It was do or die for Toto on the group's fourth album, and they rose to the challenge. Largely dispensing with the anonymous studio rock that had characterized their first three releases, the band worked harder on its melodies, made sure its simple lyrics treated romantic subjects, augmented Bobby Kimball's vocals by having other group members sing, brought in ringers like Timothy B. Schmit, and slowed down the tempo to what came to be known as "power ballad" pace. Most of all, they wrote some hit songs: "Rosanna," the old story of a lovelorn lyric matched to a bouncy beat, was the gold, Top Ten comeback single accompanying the album release; "Make Believe" made the Top 30; and then, surprisingly, "Africa" hit number one ten months after the album's release. The members of Toto may have more relatives who are NARAS voters than any other group, but that still doesn't explain the sweep they achieved at the Grammys, winning six, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year (for "Rosanna"). Predictably, rock critics howled, but the Grammys helped set up the fourth single, "I Won't Hold You Back," another soft rock smash and Top Ten hit. As a result, Toto IV was both the group's comeback and its peak; it remains a definitive album of slick L.A. pop for the early '80s and Toto's best and most consistent record. Having made it, the members happily went back to sessions, where they helped write and record Michael Jackson's Thriller. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Toto (Producer), Toto (Main Performer), James Newton Howard (Strings), James Newton Howard (Arranger), James Newton Howard (Conductor), James Newton Howard (Orchestra), James Newton Howard (Orchestral Arrangements), Tom Scott (Saxophone), Niko Bolas (Engineer), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Lenny Castro (Conga), Terry Christian (Engineer), Ralph Dyck (Synthesizer), Martyn Ford (Strings), Gary Grant (Trumpet), Amy Herot (Reissue Producer), Jerry Hey (Trumpet), Jerry Hey (Horn Arrangements), Jim Horn (Saxophone), Jim Horn (Wind), Jim Horn (Engineer), David Hungate (Bass), David Hungate (Guitar), David Hungate (Guitar (Bass)), Tom Kelly (Vocals), Tom Kelly (Vocals (Background)), Bobby Kimball (Vocals), Bobby Kimball (Vocals (Background)), Bobby Kimball (Group Member), Tom Knox (Engineer), John Kurlander (Engineer), Greg Ladanyi (Engineer), Greg Ladanyi (Mixing), David Leonard (Engineer), Roger Linn (Synthesizer), Roger Linn (Synthesizer Programming), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Steve Lukather (Piano), Steve Lukather (Vocals), Steve Lukather (Vocals (Background)), Steve Lukather (Group Member), Marty Paich (Strings), Marty Paich (Orchestral Arrangements), Peggy McCreary (Engineer), David Paich (Arranger), David Paich (Keyboards), David Paich (Vocals), David Paich (Vocals (Background)), David Paich (Engineer), David Paich (Horn Arrangements), David Paich (Orchestral Arrangements), David Paich (Group Member), James Pankow (Trombone), Jeff Porcaro (Percussion), Jeff Porcaro (Drums), Jeff Porcaro (Xylophone), Jeff Porcaro (Tympani [Timpani]), Jeff Porcaro (Package Concept), Jeff Porcaro (Group Member), Steve Porcaro (Arranger), Steve Porcaro (Keyboards), Steve Porcaro (Vocals), Steve Porcaro (Engineer), Steve Porcaro (Group Member), Mike Porcaro (Cello), Joe Porcaro (Percussion), Joe Porcaro (Marimba), Joe Porcaro (Xylophone), Joe Porcaro (Tympani [Timpani]), Doug Sax (Mastering), Elliot Scheiner (Mixing), Al Schmitt (Engineer), Timothy B. Schmit (Vocals), Timothy B. Schmit (Vocals (Background)), Scott Scott (Saxophone), Joachim Joggi Smith (Saxophone), Jon Smith (Saxophone), Mark Wilder (Mastering), Darcy Proper (Mastering), Kevin Boutote (Consultant), James Ledner (Engineer), Joe Spencer (Artwork), Joe Spencer (Illustrations), Sam Emerson (Photography), Gavin Lurssen (Mastering), Glen Christensen (Photography), Jim Hagopian (Photography), Bruce Heigh (Engineer), Stephen Saper (Engineer), Sam Emmerson (Photography), Jo Smith (Saxophone), Jimmy Pankow (Trombone), Tom Kelly (Vocals (Background))
Toto IV is the fourth studio album by American pop rock band Toto. It was released in 1982 (see 1982 in music).
The album was awarded with six Grammy Awards, including "Record of the Year" for "Rosanna", "Album of the Year" for Toto IV, and "Producer of the Year" for the band. It reached number four on the Billboard Pop Albums chart shortly after its release in 1982. The single, "Rosanna", reached number two on the pop singles chart, while the album's third single, "Africa", became the group's only number-one hit. "I Won't Hold You Back" came next and hit the top 10. With the success of "Africa", the album climbed back into the top 10 in early 1983. The other singles were "Make Believe" and "Waiting for Your Love".
