The 12th song on the original release of 1999’s Mindfields, or the opening song on some later versions, “Cruel” is one of the more successful pairings of the many elements on this album.
Written by Simon Phillips, Steve Lukather with collaborator Jed Leiber and lead vocalist Bobby Kimball, the song starts with David Paich’s simple defining piano passage. Simon Phillips and Mike Porcaro quickly join in with a deep pocket rock-blues backing, which is supported by Lukather’s crunchy guitars.
Bobby Kimball’s vocals are strong and bluesy, matching the song’s emotional core. Richard Page and Kimball conspire to provide equally forceful backing vocals, and the Tom Scott-led Toto horn section jumps in and out of “Cruel,” in a manner reminiscent of a Jerry Hey horn arrangement from the 1980s.
With all its subtle touches, “Cruel” deserved a place towards the beginning of Mindfields. Luckily for us Toto fans, it went on to make several live appearances on Toto’s setlist.
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