As a joke, the band members initially played along with the common assumption that the song was based on actress Rosanna Arquette, who was dating Toto keyboard player Steve Porcaro at the time and coincidentally had the same name.Īrquette herself played along with the joke, commenting in an interview that the song was about “my showing up at 4 am, bringing them juice and beer at their sessions”. Written by David Paich, he has said that the song is based on numerous girls he had known. Paich said: “There was a little bit of autobiographical information in there: being consumed by my work, not having time to go out and pursue getting married and raising a family and doing all the things that other people do that were my age at the time”.
#Hold the line toto tv
Drummer Jeff Porcaro later said that it was about “a white boy trying to write a song on Africa, but since he’s never been there, he can only tell what he’s seen on TV or remembers in the past”. The initial idea for this song came from Toto member David Paich. He is enamoured with the country, but must leave if he is going to be with her. This song tells the story of a man who comes to Africa and must make a decision about the girl who comes to see him. The group returned in 2015 with ‘Toto XIV,’ their first album since 2006.Well, we kind of have to start here, don't we. Toto Tuesdays is a song-by-song feature that explores the rich musical history of Toto. He has, of course, many great moments as a guitarist on the Toto debut, but Lukather especially shines on “Hold the Line.” You hear him channeling David Gilmour and Jeff Beck, yet Lukather still puts his own now-very-identifiable stamp on the tune.Īll of it combines to make one of Toto’s early classics. Lukather was busy elsewhere on the initial studio take, anyway. No other Toto singer have elevated this song to the heights of the original Kimball-sung version - including Steve Lukather, who sang the song in the Ringo Starr and the All-Starr Band. “Hold the Line” finds Kimball singing with all the enthusiasm and gusto he can muster. Toto singer Bobby Kimball and guitarist Steve Lukather both deserve special mention. Steve Porcaro lends the song’s progressive rock elements, with synthesizer flourishes starting at the second verse.ĭavid Paich has said Toto’s “Hold the Line” came together quickly, yet one wouldn’t know it because the song has so many layers. The groove provided by Jeff Porcaro and bassist David Hungate is infectious and, on deeper listening, reveals funk-influenced underpinnings. Steve Lukather adds a heavy guitar riff, which supports the high tenor voice of Bobby Kimball.
The song kicks off with a rock piano riff by Paich, followed by a straight rock beat by Jeff Porcaro. Why is this David Paich composition so enduring? Like a number of other songs in Toto’s canon, it seems deceptively simple on initial listening. It would also chart in 13 other countries. Released on Octowith “Takin’ It Back” as the B–side, Toto’s “Hold the Line” would reach No. “Hold The Line” has the distinction of being the first single from the self-titled debut album from Toto, the band’s first Top 10 song and the song they’ve played the most in concert.
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