SCOTTS HIDDEN TREASURES - (TOTO - Hydra)

[Scott]

This weeks Hidden Treasure is an album that means a lot to me.  We all have them, albums that just resonate for whatever reasons and years later they still feel close to you.  So with that intro this week I've selected two choice treasures from ...

TOTO - Hydra
1979

In 1978 Toto released their first single, titled Gorgy Porgy.  Not a song title that exactly screams "buy me", or "cool", especially for a seventh grader trying to fit in.  But then they then released Hold The Line and that got my attention.  But it wasn't until Hydra was released and the tune "99" hit the Top 40 charts that I really paid attention to this band.

I was in 8th grade at the time and had an older friend who had a drivers license, we'd cruise the local strip with tunes blazing.  For whatever reason, he loved the tune "99" and was the type of music listener that played the same songs over and over, and so he owned Hydra on cassette.  Predictably, this album played and played and played, but something weird happened...  it never got old and all the deep cuts got better and better.  And thus my admiration for Toto began.

So here's what I've chosen for you this week, two special tracks I think you'll enjoy...

Click to open Player

1. Hydra (7:31)
2. Mama (5:14)

Enjoy!

[Mike Mills]

Awesome post!!! I love this album!!! Hydra & Mama are excellent choices, but "St. George & the Dragon" & "White Sister" are also favorites for me!!! Bobby Kimball, just delivers such a great vocal! 99, is still a great tune, despite Steve Lukather's distain for it. With the exception of 99, you could say the whole album's a hidden treasure!

I might add, that Toto was voted one of CRB's Top 5 Musically Talented Bands & this album definitely supports that! The musicianship throughout the album is top notch! Whether you like their style of music or not, these guys can flat out play! A very talented group of musicians, singers & songwriters.

I was exposed to Toto, much the same way Scott was. A good friend, that was 2 years older played "Toto 1", "Hydra" & "Turn Back" for me. I remember sitting in his den spinning those albums, so they are all very familiar too me. Then, of course IV hit, I still remember putting that one on for the first time! That den, became the location of many hours of album listening. It contained a vast library, primarily because my friend had three other siblings contributing besides himself, not to mention his dad's huge classical & jazz collection. I went to visit my friends parents last week, they still live in the same location. While I was there, I had to take peek in the den & there it was, the same turntable & album collection, just like I remember it. A lot of good memories, listening to music at the Ludwick house! 

[Scott]

Anyone remember the massive Klipsch speakers? 

My brothers friends living room was mostly those in each corner, a couch and wall full of albums.  I used to go there and plow through the collection whilst music thumped through my entire body!  One of my earliest memories of doing this was when he put on an album from a band named "Hellfield" and I was blown away, it's the one and only time I ever heard that band and album and Ive never been able to hear of them ever again.

Anyway...  He was a massive Styx fan (Pre-Babe days) and so they were mostly playing the other times I had the chance to go over there.

Long story short...  Your memory reminded me of those speakers and that vinyl collection, and those times when we listened to music because it was too loud to talk to anyone anyway!  Sooooo awesome!

[Mike Mills]

My friends favorite band was Styx, so that's where I first heard Styx II, Equinox, Crystal Ball, The Grand Illusion, Cornerstone, Pieces Of Eight. I know those albums cover to cover, which explains my heavy Styx influence.

[RJhog (Admin)]

That first song is killer Scott.  I can see why you liked it so much.  I'm not a huge Toto fan, but this post does make me interested in hearing more of their stuff.  Toto IV is my only ownage from this band.  The second song is not as good for me, but it's not bad.  

I love the anecdote about riding around with your friend and listening to cassettes over and over.  I have a few friends on this site that I rode around with and did the same thing.  The one that really comes to mind for me is GNR's Appetite.  I know it's played out, but it wasn't back then.  It just blew us away and we wore Randy Parker's copy of it out.  But there were many cassettes we played a lot.  

Great post and great way to bring back some memories.

[Scott]

Take another listen to Mama, pay close attention to the drums, it may remind you of a certain beat fom Toto IV ... Let me know if you can place it.

[Jon]

Sounds Rosanna-ish

[Scott]

Exactly!

[Jon]

Scott picked a couple good songs, especially for those that don't know Toto much. First you got the proggy/hard rock Toto, and then the jazzy/mellow Toto. Considering Scott's new age, I['m suprised that he went for some hard rock, probably made his ears bleed!

Anyway, I didn't get this album until a few years after it came out. It was one of those albums that when I first listened to it, I didn't like it too much. In the past 10-15 years though it's changed for a lot of the early Toto output and I really like all their albums.

Nice two picks though, especially for the reason I listed above (except for the bleeding ears part).

[Scott]

I have an old Chuck Mangione that I may post when I get back.... Should rock your worlds!!

[Jon]

I remember when he was HUGE!

[Alan Christensen]

I forgot that Hold The Line is Toto. :(

I saw this CD used today "Hydra", but I got IV today for the song Africa (for personal reasons that I can share, but it would be a longer post).

I have a few more things I am trading (a few video games, two DVDs - White Lion and Three Days Grace, and one Dark Angel CD that I no longer want to listen to).

Checking out these songs, not bad. I might need to go back for this?

 

[Gordon Williams]

Not only do I remember those large Klipsch speakers....I listen to 'em every day! Right in my music room. I love playing live DVD concert releases on my TV, but hooked up to those rockin' Klipsch speakers.

My Daughter's cat is always trying to sharpen her claws on my speaker screens! Gonna be eating fried cat for dinner one night soon...

But anyway, I'm not that big of a Toto fan myself, but it is enjoyable to hear this. And the talent is certainly there. Really nice guitar lead section in this first tune. Nice vocal melody in tune two. The piano and guitar certainly complement one another during the middle section of "Mama".