The following four new Rock Candy titles are available now from www.rockcandyrecords.com for a discounted price including postage to anywhere in the world for the next two weeks ending on November 15.
TOTO 'IV' CANDY274
THERE COMES A tipping point in every artist's career; a moment where decisions have to be made and a course of action needs to be taken. By the time Toto had reached this, their fourth, album matters were building to a head. Their previous two albums had commercially under-achieved and the label was getting itchy feet about their future prospects. So, it was with the greatest deliberation that the band embarked on the road to 'Toto IV', vowing to throw everything and the kitchen sink into its creation.
History shows that this album was a triumphant success, but the road to redemption was not without sacrifice, hard work and dedication. It is clear that a huge amount of creativity and talent formed the backbone of this album, songs crafted to utter perfection and all wrapped up in pin-point production. The musicianship was also impeccable, showcasing talent beyond belief, of an apparently altogether otherworldly nature.
Achieving sales in excess of triple platinum and notching up a eye-popping six Grammy awards, it also spawned three huge global hit singles, namely 'Africa', 'Rosanna' and 'I Won't Hold You Back', songs that epitomise the band's precise and concise style. It was a triumph of incredible proportions for a group that had been written off by so many and, with bitchy cruelty, labelled a faceless bunch of session musicians. It is without doubt the most important AOR album of all time.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR'S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 12 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3,500 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM AND ENHANCED ARTWORK.
TRACK LISTING: 1. ROSANNA 2. MAKE BELIEVE 3. I WON'T HOLD YOU BACK 4. GOOD FOR YOU 5. IT'S A FEELING 6. AFRAID OF LOVE 7. LOVERS IN THE NIGHT 8. WE MADE IT 9. WAITING FOR YOUR LOVE10. AFRICA
TOTO 'ISOLATION' CANDY275
WHEN TOTO RELEASED their game changing fourth album 'Toto IV' nobody, least of all the band, expected it to resonate so loudly with the public. Sure, they were known as a fine group, a little on the highbrow tip perhaps, yet the impact of hits such as 'Africa' and 'Rosanna' placed the band on a new 'popular' plateau' one that, it has to be said, was always going to be a millstone around their necks. When you've climbed Everest is there really anything else left to ascend?
It was a situation compounded by a huge upheaval, one that was, on the face of it, perhaps a bridge too far. Reconvening to write and record this, their follow-up album, the band made the drastic decision to fire vocalist Bobby Kimball, a move that seriously endangered their momentum. Recruiting new member Fergie Frederikson (previously of pomp purists Trillion and Le Roux) 'Isolation' was recorded with cool purpose, yet harboured a certain degree of apprehension. Despite the fact that the songs and performances were very much simpatico with the Toto ethos, the end result that the record fell short of commercial expectations was no surprise.
Released in late 1984, the album is actually a fine slice of adult contemporary rock, with all the moves and grooves that you would expect from such a stellar unit, a band that was musically at the top of their game and firing on all six. Stunning tracks such as 'Stranger In Town', 'Carmen' and 'Angel Don't Cry' delivered the goods in timely fashion, very much keeping the flame alive.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR'S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 12 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3,500 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM AND ENHANCED ARTWORK.
TRACK LISTING: 1. CARMEN 2. ANGEL DON'T CRY 3. ISOLATION 4. STRANGER IN TOWN 5. HOLYANNA 6. LION 7. HOW DOES IT FEEL 8. MR. FRIENDLY 9. ENDLESS 10. CHANGE OF HEART
TOTO 'FAHRENHEIT' CANDY276
FOR TOTO THERE has never been a dull moment. Having experienced huge success with their debut album, followed immediately by two great but lesser performing records, the band hit the motherload with 'Toto IV', a work that propelled them into the upper echelons of superstardom, selling over three million copies and winning an unprecedented six Grammy awards. Life looked sweet, but it all came crashing down with the departure of original lead vocalist Bobby Kimball.
The band's attempt to piece things back together resulted in a commercially underperforming follow up album, 'Isolation', featuring new singer Fergie Frederiksen. So, it was back to the drawing board for album #6, a record that saw the appointment of yet another replacement vocalist, Joseph Williams. One thing however did not change; Toto's sound was very much cut from the same fine cloth, the members keen to protect their signature sound at all costs.
'Fahrenheit', originally released in 1986, is a strong, some might say jubilant, return to form, harnessing much of the style and sophistication that won them such a committed following in the first instance. Tracks such as 'We Can Make It Tonight', 'Can't Stand It Any Longer' and the hit single 'I'll Be Over You' demonstrate that the band had no intention of letting standards slip. Look out too for some remarkable guest performances from Miles Davis, Michael McDonald and Glen Frey.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR'S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 16 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3,500 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM AND ENHANCED ARTWORK.
TRACK LISTING: 1. TILL THE END 2 .WE CAN MAKE IT TONIGHT 3. WITHOUT YOUR LOVE 4. CAN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER 5. I'LL BE OVER YOU 6. FAHRENHEIT 7. SOMEWHERE TONIGHT 8. COULD THIS BE LOVE 9. LEA 10. DON'T STOP ME NOW
TOTO 'THE SEVENTH ONE' CANDY277
UP TO THIS point Toto's career trajectory had been subjected to a number of highs and lows. Their debut album, and 'Toto IV', contained a number of smash hit singles, helping to propel the band into the media spotlight. Yet the band would hit dry spells with commercially underperforming records that, whilst maintaining a high standard creatively, failed to connect with the public. And it didn't help that they had hired and fired two lead vocalists.
By the time the band recorded this, their seventh album, it was time to pull another rabbit out of the hat. With new vocalist Joseph Williams firmly settled into the line up they did exactly that. For the first time they also looked outside for production guidance, recruiting two members of Little Feat (George Massenburg and Billy Payne) to oversee the recording sessions, resulting in one of the strongest albums of their long and productive career.
'The Seventh One', originally issued in 1988, set a new standard for the band, with critics and fans heaping praise on its contents. Forceful and dynamic, the tracks benefitted from a sharper and more defined sound, aided and abetted by a brace of stellar songs. Tracks such as 'Pamela' (the natural successor to 'Rosanna'), 'Only The Children' and 'Home Of The Brave' hit the spot dead centre. And look out for 'Stay Away', an incredible duet featuring Linda Ronstadt, containing Steve Lukather's heaviest ever guitar riff.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR'S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 16 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3,500 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM AND ENHANCED ARTWORK.
TRACK LISTING: 1. PAMELA 2. YOU GOT ME 3. ANNA 4. STOP LOVING YOU 5. MUSHANGA 6. STAY AWAY 7. STRAIGHT FOR THE HEART 8. ONLY THE CHILDREN 9. A THOUSAND YEARS 10. THESE CHAINS 11. HOME OF THE BRAVE
