Past to Present 1977-1990 (CD - 1990)

Recorded at Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, New York; Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, California; Sunset Sound, Studio 55, Villa Studios, Manor Studio, The Complex, Los Angeles, California from between 1977 and 1990.

Personnel: Steve Lukather (vocals, guitar, piano); David Paich (vocals, keyboards); Cheryl Lynn, Joseph "Gospel Joe" Williams, Jean-Michel Byron, Joseph Williams, Bobby Kimball (vocals); Emilio Castillo, Greg Adams, Lee Thornburg, Stephen Kupka, Tower of Power, Tom Timko (horns); Jeff Porcaro (drums, percussion); Luis Conte (percussion).

Audio Mixers: George Massenburg; Greg Ladanyi; James Guthrie; Tom Knox.

Recording information: Bearsville Sound Studios, Bearsville, NY; Manor Studio; Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Studio 55, Los Angeles, CA; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA; The Complex, Los Angeles, CA; Villa Studios.

Unknown Contributor Roles: David Hungate; Gary Grant; James Newton Howard; James Pankow; Jerry Hey; Jim Horn; Jon Anderson; Larry Williams ; Lenny Castro; Marty Paich; Michael Fisher; Michael McDonald ; Steve Porcaro; Timothy B. Schmit; Tom Kelly ; Tom Scott; Chuck Finley; Bobby Kimball .

Toto's compilation is to be recommended in that it contains all four of the group's Top Ten hit singles -- "Hold the Line," "Rosanna," "Africa," and "I Won't Hold You Back." It also contains four more of Toto's 14 pop chart singles -- "Georgy Porgy," "99," "I'll Be Over You," and "Pamela." But that means it leaves out six chart entries, including the Top 40 hits "Make Believe," "Stranger in Town," and "Without Your Love." In their place are an album track from the most recent album, The Seventh One, and four newly recorded songs co-written and sung by the group's fourth lead vocalist, Jean-Michel Byron, who is more soulful than his predecessors, but no more memorable. As such, this is not the ideal Toto best-of and earns its "pick" designation over Toto IV only by virtue of its inclusion of the group's first hit, "Hold the Line." ~ William Ruhlmann minimize