Album review: TOTO – 35th Anniversary Live In Poland

In May 2014 Steve Lukather chatted to David Randall in the Guitarists series on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. In the extract (above) he talks about the influence of The Beatles and how he’s just received a text from Ringo Starr with whom he will tour this summer as part of the All-Starr Band (with Todd Rundgren and Greg Rolie).

Eagle Records [Released 28.04.14]

Recorded at the Atlas Arena, Lodz in Poland on 25th June 2013 this double live CD (also available on DVD and BluRay) is a must for fans of the band as they cover all eras of the band’s history. You get a lot of the classic line-up present too, with the ever present Steve Lukather joined by David Paich and Steve Porcaro, plus the vocalist is Joseph Williams from the band’s mid/late 80′s era.

Mind you drummer Simon Phillips has been with the band since 1993 (although he left the band earlier this year) and completing the line-up is bassist Nathan East (who also left earlier this year to be replaced by original bassist David Hungate!).

With having Joseph Williams on vocals the set does have a slight leaning towards the albums he was on, most notably ‘The Seventh One’ with ‘White Sister’ and the classic ‘Pamela’ making the setlist. Nathan East gets to strut his funky bass stuff on an extended solo spot on ‘Africa’ whilst ‘Hold The Line’ shows Steve Lukather can riff with the best of them and then lay down some sweet solos as can be heard on ‘Falling In Between’.

You can but marvel at the band’s collective musicianship and they were on good form the night this was recorded (I have seen them live three times to date and only one duff gig with the ill advised short time they had vocalist Jean-Michel Byron in the band).

It’s a treat to hear Joseph Williams pour his heart and soul into the slower numbers like ‘I Won’t Hold You Back’ and the encore of ‘Home Of The Brave’ where Joseph Williams is joined by David Paich and Steve Lukather on vocals is a tour de force, amazing music.

All this great music and sleevenotes too from MelodicRock.Com’s Andrew McNiece. ****1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

DVD Review

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)