Toto Defies The Critics

This week in 1978 “Toto” released their hugely successful self-titled debut album. Both band and album were initially not well received by critics, with an article in “Rolling Stone” magazine calling Toto “the kind of dull debut you’d expect from a bunch of career session players” and lacking “at least two elements crucial to good rock: a singer and a writer.” The article went on to say that three Toto members sang “passably” while calling a fourth, the lead vocalist, “terrible.” In spite of critical opinions like this, Toto quickly gained a following, with the album reaching the top 10 in the USA, Australia, Sweden, Canada and West-Germany. The album also delivered three chart singles – “Hold the Line,” “I’ll Supply the Love” and “Georgy Porgy.” “Hold The Line,” Toto’s debut single, reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is today considered a rock classic by many.

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