Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Toto
Label: Eagle Records
Released: 2016
Length: 61:43
Rating: 4/5
American melodic art rock champions Toto played the prestigious Swiss festival in 1991, at the special invitation of Montreux Jazz Festival founder Claude Nobs and famed producer Quincy Jones. Only now, twenty-five years later, has the show come out as an official live document titled »Live At Montreux 1991«, which, even though the setlist isn’t exactly a dream one, deserves the attention of all Toto fans and lovers of good music in general. It’s a hugely important recording in the history of this legendary band for several reasons. The main one is that this live album is a must for longtime Toto diehards, since it captures one of their last shows with the short-lived four-piece lineup featuring the late brothers Jeff and Mike Porcaro. For Jeff it was actually one of the last shows before he passed away, with Toto, who were just then recording their new studio album »Kingdom Of Desire« (1992), taking the stage with both Porcaro brothers on drums and bass, guitarist / vocalist Steve Lukather and keyboardist / vocalist David Paich.
The setlist was a bit different from what you’d normally expect from Toto and tailored to the framework of the famous Swiss festival, which made it highly unusual. Besides the classics »Africa«, »Rosanna« and »I’ll Be Over You«, it included one song that never appeared on any regular studio release, two covers and two new songs from the then still upcoming album »Kingdom Of Desire«. The opener »On The Run«, despite what was announced at the time, never made it onto »Kingdom Of Desire« and only surfaced on the rarities album »Toto XX« (1998). The band members do count the latter as part of their studio discography, even though it’s a collection of rare studio and live recordings that had never before seen the ‘light of day’.
The title track of the then still upcoming album, that is »Kingdom Of Desire«, is one of the highlights of this recording, and the same goes for the more jazz-leaning instrumental »Jake to the Bone« with Lukather’s ‘spacey’ guitar soloing, which by his own account was picked specially for the famous Swiss jazz festival. All three evergreens come off superbly too, while Lukather and Paich, who takes the lead vocals on »Africa«, once again show off the power of their pipes in fine style. The much less expected moves were the covers of Hendrix’s »Red House« and »I Want To Take You Higher«, originally performed by funk/soul champions Sly and the Family Stone. Both were played brilliantly, just as you’d expect from Toto, but it would have been a lot better if the band, in the one hour they had at the festival, had squeezed in at least a few more of their own songs.
»Live At Montreux 1991« is one of the few Toto live recordings featuring the four-piece »Kingdom Of Desire« lineup with Jeff Porcaro, and that alone makes it interesting for all longtime fans, who won’t be bothered by the short running time or the unusual setlist with its two covers. The recording is marked by the standard Toto sonic perfection, top-notch live atmosphere and quality production, and every performance is played with exceptional fire, so it’s a real pleasure to listen to. Sadly, this version of the band wasn’t destined to last, as Jeff Porcaro passed away even before »Kingdom Of Desire« came out, after which he was replaced by the ‘king’ of session drummers Simon Phillips, who stuck with Toto for a full twenty-two years.
Lineup
Steve Lukather – guitar, lead vocals
David Paich – keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocals on “Africa”
Mike Porcaro – bass guitar
Jeff Porcaro – drums, percussion
Production
Toto
Track list
1. On The Run
2. Kingdom Of Desire
3. I’ll Be Over You
4. Africa
5. Jake to the Bone
6. Red House
7. Rosanna
8. I Want to Take You Higher
