Nestled comfortably between Steve Porcaro’s “Takin’ It Back” and the smash hit “Hold the Line” is Toto’s steady and fun “Rockmaker.” Given the overall strength of Toto’s 1978 debut as a whole; “Rockmaker,” as fun as it is, sometimes gets overlooked.
Without it, however, the transition between Toto’s “Takin’ It Back” and “Hold the Line” would have been considerably more jarring. Instead, it picks up the pace smoothly with a nice steady rhythm driven by Jeff Porcaro and accented with Jim Horn’s sax parts — before kicking it into high gear on “Hold the Line.”
<<< BACKWARD (“Takin’ It Back”) ||| ONWARD (“Hold the Line”) >>>
Bobby Kimball’s background vocals act as a strong counterpoint to David Paich’s straightforward, no-nonsense vocals and the two singers complement each other throughout the song.
While “Rockmaker” isn’t one of Toto’s more memorable tracks, it’s an example of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. Without it, Toto’s debut just wouldn’t feel right. “Rockmaker” adds to the overall flow of 1978’s Toto, something that makes it such a joy to listen to from start to finish.
- Cold Chisel – ‘Cold Chisel’ (1978): Antipodean April - April 14, 2024
- Hello Sailor – ‘Hello Sailor’ (1977): Antipodean April - April 7, 2024
- John Wetton, Imagine Dragons, John Barry + Others: Five Songs That Cut Me to the Core - June 6, 2023
