“Isolation,” a catchy track with some clever musicianship, was an apt description of where Toto was in 1984.

I can almost picture one of Toto’s label execs saying, “The album is a bit too fast; we need a ballad in the middle.”

Lyrically direct yet with a playful turn on the word “lion,” this Fergie Frederiksen-sung Toto song is sharp, funky and precise.

‘Toto IV’ follows the Steve Lukather rocker “Afraid Of Love” with an even more potent song from David Paich.

“Afraid of Love” isn’t just one of the best deep cuts found on Toto IV; it’s one of Toto’s catchiest, most accessible album tracks ever.

Up until ‘Toto IV,’ the vast majority of Toto ballads had been written by David Paich. Steve Lukather’s “I Won’t Hold You Back” changed the paradigm.

Toto’s “If It’s the last Night” doesn’t hit the heights of “A Million Miles Away,” but it’s an effective ballad. Unfortunately, it’s not an effective album closer.

Of David Paich’s four songs on Toto’s ‘Turn Back,’ the Steve Lukather-sung “I Think I Could Stand You Forever” is the most varied. But does it work?

As a Toto song, “Live For Today” is an interesting footnote for the band and a hint of the greatest of future Toto contributions by Steve Lukather.

When ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ arrived on Oct. 11, 2010, it looked as if Toto was over. Steve Lukather stepped forward to accept the mantle.