The Girls From Toto

Toto, one of the legendary band. Okay, they never had any girl members, but why did I choose the title “The Girls From Toto”? Do you know why? Yeah, that's right. Toto often used the name of a girl to be the title of their songs. Here is the list of them (with a little info showing the writers, the album where it was originally included, and an additional info that I already knew).

1. Title : Angela

   Writer : David Paich

   Lead vocalist : Steve Lukather

   Album : Toto

   This song is originally included in their first album (released in 1978), but it is also included in their Best Ballads album (released in 1995).

2. Title : Lorraine

   Writer : David Paich

   Lead Vocalist : David Paich

   Album : Hydra

   Taken from their second album, Hydra (released in 1979). Lorraine is David Paich's wife.

3. Title : Rosanna

   Writer : David Paich

   Lead Vocalists : Steve Lukather and Bobby Kimball

   Albums : Toto IV

   Taken from their biggest album, Toto IV (released in 1982) The song title, Rosanna, was taken from Steve Porcaro's ex-girlfriend, Rosanna Arquette. This song is also known as one of Toto biggest hits.

4. Title : Carmen

   Writers : David Paich - Jeff Porcaro
   

   Lead Vocalist : David Paich and Fergie Frederiksen

   Album : Isolation

   One of my favorites on the Isolation album (released in 1984). Featuring the voice of their new singer, Denise “Fergie” Frederiksen.

5. Title : Holyanna

   Writers : David Paich – Jeff Porcaro

   Lead Vocalist : David Paich

   Album : Isolation

   Still taken from Isolation. Holyanna is David Paich's sister. I love its video. It really depicted the story of the song. I watched it for the first time through a TV program that played the videos of the hits from 1970s to 1990s.

6. Title : Lea

   Writers : Steve Porcaro

   Lead Vocalist : Joseph Williams

   Album : Fahrenheit

   Taken from their sixth album, Fahrenheit (released in 1986). Joseph Williams came to replace Fergie Frederikssen. Some Toto fans (including me) had a doubt of the actual lead singer of this one, cause Williams' voice in this song didn't sound like Williams at all. Some guessed it was actually the writer, Steve Porcaro, who sang it. But the band denied it. It was really Joseph Williams singing in this song. The notes on Best Ballads album said that Lea is about someone's little daughter.

7. Title : Pamela

   Writers : David Paich – Joseph Williams

   Lead Vocalist : Joseph Williams

   Album : The Seventh One

   The second album featuring Joseph Williams on lead singing, entitled The Seventh One (released in 1988). Pamela is the name of Joseph Williams' ex-girlfriend.

8. Title : Anna

   Writers : Steve Lukather – Randy Goodrum

   Lead Vocalist : Steve Lukather

   Album : The Seventh One

   Still taken from The Seventh One. This is the second hit of Toto that was written by Steve Lukather with Randy Goodrum (the first hit is I'll Be Over You).

9. Title : Melanie

   Writers : Steve Lukather, David Paich, and Randy Goodrum

   Lead Vocalist: Steve Lukather

   Album : Mindfields

   Mindfields (released n 1998), the album that welcomed Bobby Kimball back to Toto, but Kimball is not credited on this track. He is not even listed as the background singer. But, this is one of my faves on Mindfields album. Melanie also became Toto last track that used a girl's name as its title, cause until their official break-up in 2008, Toto never released any tracks that used a girl's name.

Toto Line-up changes

Albums : Toto, Hydra, Turn Back, Toto IV

David Paich : Keyboards, Vocals

Steve Lukather : Guitars, Vocals

Jeff Porcaro : Drums, Percussions

Steve Porcaro : Keyboards, Vocals

David Hungate : Bass

Bobby Kimball : Vocals

Album : Isolation

David Paich : Keyboards, Vocals

Steve Lukather : Guitars, Vocals

Jeff Porcaro : Drums, Percussions

Steve Porcaro : Keyboards, Vocals

Michael Porcaro : Bass

Fergie Frederiksen : Vocals

Album : Fahrenheit

David Paich : Keyboards, Vocals

Steve Lukather : Guitars, Vocals

Jeff Porcaro : Drums, Percussions

Michael Porcaro : Bass

Steve Porcaro : Keyboards, Vocals

Joseph Williams : Vocals

Album : The Seventh One^*)

David Paich : Keyboards, Vocals

Steve Lukather : Guitars, Vocals

Jeff Porcaro : Drums, Percussions

Michael Porcaro : Bass

Joseph Williams : Vocals

*) Steve Porcaro continued working in the making of The Seventh One, although he was no longer an official member of Toto

Album : Past To Present (1977 – 1989)

David Paich : Keyboards, Vocals

Steve Lukather : Guitars, Vocals

Jeff Porcaro : Drums, Percussions

Michael Porcaro : Bass

Jean-Michel Byron : Vocals

Album : Kingdom of Desire

David Paich : Keyboards, Vocals

Steve Lukather : Guitars, Vocals

Jeff Porcaro : Drums, Percussions

Michael Porcaro : Bass

Albums : Absolutely Live, Tambu, Toto XX (1977 - 1997)

David Paich : Keyboards, Vocals

Steve Lukather : Guitars, Vocals

Simon Phillips : Drums, Percussions

Michael Porcaro : Bass

Albums : Mindfields, Livefields, Through The Looking Glass, Live In Amsterdam

David Paich : Keyboards, Vocals

Steve Lukather : Guitars, Vocals

Simon Phillips : Drums, Percussions

Michael Porcaro : Bass

Bobby Kimball : Vocals

Album : Falling In Between

David Paich : Keyboards, Vocals

Steve Lukather : Guitars, Vocals

Simon Phillips : Drums, Percussions

Michael Porcaro : Bass

Greg Phillinganes : Keyboards, Vocals

Bobby Kimball : Vocals