‘Rosanna’ by Toto: Classic or Dud, Praise or Blame for this, my guiltiest of pleasures

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Really though..moving from galloping early eighties love song, to power chord ballad, a nice funk shuffle, and a blistering horn section...what more could they have done?

This really was Jeff Porcaro's (God rest his soul) finest moment. Those ghost notes on the snare make me want to strut.

Resounding, unabashed, timeless classic

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Thursday, 16 November 2006 17:46 (nineteen years ago)

Good jobb by Jeff Porcaro, but the key work here is by David Paich. The synth solo is one of the best ever.

The song itself isn't quite that much of a classic though. "Africa" and "Georgy Porgy" were better.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 16 November 2006 17:48 (nineteen years ago)

I just learned the drum pattern the other day!

― Dominique (dleone), Thursday, 16 November 2006 17:49 (nineteen years ago)

it truly is a great synth solo. when i heard it as a kid, i wondered if it was the same musician from Mannheim Steamroller..which it reminds me of to this day

But Geir, don't you think the dynamics of the song give it something over the others?

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Thursday, 16 November 2006 17:51 (nineteen years ago)

I just learned the drum pattern the other day!

a la Porcaro, or more of a Purdie shuffle?

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Thursday, 16 November 2006 17:53 (nineteen years ago)

the Yacht Rock expose is classic ... the song is not.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Thursday, 16 November 2006 17:53 (nineteen years ago)

I learned it from a porcaro video online -- and he talked about how it was combo of a purdie shuffle, and john bonham's beat from "Fool in the Rain" (I think)

― Dominique (dleone), Thursday, 16 November 2006 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

^^noice

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Thursday, 16 November 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

Great song. I like Africa too. That's it for Toto though.

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:06 (nineteen years ago)

Rosanna's nice, but it's no Hold The Line.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:08 (nineteen years ago)

Oh shit, Hold the Line is good too.

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:11 (nineteen years ago)

But Geir, don't you think the dynamics of the song give it something over the others?

The dynamics are kind of great, but still nothing when compared to the dynamics of a lot of Toto's prog influences.

I guess, that is the main flaw about Toto and lots of other similar AOR acts. The musicians could have done more complex stuff, but preferred to do it the easier way and keep within the 4 minute limit to grant them airplay etc.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:14 (nineteen years ago)

The musicians could have done more complex stuff, but preferred to do it the easier way and keep within the 4 minute limit to grant them airplay etc.

I think that is the virtue of Rosanna: the balance of prog roots from seasoned studio guys and pop sensibility. I personally enjoy listening to a band who is holding their talent close, knowing that they could unleash at any moment.

sidenote: the Dune soundtrack was a keeper too

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:20 (nineteen years ago)

Prog doesn't need "balance". Long live maximalism!

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:21 (nineteen years ago)

Prog doesn't need "balance".

True..but what they were attempting did. And they acheived it.

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:24 (nineteen years ago)

"Hold the Line" by far

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:28 (nineteen years ago)

I like "Georgy Porgy" or whatever it's called. "Hold The Line" is kind of corny, but I do love the guitar solo. "Rosanna" and "Africa" are both classic.

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:35 (nineteen years ago)

im sure mama told you 'bout diet pills

― dave q (listerine), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:38 (nineteen years ago)

TS: In Your Eyes vs. Rosanna

It wasn't until I saw the video that I realized that there were two lead singers on this song. Wasn't paying that much attention, I guess.

Toto's always been one of those faceless bands to me, like Ozark Mountain Daredevils or Player.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:42 (nineteen years ago)

"Hold The Line" sounds too much like Journey. They were better when they used mainly their jazz/fusion background, and didn't try to "rock".

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 16 November 2006 18:48 (nineteen years ago)

If we're going for "musically interesting," "inventive," "impressive," all that, Thom Bell's arrangement on the Spinners' "Games People Play" is much cooler. I'm surprised no one's mentioned the Spinners here; they always seemed like such an obvious source for "Rosanna."

― From the Moon to Pluto Back Down to Earth (Rrrickey), Thursday, 16 November 2006 20:54 (nineteen years ago)

And Jeff Porcaro's finest moment was "Your Gold Teeth II."

― From the Moon to Pluto Back Down to Earth (Rrrickey), Thursday, 16 November 2006 20:57 (nineteen years ago)

And Jeff Porcaro's finest moment was "Your Gold Teeth II."

fair enough...I guess by 'finest moment' i wanted to indicate that it was a signature track for his style.

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Thursday, 16 November 2006 21:13 (nineteen years ago)

I hear ya, but didn't he have more than one style? I mean, YGTII is like *jazz* or something. But some of the stuff you describe about his work on "Rosanna" (which I've never been a fan of) sounds sort of like what I dig on the Steely Dan cut -- the shuffle beat, especially. I will listen to the drums on the Toto thing. I just think that he brings so much smarts to "Katy Lied."

― From the Moon to Pluto Back Down to Earth (Rrrickey), Thursday, 16 November 2006 21:18 (nineteen years ago)

And KL is one of my fave albums ever.

― From the Moon to Pluto Back Down to Earth (Rrrickey), Thursday, 16 November 2006 21:19 (nineteen years ago)

ha ha...*jazz*.

You are right: I mean, he was a studio guy. He could play whatever was needed, and play it damn well. I guess the "Rosanna Shuffle" is sort of his hallmark beat, the synthesis of the Purdie shuffle and Bonzo's beat on 'fool in the rain.'

As for Steely Dan, they sure plucked from the greats, didn't they? Gadd, Porcaro, Purdie, Hodder and Chevy Chase.

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Thursday, 16 November 2006 22:01 (nineteen years ago)

this song is great, but i have to agree that it doesn't reach 'hold the line's heights.

― maura (maura), Thursday, 16 November 2006 22:17 (nineteen years ago)

Jeff Porcaro did a great job on "Africa" too, although he was at his best with Steely Dan, yes he was.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 16 November 2006 22:39 (nineteen years ago)

Geir, i think your earlier assessment of "Hold The Line" is accurate. I always felt like they were co-opting a sound that was done better by someone else.

For me, that is where Rosanna gets its stamina: its singularity.

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Thursday, 16 November 2006 22:51 (nineteen years ago)

If I never hear "Hold the Line" again, it'll be too soon. It's not it's too Journey-like. It's that it's like a soapwater version of a Jefferson Starship song.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Thursday, 16 November 2006 22:57 (nineteen years ago)

I've linked to this a couple of times, which leads me to believe that anyone who claims to have learned to plau this beat as smooth as Porcaro pulls it off is either a) as good as Jeff Porcaro or b) talking smack.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Thursday, 16 November 2006 23:06 (nineteen years ago)

To follow up on my own post, per the video, people overlook the subtle addition of the Bo Diddley beat to "Rosanna." It's a triple-cop! Genius. The drumming, at least.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Thursday, 16 November 2006 23:09 (nineteen years ago)

my friends just recorded an album at jeff pocaro's old house in LA...it's a studio called seedy underbelly now, which used to be in mpls but relocated.

anyway, i guess there is a "coke room" where everything is mirrored fo' better snortin' action.

― M@tt He1geson: Sassy and I Don't Care Who Knows It (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 16 November 2006 23:10 (nineteen years ago)

CLASSIC. i love this song.

― derrick (derrick), Friday, 17 November 2006 01:03 (nineteen years ago)

ten months pass...

Resounding, unabashed, timeless classic

^^^this

― Dom Passantino, Wednesday, 10 October 2007 15:50 (eighteen years ago)

"Der Kommisaar's in town ah ow"

― Mark G, Wednesday, 10 October 2007 15:50 (eighteen years ago)

eight years pass...

http://www.guitarworld.com/artists-artist-news/hear-steve-lukathers-isolated-guitar-totos-rosanna/28823

so good

― niels, Thursday, 17 March 2016 21:36 (nine years ago)

Will listen later, thanks. In case it hasn't been said on this thread yet, Steve Lukather studied with a very well-respected, much-loved, sorely missed guitar player and teacher named Jimmy Wyble.

― Twin/Earthtone Records (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 17 March 2016 21:49 (nine years ago)

Oh that's awesome, I love this kind of thing. Hearing the isolated drum and vocal tracks were even more fun than the guitar, but it's pretty crazy all the different playing styles that the guitar goes through

― Vinnie, Friday, 18 March 2016 00:16 (nine years ago)

I can't fault Toto as musicians, but dud.

― // 166,000 W A N K E R S // LOVE (Turrican), Friday, 18 March 2016 00:23 (nine years ago)

The beginning of the guitar solo, when Porcaro moves from the hi-hat to the ride, is one of my favourite things

― Master of Treacle, Friday, 18 March 2016 00:57 (nine years ago)

yeah thx of that link. i sorta had forgotten this song even existed but those isolated tracks are all fantastic

― dynamicinterface, Friday, 18 March 2016 01:05 (nine years ago)

i hate to that guy but somehow this video dilutes the musicianship that is highlighted in niels' link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmOLtTGvsbM

― dynamicinterface, Friday, 18 March 2016 03:52 (nine years ago)

ha yeah it'd be nice to hear the backing tracks without the dudes yapping over it but still very cool.

― lute bro (brimstead), Friday, 18 March 2016 03:54 (nine years ago)

lol, bobby Kimball's mustache.

dude has no voice anymore. at recent Toto shows the rest of the band has played live while he has lip synched to his pre-recorded tracks from the 80s.

― Neanderthal, Friday, 18 March 2016 04:35 (nine years ago)

well recent until they canned his ass again, Joseph Williams is in the band now

― Neanderthal, Friday, 18 March 2016 04:35 (nine years ago)

jeff porcaro's shuffle on this song is wild

― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Friday, 18 March 2016 04:46 (nine years ago)

The particular kind of stylized prop-ness of women in 80's videos is sometimes jarring for me now.

― human life won't become a cat (man alive), Friday, 18 March 2016 14:39 (nine years ago)

i'm becoming rather a fan of the film score these nerds did for Dune

― scarcity festival (Jon not Jon), Friday, 18 March 2016 14:39 (nine years ago)

Anyway, going to have to go with dud -- a lot of great musical elements that somehow don't add up to anything. In an indirect way, this band supports the case for the genius of Fagen/Becker.

― human life won't become a cat (man alive), Friday, 18 March 2016 14:43 (nine years ago)

In other Toto-related links, Jeff Porcaro sure did a lot of studio sessions:

http://jeffporcaro.blogspot.dk/2001/01/jeff-porcaro-sessions.html

― niels, Tuesday, 22 March 2016 09:33 (nine years ago)

btw man alive otm re toto as supporting the case for the genius of Fagen/Becker

― niels, Tuesday, 22 March 2016 11:57 (nine years ago)

three years pass...

Not quite a year

― calstars, Thursday, 23 January 2020 03:38 (six years ago)

Meetchu all da way

― calstars, Thursday, 23 January 2020 03:40 (six years ago)

i love this fuckin song

― Rhoda from Steubenville (Neanderthal), Thursday, 23 January 2020 03:44 (six years ago)

Rosanna, yeah

― calstars, Thursday, 23 January 2020 03:52 (six years ago)

one year passes...

this is a perfect song

― a talented ‘Rebel’ with Balls (Spottie), Thursday, 9 September 2021 21:56 (four years ago)

yes

― STOCK FIST-PUMPER BRAD (BradNelson), Thursday, 9 September 2021 22:23 (four years ago)

All I wanna do is never ever wanna do is never compromiiize

― calstars, Thursday, 9 September 2021 22:33 (four years ago)

*synth solo*

― clouds, Friday, 10 September 2021 01:36 (four years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMI81yIlT0Q

― calstars, Friday, 10 September 2021 02:30 (four years ago)

YEAH-HEY-YEAAAHHH

― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 10 September 2021 02:35 (four years ago)

that porcaro video is completely insane. so is yoyoka's version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P-tTLmuKo0

― call all destroyer, Friday, 10 September 2021 03:13 (four years ago)

i do view this song as a sort of apotheosis of 80s corporate rock and agree that it's pretty much perfect

― call all destroyer, Friday, 10 September 2021 03:20 (four years ago)

it rules imo

― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 10 September 2021 03:35 (four years ago)

one month passes...

Banana, yeah

― calstars, Tuesday, 12 October 2021 00:55 (four years ago)

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