Toto’s David Paich delivers Forgotten Toys
It isn't easy to consider Toto a legacy band. We’ve been fortunate to get stellar ‘solo’ projects from Steve Porcaro (2016), Joseph Williams and Steve Lukather (2021). We even got a bunch of new and thoroughly reworked old songs in the aptly titled Old Is New Toto album from 2018. While the current version of the band has been tearing up stages in the US and Europe for the past two years, one key player who has held a relatively low profile is cofounder, keyboardist and musical director, David Paich.
Forgotten Toys, Paich’s first solo release, changes that.
Paich delivers what you expect from composer songs like “Rosanna” and “99. With the help of producer Joseph Williams, Paich’s songs are expertly played and engaging.
The Grammy awarding winning songwriter kicks things off
with the lovely snippet, “Forward” with Paich providing all the keyboard touches on the instrumental. Reminiscent of Rick Wakeman, “Forward” is a tease to what's to come on the album, and also makes the listener wonder what a proper Progressive Rock album by Paich might entail.
“WillIBelongToYou” doesn't continue the musical theme set by “Forward” but does represent the motifs of songs that Paich has had for some time. While Paich composed the music, he brought in Toto Lead singer Joseph Williams to work on the lyrics with him. The result is a solid middle-of-the-road rocker which utilizes Paich’s vocals to great effect. Williams’ tenor is equally featured providing a Toto-like vibe. Special mention to studio ace Dean Parks who, along with Steve Lukather, provides the guitar grit. Williams also provides effective sythn pads which compliment Paich’s organ and piano parts.
“Spirit of the Moonrise” turns up the heat, as Steve Lukather adds a forceful lead guitar part that contrasts the in-pocket bass and drum program by Paich. The lyrics are more, well, dreamy, but Paich’s vocals are much more visual than his pre-Isolation lyrics. Added touches, such as Lenny Castro's congas and Warren Ham saxophone, further links the song to Paich’s Toto past, while Steve Lukather's melodically restrained solo is one of the album's best. Oh, and Michael McDonald adds additional sweetening.
A more world music feel is found in “First Time”. This Paich/Williams composition continues the direct narrative theme. The music, flowing over a bed of percussion from Robin DiMaggio and Lenny Castro while lacking the finesse of Toto songs like “Mushanga” is direct as the lyrics and graceful. Elizabeth Paich’s vocals contribute to the elegance of the song.
The rock radio friendly, “Queen Charade” features Paich’s powerful lead vocal, accompanied by Warren Ham’s growling harmonica work. The song doesn't contain an ounce of fat as Steve Lukather provides the rhythm guitar and long-time Paich friend, Don Felder kicks in hefty slide guitar parts. Current Rolling Stone drummer, Steve Jordon provides a swampy back beat to further the song’s live feel.
The last two songs feature two departed Paich compares. “All The Tear That Shine”, co-written with Michael Sherwood” features Sherwood on lead vocals along with Yes/World Trade member Billy Sherwood on backing vocals. Though a stellar version of the song was recorded from Toto XIV, Paich included the original version he and Micheal Sherwood worked on before that album’s recording (https://somethingelsereviews.com/2015/04/09/michael-sherwood-toto-xiv-steve-porcaro-michael-jackson/). In this setting is even more poignant.
“Lucy,” the album-closing instrumental, features the late Michael Lang on piano. Written with Lang, the songs straight ahead jazz point to another direction a David Paich solo album could have taken. Touches of what vocals by James Torme’, sympathetic guitar by Ray Parker Jr., and Lenny Castro’s percussion hit home the fact that as an e.p., Forgotten Toys is too short. Hopefully, it's just an opening salvo in David Paich’s long overdue solo career.