS IN THE NIGHT" is dominated by keyboards and has little in the chorus honky tonk bonds. In his solo spot can LUKATHER here also show that he certainly was one of the first guard of the guitarists of the time, the few of that guitarists can make a solo both memorable and technically demanding. On TOTO IV are also two of the more unusual songs TOTO ever did press on vinyl and later on blanks. These slightly ghostly "IT'S A FEELING" which spread through his idiosyncratic chords and chord progressions an idiosyncratic and exciting atmosphere. Other curiosity on the edge: the song is sung by STEVE PORCARO, the rather stingy with inserts as lead singer. Even some getting meager probably for TOTO fans of detour of her favorites in Disco fields titled "Waiting For Your Love". At least it is clear that this song is better than estimated 95 per cent of what was then ran in the discos. Another highlight of their art TOTO save but to conclude that: "AFRICA". Lose words about this song is like the famous owl to carry to Athens. The song is already a legend and take some of them already influences the so-called world music in advance, before anyone has thought of this. The wonderful combination of drummer JEFF PIORCARO with the percussionist Lenny Castro and JOE PORCARO has something hypnotic, to give the light fluttering melody of synths in counterplay to the quiet chords of keyboards "AFRICA" a very particular atmosphere. Overall, is TOTO IV an album with many faces: rocky, popig, groovy, funky, jazzy. For every music taste is catered for, without changing the band ever lose its essence. After all the lies in the writing excellent songs - and it is on TOTO IV more than just a handful, but to be exactly ten!
