IV

It's a little difficult for me to admit to becoming something of an audio snob. I used to think that one CD was much the same as any other. After all, it's all zeros and ones being converted into a signal audible to the human ear, and any differences in sound quality are down to the owner of those ears, right? Wrong, and this CD proves it. Beautifully remastered for this release on Rock Candy Records, this album sounds better than it ever has before in its 36 year life. Remastering is apparently not an easy thing to get right, judging by my soon regretted re-purchase of albums, tempted by the 'Now Remastered!' tag. But Rock Candy got it so right here, with a perfect balance between analog-sounding warm bass and digitally crisp treble. It must be tempting for a remaster project to go all-in with sharp digital sound to underline an audible difference to previous releases, but this often seems to translate to a horribly shrill recording that quickly fatigues the listener. Thankfully, Rock Candy avoided this pitfall.This was Toto's make or break album. After the lackluster commercial performance of the previous two albums, Columbia was beginning to wonder if Toto's debut effort was a fluke success. Toto IV being the last contracted record of their deal, the band members poured everything into this project, and in the process, decided to stop following trends and fashions of their contemporaries, and just write and play what felt right to them. This resulted in a multi-platinum international success that spawned three hit singles (Rosanna, I Won't Hold You Back, Africa), and at least two other songs that could easily have been released to commercial success.Perhaps a great illustration of Toto's new found confidence in setting their own course, and reaping the consequent rewards, is the much celebrated 'Africa'. This beautifully and intricately arranged song seems to come out of literally nowhere with syncopated beats and ethnic sound, on an album that had previously glided easily from pure American rock to ballad and back again. The vocals are stunningly good. The choruses display warm, layered harmonies and Bobby Kimball's falsetto flourishes. Steve Lukather forgoes a guitar solo and in the process one of the best known keyboard solos of the 80s is created. It's no surprise to learn (from the liner notes) that 'Africa' almost didn't make the cut because it didn't quite fit the rest of the album's feel. But the band relented and indulged David Paich, in no way expecting it to become a #1 hit single, or to go on to represent the very zenith of Toto's career success.

Everything was perfect and intact

I ordered this new, and it had a skip on one side. I returned it for a replacement of the same album. It has scratches on one side, and sounds like it was used. For what I paid for this brand new, it should have been in perfect condition.

albums are popular again and this is a good one

Awesome!!!

Exactly as described

Gets the job done.

Vinyl sounds amazing! Jacket and sleeve are mint! Thank You!

The mastering is really good and this should be a 5 star item but unfortunately something went wrong with the way they manufactured the metalwork and it shows defects i think on the second track of side A where there is a low volume noise throughout all the song and i think it remains a bit into the third song or something. If they cared enough about the little details this would probably the best Toto release of all time, very sad that it is just really good with issues. I cannot fully recommend, specially not for full retail price, if you find it for what you would consider cheap or a good deal i'd say go for it then.

Awesome new remaster.... loud & punchy but still with excellent clarity and sparkle.

Nulla da dire sulla qualità artistica di questo album, un classicissimo degli anni 80 che già possedevo in musicassetta e successivamente preso su cd : essendo un appassionato audio mi son voluto togliere lo sfizio di prendere questa versione "audiofila" della Speakers Corner che seppur abbastanza cara (33.50€ per un singolo vinile) sulla carta prometteva bene, vinile pesante 180g. e remaster completamente analogico purtroppo una volta posato sul piatto ho avuto l'amara sorpresa... il suono risulta molto chiuso e diversi brani presentano un fastidioso fruscio e numerosi click soprattutto nel brano più bello Africa. Leggendo in seguito alcune recensioni ho scoperto che altri acquirenti hanno riscontrato problemi simili per cui non mi sono avventurato in una sostituzione, ma ho richiesto direttamente il rimborso : grazie Amazon per il servizio 10 e lode, una tiratina di orecchie a Speakers Corner per il pessimo controllo qualità!

Le doy dos estrellas porque es un discazo, si no, seria una solo. La calidad del prensado no es mala, del audio tampoco, pero es el segundo que pido, el primero lo cambie pensando que podía ser un fallo en esa unidad, pero en este igual. El segundo tema entero de la cara A (Make Believe), y el principio del siguiente (I Won't Hold You Back), tienen un zumbido HORRIBLE y muy molesto en el canal derecho de audio. He probado en 2 platos distintos y mismo problema. Viendo que es un tema y aunque es de los que más me gustan, y lo complicado que es encontrar este vinilo en buen estado, me lo quedaré. Pero me parece un poco lamentable siendo el disco que es que tengan ese fallo de producción.

E' un vinile che sulla carta dovrebbe essere un riversamento dall'analogico...non so se è vero, ma il disco si sente completamente ovattato. Solo la voce e i piatti della batteria risultano più in evidenza e hanno una certa ariosità, per il resto non si distingue niente. Non buttate i vostri soldi.