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

........................

4 5683 968

Wish I could say those words to you now, but I don't think I have a chance., though I always pray for it. I just want you to know, you've impressed me right from the start. Sorry for never telling you before cause I was around there with someone else. But the truth is that my heart was torn in two and you really got the most part of it.

to
7.4.9.



from Me,

Your Admirer.

Malmsteen and Rainbow

It's no secret that Yngwie J. Malmsteen (better known as Yngwie Malmsteen) is influenced by Ritchie Blackmore's guitar playing, both when Blackmore was in Deep Purple and in Rainbow. Malmsteen even cited Ronnie James Dio (formerly of Rainbow) as his favorite singer and Jon Lord (formerly of Deep Purple) as his favorite keyboardist. But I found a little unique facts about Yngwie Malmsteen and some ex-members of Rainbow/Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, a band founded by Ritchie Blackmore.

Some ex-members of Rainbow was then recruited by Malmsteen to join his band. Here is the list of them.

1.Cozy Powell
Powell played the drums for Rainbow from 1975 to 1978. He was fired after that. In 1995 Powell joined Yngwie Malmsteen and recorded an album with him, Facing The Animal , in 1997. Sadly, when the Facing The Animal Tour was about to begin , Powell tragically died in a car accident. He was then replaced by Jonas Ostman on the tour. Malmsteen dedicated the next album, a live recordings album entitled Live!!, to the memory of Powell. The album includes a live version of Gates of Babylon, a track which Powell originally contributed his drumming while he was joining Rainbow. Malmsteen said “that one was for Mr. Cozy Powell”, after the band performed it. Malmsteen himself had previously recorded the track for the Inspiration album.

2.Bob Daisley
Rainbow bass guitarist from 1977 to 1978. Daisley joined Malmsteen in 1987, but only contributed his bass playing in four tracks of the 1988's Odyssey album. The rest of the bass parts were played by Malmsteen himself. On tour, Daisley was replaced by Barry Dunaway.

3.Joe Lynn Turner
Turner joined Rainbow from 1980 to 1984 (replacing Graham Bonnet). He was the last singer joining Rainbow before Rainbow was officially disbanded for the first time. Turner then released solo records before joining Yngwie Malmsteen in 1987. Together with bassist Bob Daisley (see previous chapter), Turner recorded the Odyssey album and toured with Malmsteen to promote the album. In this album, Turner wrote the lyrics of all tracks.

Their live performance in Leningrad, Russia, was released as a live recording album entitled Trial By Fire (available on cassettes, CD, video, and recently on DVD formats). After the tour, Turner left and joined Deep Purple. Turner (with some former band members of Yngwie Malmsteen) rejoined Malmsteen to record the Inspiration album in 1996. All tracks included in Inspiration are cover version tracks of the musicians that have influenced Yngwie Malmsteen's musical style, including Deep Purple, Rainbow, Scorpions, UK, Rush, Jimi Hendrix, and Kansas.

4.David Rosenthal
Rosenthal was the keyboardist of Rainbow from 1982 to 1984. He joined Yngwie Malmsteen to record the Inspiration album in 1996 (not in all tracks). There is a mistake for the credit of the track Gates of Babylon (originally a hit of Rainbow), that the keyboardist was actually Jens Johansson but it is credited to Rosenthal. But we can still hear an amazing keyboards playing of Rosenthal in the track Child In Time (originally a hit of Deep Purple). Rosenthal rejoined Malmsteen in 2001 for touring only.

5.Doogie White
White was the singer of Rainbow when it was re-founded by Blackmore after leaving Deep Purple for the second time (and also for the last time). White joined Malmsteen after the previous singer, Jorn Lande (together with the drummer, John Macaluso) left. White recorded two albums with Malmsteen, Attack!! and Unleash The Fury. He was actually well-received by Malmsteen's fans but in 2008, White left and was then replaced by former Judas Priest lead singer, Tim “Ripper” Owens to record the Perpetual Flame album.

Well that's just my opinion about this unique connection of Malmsteen and some former members of Rainbow.

Also notice that the second band Malmsteen ever joined in US, Alcatrazz, is a band founded by former Rainbow singer, Graham Bonnet. Meanwhile, the original Rainbow frontman, Ronnie James Dio, had ever worked together with Malmsteen when they both contributed a track in a Van Halen tribute album. It means that all former Rainbow singers had ever worked with Malmsteen.

What my heart wants to say

I don't care if u ignore me. I don't give a damn if u don't care for me. I just wanna let u know what i feel for you. Please undertsnd, I need u to stay in my life.

Rainbow

Beberapa waktu lalu saya membaca sebuah majalah. Di sana disebutkan bahwa ada dua band yang memiliki nama berbeda tapi arti nama kedua band tersebut adalah sama. Sayangnya, majalah tersebut sepertinya melupakan satu buah band lagi yang arti nama band-nya juga sama, yaitu pelangi. Ya, band-band yang dimaksudkan adalah L'arc en Ciel, Nidji, dan yang terlupakan adalah Rainbow.

Untuk L'arc en Ciel (Laruku) dan Nidji tidak akan saya ulas di sini, kelihatannya kedua band ini terlalu banyak dibahas di mana-mana. Namanya aja lagi naik daun., coba kalu lagi naik batang atau ranting. Saya hanya sedikit membahas tentang band yang terlupakan, yaitu band rock asal Inggris, Rainbow.

Rainbow didirikan oleh mantan gitaris Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore. Nama asli band ini adalah Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, namun beberapa waktu kemudian , setahu saya mulai album kedua, nama band ini dipotong menjadi Rainbow saja. Formasi awalnya ada Ritchie Blackmore (gitar), Ronnie James Dio (vokal), Micky Lee Soul (kibor), Craig Guber (bass), dan Gary Driscoll (drums). Tahun-tahun selanjutnya, Rainbow berulangkali melakukan bongkar pasang personil. Beberapa nama yang sempat bergabung di Raimbow selanjutnya ada mendiang Cozy Powell (drums), Bob Daisley (bass), Graham Bonnet (vokal), Don Airey (kibor), David Rosenthal (kibor), Roger Glover (bass), dan Joe Lynn Turner (vokal). Uniknya, nama-nama Powell, Rosenthal, Daisley, dan Turner kelak sempat terlibat dalam pembuatan album milik gitaris asal Swedia, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, meski memang tidak pada saat bersamaan (kecuali Turner dan Daisley). Bahkan Bonnet sendiri pernah bekerja sama dengan Malmsteen ketika mereka bergabung dalam Alcatrazz (yang memang didirikan oleh Bonnet).

Tahun 1984, Ritchie Blackmore membubarkan Rainbow setelah para personil Deep Purple Mk. II memutuskan bekerja sama lagi dan merilis album baru. Beberapa tahun kemudian, Blackmore terlibat perselisihan dengan vokalis Deep Purple, Ian Gillan yang membuat Gillan keluar. Posisi Gillan akhirnya diisi oleh Turner yang ketika itu sudah keluar dari band Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force. Sayang, album mereka bersama Turner, Slaves and Masters, mendapat kritik dari penggemar karena dianggap terlalu bernuansa Rainbow. Turner pun dipaksa meninggalkan Deep Purple, dan Gillan kembali. Namun, perselisihan Blackmore dan Gillan tampaknya belum reda. Kali ini giliran Blackmore yang memutuskan hengkang dari band yang ikut dia dirikan tersebut.

Blackmore kemudian mendirikan kembali Rainbow yang kali ini kembali ke nama aslinya, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, bersama dengan personil baru, termasuk vokalis Doogie White. Sayang, usia Rainbow kali ini lebih singkat, hanya sekitar 3 tahun, dari 1994 – 1997. Blackmore kemudian memulai band baru bernama Blackmore's Night bersama penyanyi latar Ritchie Blakmore's Rainbow, Candice Night. Beberapa tahun kemudian, vokalis Doogie White juga bergabung dengan gitaris Yngwie J. Malmsteen menggantikan vokalis sebelumnya Jorn Lande. White mengisi vokal di album Attack!! (bukan merk detergen lho) dan Unleash The Fury.

Ya, itu sekilas cerita tentang sebuah band yang pernah begitu berjaya dengan lagu-lagu macam Temple of The King, Since You Been Gone, Gates of Babylon, dan Street of Dreams. Hubungan unik antara para mantan personil Rainbow dengan Yngwie J. Malmsteen akan saya bahas lain kali.

Let There Be Drum Part 2: The Interface

Just like what I have promised you before, I will continue explaining the Hydrogen Interface, Now I'm gonna talk about the pattern editor, drumkits manager, song editor etc.

1.Pattern editor

Fig 1 Pattern Editor

This pattern editor is the “key” of all. This is the window where we must create the pattern. Just click on the part you want to play the sound. Kicks, snares, toms, crash/cymbals, hi-hats, cowbell and many more, depend on the drumkits we use. We can create as many patterns as we can. To work with other pattern, click on the Pattern Name panels above (use the '+' and '-' button)..The lines at the bottom side shows how hard we hit the part.

2.Drumkits Manager
With the drumkits manager, we can select which drumkits we want to use. By default, there's only two drumkits available, GMkit and Roland-808 drumkits, but we can simply import other drumkits.

Fig 2 Drumkits Manager

How to import drumkits?
Click the Import button

Fig 3 Importing Drumkits

Click Browse button, and select it from the directory containing the drumkits. Choose the drumkits we want to import. And then click the Import button.

Fig 4 Browsing the directories containing the drumkits

The drumkits must be in *.h2drumkit format. We can download the drumkits from Hydrogen official website, but it is usually in a compressed format (*.tar.gz, *.tar.bz2, or *.zip), so we've had to extract it before importing it.

3.The Mixer
We can adjust the volume and also the balance of each drumkits part separately with this mixer. Just click the volume control and move it with your mouse.

Fig 5 The Mixer

4.Song editor
After creating all the patterns needed, we'll have to combine all patterns in order to compose the full song. This is what this part used for. Remember, you may play more than one pattern at a time.

Fig 6 Song Editor

After completing it, we are now able to play the pattern. Use the Play button on the bottom panel.

I think it's enough for now. In the next tutorial, I will show you how to save the patterns and export them into other formats

Interupsi

Mohpn maaf, tutorial tentang Hydrogen saya hentikan sementara, karena saya sedang mencari cara agar dapat melakukan posting dengan bantuan editor HTML agar lebih mudah dalam menyusun gambar.