Little Feat keyboardist Billy Payne and engineer extraordinaire George Massenburg combined with Toto to give The Seventh One a layered sonic sheen eclipsing anything else in 1988. No where is that more evident than “You Got Me,” composed by David Paich and Joseph Williams.
This song is a perfect example of pop-rock genius, with lyrics that are clever and straight forward:
Momma said be careful what you do
Don’t you let just anybody talk to you
I can’t hide the way you make me feel inside
I’m afraid if momma only knew
It feels rightIf you want me
You got me
If you need me
You got me all night
And if you love me
You got me all night long…”
The back beat provided by Toto’s Jeff Porcaro – and supported by Lenny Castro’s congas and an arsenal of Jim Keltner percussion – is pulsating and intricate, but undeniably fun. Joseph Williams shines with his second lead vocal of the album, giving hints of teenage naïveté and desire. He wraps around guest vocalist Patti Austin’s vocals like a glove.
Steve Lukather shows his knack at creating integrated guitar sounds, with a tasty Paul Jackson Jr. rhythm part; he then throws in a brief melodic solo during the musical breakdown. “You Got Me” even has a Jerry Hey/David Paich horn arrangement which recalls both “Rosanna” and Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.”
The song is in good company. Perhaps “You Got Me” should have been an a-side single for Toto instead of the next song on The Seventh One.
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