Toto IV

Toto IVis the fourth studio album by AmericanrockbandToto, released on April 8, 1982, byColumbia Records.The album's lead single, "Rosanna", peaked at number 2 for five weeks on theBillboardHot 100charts, while the album's third single, "Africa", topping the Hot 100 chart, became the group's first and only number 1 hit.Both songs were hits in the UK as well, reaching number 12 and 3, respectively.The fourth single, "I Won't Hold You Back", also peaked within the top ten on the Hot 100, at number 10 and atop theBillboardAdult Contemporarycharts 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 IVreceived threeGrammy Awardsin1983includingAlbum of the Year,Producer of the Yearfor the band, andRecord of the Yearfor "Rosanna". It reached number four on theBillboard200album 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 bassistDavid Hungateuntil his return in 2014 (with the release of their 2015 albumToto XIV) when he was replaced byMike Porcaroafter the band’s recording of the album, and also the final album to feature original lead vocalistBobby Kimballuntil his comeback in 1998 (with the release of the 1999 albumMindfields).
After the success of theirself-titled debut, Toto struggled to sustain success on their next two albums,HydraandTurn 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 toNashvilleduring the recording of the album, left the band to spend more time with his family. Two years later, shortly after beginning recording of their follow-up album,Bobby Kimballwas 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 ofMichael Jackson'sThrilleralbum, as well as collaborating onChicago's comeback albumChicago 16that same year.
Recording took place across several months in 1981 and 1982, and the band was allowed a much larger than average recording budget. At a time when most bands were using a single24-trackrecorder, Toto used as many as three separate 24-track recorders simultaneously.
The multiple 24-track recorders were linked via a computerizedSMPTE timecodesystem. One track of each machine contained the timecode synchronization signal, while 22 of the remaining 23 tracks of each reel were available for audio track recordings. (Typically, on analog 24-track recorders SMPTE was recorded on track 24, and the track next to it left blank to avoid any cross-talk or bleed over from the time code.) A significant number of tracks were copied and mixed down from those already recorded on another synchronized tape reel. This process lowered the amount of wear on the first generation tapes and helped maintain high quality sound during the extensive overdubbing and mixing process.
Philip Garris's original emblemfrom theTotoalbumwas 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.
Adapted from the album's liner notes.
Toto
Additional musicians
Production
Artwork