The Temptations classic “I Can’t Get Next to You” gets an interesting – but not completely rewarding – new reading from Toto on 2002’s Through the Looking Glass.
Bobby Kimball’s lead vocal is among his strongest on the album. He has a knack for handing the more soulful Toto vocals, and sells the passion and urgency of the song’s theme well. The backing vocals, which include Simon Phillips and Mike Porcaro on the chorus, are powerful. In fact, they may be too powerful as they invoke images of a frat-party sing along.
On the other hand, the Phillips/Porcaro rhythm section puts forth a powerful and dynamic pocket, which is a bedrock for Steve Lukather’s melodic solo. David Paich gets into the act too, with his Fender Rhodes and Hammond Organ soloing at the tag of the song.
Still, even with the inclusion of vocal as-libs from James Ingram and the Walt Fowler/Brandon Fields horn section, Toto’s update of “I Can’t Get Next to You” seems to be missing a spark that the then-contemporary production just can’t compensate for.
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