Label: Mascot Label Group
Release date: August 19, 2022
Production: David Paich & Joseph Williams
Album length: 29.09 min
Genre: Art Rock
Rating: 7.5/10
David Paich needs no special introduction. One word does the job. Toto! Six Grammys. And of course, the ‘golden eighties.’ Funnily enough, after all these years of activity, the man never thought about putting out a solo studio album before now. Well, “Forgotten Toys” runs under half an hour and has just five proper original songs (ones we haven’t heard before), so it’s really an EP rather than a true full-length album.
There was talk for a long time that Paich was working on material stashed away in his archives, written back in the eighties. The biggest enthusiasts even expected it to be the basis for a possible new Toto album, following the latest one, “XIV”. That didn’t happen. But we can call this Paich’s studio achievement, one that features quite a few guests alongside the esteemed musician, all of them, like him, fatefully tied to Toto. ‘Blood brothers’ Joseph Williams and Steve Lukather are absolutely on board. Then there are Lenny Castro, Nathan East and Warren Ham. Paich also drew in a bunch of ‘other friends and acquaintances,’ including big names like Brian Eno, Michael McDonalds, Don Felder, Gregg Bissonette, Steve Jordan, Davey Johnstone, … Whether they’re polished instrumentalists or vocalists who took over the lead vocals or contributed choirs with harmonic chants. In terms of energy and compositional value, the content doesn’t stray much from the classic Toto era. That was to be expected. The record is short and to the point. At the same time, it’ll serve up a real treat for all the die-hard Toto faithful. David’s voice is easy to spot within the compositions.
Take away the half-minute intro Forward, the re-recorded and rearranged All The Tears That Shine, which comes from Toto’s latest album “XIV”, and the closing instrumental Lucy, and you’re left with just a good 19 minutes of music that’s actually interesting. Hand on heart, you’d expect more from Paich. Especially considering he’s never released a studio album in his career and that for years he was the creative engine driving the creation of Toto songs, not to mention his experience as a studio ‘session’ musician. This release should have carried the EP label.
The record opens with the punchy willibelongtoyou (Will I Belong To You). Joseph Williams joins David on lead vocals (the chorus), and the song feels like a continuation of the musical story from Toto’s “XIV”. “Forgotten Toys” has quite a bit of playfulness and, in this respect, conveys the sentiment of the eighties in a wildly infectious and convincing way, let’s just call it the energetic vibe flowing through Paich’s veins. The carefree attitude and bubbling optimism of the eighties accompany this release practically every step of the way. The easygoing feel of the eighties is captured especially by the opening track and the playful Queen Charade. Both brilliantly lay bare the cozy partnership of jazz and pop aesthetics that has marked Paich throughout his career. Whether from the days when he worked with Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, or Toto, among others. All The Tears That Shine has Michael Sherwood taking over on lead vocals with a distinctively raspy voice that you have to be prepared for. Because it’s absolutely unique. This vocal approach gives the song a whole new vibe and expressive range. This refreshed version ends up close in spirit to the ballad First Time.
David Paich knows the term AOR very well. For many fans of the genre, the favorite on this record will be conjured up in Spirit of the Moonrise, which, if the eighties were being written today, would surely be a huge commercial success. A brilliantly detailed track with a dramatic verse that grows gradually in mood through the pre-chorus into a perfectly ‘colored’ chorus crescendo (with backing vocals). A top-notch execution of bombast. The song is definitely a lost gem. As if Toto had forgotten to put it on the album “IV”. David’s vocals bring a sense of mystery to this track. The vibe isn’t even that far from his vocal charisma on the ultimate Toto hit Africa. An absolute vocal one-of-a-kind. Paich’s voice remains essential. It adds that iconic stamp to the character and work of Toto (especially in the eighties era). The ‘moment of radio-friendliness from the late eighties’ comes to life on “Forgotten Toys” all the more intensely through the phenomenal Spirit Of The Moonrise. A song made to become a big commercial hit and an eighties radio evergreen. Emphasis on the eighties. The ‘mid-eight’ passage is seasoned with an opening Hammond. That’s followed by the entrance into the last pre-chorus, which carries the song through the final chorus to a dramatic exit, where Steve Lukather shines with a new, brilliant solo. Then there’s the balladic, yearning and easygoing First Time. Once again we’re in Toto-parallel territory, which is no surprise. It’s built in such a way that, in some other times and with different production approaches, it could easily have been tailor-made for Steve Porcaro too, even though its author is of course Paich. Paich’s daughter Elisabeth also contributes backing vocals. The percussionists Lenny Castro and Robin DeMaggio stand out in the composition, which, given its design, is by no means surprising (the percussionists achieve a similar effect in the new version of All The Tears That Shine).
Toto never really released an album in their career that didn’t have at least one song dedicated to one of the girls. David keeps that tradition alive. Only in an instrumental manner, as documented by the closing Lucy. Its jazzy foundation delivers a complete instrumental piece, with Paich’s piano teaming up with the woodwinds to carry most of the dialogue. Playful, sparkling, cheeky. Occasionally a vocal pops up in a ‘coloring’ role (intensifying the atmosphere) with bare vocal improvisation. The song works like a ‘jam’ that brings Paich’s solo effort to a close. Far too early, definitely.
With the polish that the songs in positions 2, 3, 4 and 5 especially bring, the record leaves the feeling that Paich could have served up more unheard original material. We’re talking at least 40 minutes of music, eight or nine, if not ten, full-blooded vocal compositions. Instead of what’s on the record: a short intro, a cover and a closing number that’s a spruced-up instrumental demo recording. In short. Despite the brilliance of the four extremely diverse tracks here, which stylistically feel like lost Toto classics of the eighties, and the refined production touch, you can’t shake the feeling that “Forgotten Toys” still has quite a few reserves in the tank. Short and sweet. Toto fans will undoubtedly be more than happy and satisfied with this kind of content.
Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Tracklist:
1. Forward
2. willibelongtoyou
3. Spirit Of The Moonrise
4. First Time
5. Queen Charade
6. All The Tears That Shine
7. Lucy
Musicians:
David Paich – vocals (tracks 2-5), keyboards (track 1), piano (tracks 2-7), organ (tracks 2, 3, 5 and 7), bass guitar (tracks 3, 5), synthesizer (tracks 4, 6, 7)
Joseph Williams – lead vocals (track 2), backing vocals (tracks 2-4), keyboards (track 2), synthesizer (tracks 2, 3), drum programming (track 3)
Michael Sherwood – lead vocals (track 6)
Steve Lukather – electric guitar (tracks 2, 5), electric guitar solo (track 3)
Ray Parker Jr. – guitar (track 7)
Dean Parks – acoustic and electric guitar (tracks 2-4)
Davey Johnstone – acoustic and electric guitar (track 6)
Fredrik Halland – electric guitar (track 4), backing vocals (tracks 4, 6), additional electric guitar and bass guitar (track 6)
Don Felder – ‘slide’ guitar (track 5)
Warren Ham – saxophone (tracks 3, 5), flute (track 4), harmonica (track 5)
Jon Diversa – woodwinds (track 7)
Brian Eno – synthesizer (track 6)
Michael Lang – piano (track 7)
Nathan East – bass guitar (tracks 2, 4)
Mike Valerio – double bass (tracks 6, 7)
Robin DiMaggio – drums and percussion (tracks 4, 6)
Lenny Castro – percussion (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7)
Gregg Bissonette – drums (tracks 2, 7)
Steve Jordan – drums (track 5)
Pat Knox – backing vocals (tracks 3, 5)
Michael McDonald – backing vocals (track 3)
Monét Owens – backing vocals (track 5)
Elizabeth Paich – backing vocals (tracks 4, 6)
Billy Sherwood – backing vocals (track 6)
James Tormé – backing vocals (track 7)
Hannah Williams – backing vocals (track 3)
Ray Williams – backing vocals (track 3)
