While there have been a bunch of
Toto
budget-line compilations over the years, 2003's
The Essential Toto
is the first high-profile hits collection since 1990's
Past to Present 1977-1990
. At 14 songs,
The Essential
is one track longer than that compilation, but it shares eight cuts with
Past to Present
, which, of course, are all the big hits:
"Africa,"
"Hold the Line,"
"Georgy Porgy,"
"Rosanna,"
"I Won't Hold You Back,"
"99,"
and
"Pamela."
What differentiates the two compilations, then, is that
boasts a much better remastering and a better selection of songs, including the single
"Make Believe"
and a good selection of album tracks from their peak period, like
"I'll Supply the Love."
While this is missing some hits, they're minor ones that won't be missed by most listeners --
"Live for Today,"
"Afraid of Love,"
"Loves in the Night,"
"Waiting for Your Love,"
"Stranger in Town,"
"Holyanna"
-- and what's here is very good, an accurate representation of
at their best, making this their best compilation to date. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine