Memories in TOTO ;)
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Artist:
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Sure... I realize that most of you - if you know of Toto... know them through two songs if not only one. Rosanna (written about Rosanna Arquette) & Africa. Both are good songs - especially Africa if you were to ask me - maybe you weren't planning on it - but there it is.
Me, I think the rest of the album from wence both songs came, is the standout. And it's been an album on constant rotation since it first came out & I had it on cassette. I can sing all the words & often - I do - whether in my car or at work or at home & I belt out the choruses for all I am worth.
I remember 1982-1983 & spending a couple weeks at a condo in Sun River Oregon with the Henry's & bike riding (on a ONE SPEED bike) all over the place, swimming up a storm, building tree forts & then having the neighbors force us to take down the forts... all in all, splendid times.
Still it's the music that stands at the forefront. Well, the music & Brad Henry. We grew up together & were more like siblings than friends. His mom was the first person to tell my mom I had a gift when it came to music. & their house - just like mine - was always filled with music. You will see more about the Henry's later - specifically a post about Kristin & her love of a band: QUEEN.
But this one goes out to Brad & Sun River & Toto IV.
Brad & I were playing near the condo, with Toto IV playing loudly & the two of us singing up a storm, and some lads we didn't know came along to see if they could join in our game. Sure - why not ?!? Course, what we didn't know at the time is that these lads wanted nothing to do with playing with girls & since I was a girl - I was on the outs pretty quick. Never fear - we're talking about a miniLGE & I was ready to play regardless of their desires. Brad kept me included & they decided it was time to get a little rough. They decided to break some rocks with a really big stone. (do you see the inevitable outcome yet) ?!? As I was clearing away some of the broken bits to make ready for the next stone - one of the lads threw the stone down on top of my fingers.
Brad punched the kid square in the face (mind you we were 7 years old at most) & picked up a tearfacestained LittleLGE & carried me all the way back to the condo. When the mothers came running, all he could say was - those boys were aholes & went straight to his room - he was FURIOUS with them. My Mum patched me up good - my fingers were sore & bleeding - but it was more my pride that was hurt by the actions of a few simpleton lads. Brad - he got over it too... & we were back to playing just the two of us - listening to Toto IV & biking & swimming & fort creating til the sun went down on Sun River Oregon. I fell for him that day. & whenever I think of a "knight in shining running shorts & OP tshirts", I think of Brad Henry... my own personal knight ;)
The sync is a bit off - but enjoy the song regardless please :)
Locating MOG account...
Comments (29)
We must be close to the same age. I still have a vision in my head of seeing the local hastings music store plastered with posters for the new Toto album. Charming story. I like to imagine a tiny LGE rockin out to Toto. I also know them as the guys who provided the soundtrack to the movie Dune.
Toto, Devo, Queen, Steely Dan, Alan Parson's Project & Blondie to name but a few ;)
SamBro - I do believe we are very close in age - 33 presently ;)
They are awesome - Toto & I am thrilled you dug the story of littleLGE rockin out to toto... change one letter & add a few years & I was rockin out to TOOL ;)
Ah, Lizzie. Love you. Hated them. Still do. Part of the stadium rock/power ballad nightmare that almost killed rock music until the grand enema of punk and new wave cleansed all. Of course, nostalgia and pop craft are powerful together - and may explain why I tolerate some stuff that many would agree is crap. (Michael McDonald and the Doobies, anyone?)
I'll be 32 at the end of this month. I'd say that's pretty close.
dang what a story! I like the OP shorts reference.
Funny pic, Chris. Just to bring this full circle, the Ivylanders have a resident Toto (a.k.a., a Cairn terrier) who shares a lot of winning personality traits (albeit with a great deal more fur) with our fully and wonderfully human Lizzie. To be specific, loads of affection and a massive appetite for life and the joy of expressing herself - though in Olive's case it takes the form of an ear-piercing bark rather than delightfully antic prose. I hope you're not offended, Lizzie. We can all be compared with dogs. I, for example, am like a mutt who only becomes animated at mealtime....
its good to have a huge appetite for life.
I always identified with Snoopy dancing on his doghouse.
Wow, had the same kind of story happen when I was a kid. Instead of rocks it was bricks and instead of the rock hitting my hand, the brick hit my head. Got stitches, and the kid who threw the brick ran away from home because he thought he was in major trouble. We were in 3rd grade so running away meant hiding under the canoe in the back yard. Think of that day every time I look in the mirror and see the scar
Yeah. Got a bit too wrapped up in my Toto-phobia to acknowledge the resonance of the anecdote. All props, LGE.
@Mr. Cutlery... heheh - I'll take the love any way I can get it :) & MMcDonald/Doobies is grand good stuff !!! I hear you - Toto were in that grouping - but I loved them then & love them still, if I felt guilt for any of the bands I love - I'd call them a guilty pleasure - but there is no guilt when it comes to the things you love :) Thank you for the props :)
@Chris... heheh - my swimsuit was OP too - loved that suit - came with matching running shorts & I wore the hell outta them that summer !!!
@IvyBill... none taken - I am flattered & love you right back :) & I can say for certain I shed like a dog - my hair is EVERYWHERE !!!
@Kev... I'd say I have the easier/gentler end to the story - but you didn't have a knight in shinning OP shorts to save you ;) You do have a scar though - I just have the memories & Toto... last I heard - Brad was doing well :)
No but I do have pictures of me in some OP shorts and it makes me wonder.............WHAT WAS I THINKING!
You weren't... none of us were - it was the time... I am sure we can say that still - I mean look at some of your recent haircolor/cuts ;)
and my hypercolor shirt
That... now THAT was cool - I always wanted one - but I sweat too much & would look like a goon in a hypercolor shirt - I still want one... oh well ;)
I almost bought one on Ebay..........somewhere in my parents attic the two I owned are most likely changing colors in the dark
I had a hypercolor shirt for a day. Then my mom put it in the dryer. :(
I had tons of OP shirts and shorts. I looked pretty rad in them while doing mad tricks on my pogoball.
ahahahahahah.......shit I had almost forgot about the pogo ball..........not to be outdone with that skip stick thingy that counted the amount of times you could hop over a ball of death.
i can't deny wearing some OP shorts...nor bouncing on the ol' pogoball
"I had a hypercolor shirt for a day. Then my mom put it in the dryer."
hahah...sigh...parents just don't understand man
and here's my fav Toto song...though i don't know many :\
Damn Lizzie, Toto?
Brad sounds like quite a guy but please tell me my Foreigner "4" post (on Multi) didn't spark this memory.
This should be made a topic, "Cheesy Young Summertime Crushes And The Songs That Accompanied Them" since we all seem to have one or two.
OP shorts yes I had them and many, OP t-shirts as well, and white puka bead necklace's. We also had a Panama Jack phase. OP became too popular and PJ was way cooler anyway. ...I loved those damn puka beads.
@sambro... dang the mam ;) Why oh why don't they get it ?!? POGOBALL - good golly - are we that old now - really ;)
@Kev... you're scaring me - the stick thingy & a ball of death ;)
@Will... great call - a song ALSO off Toto IV... dang love for always being late ya know ?!? ;)
@Dach... it certainly didn't hurt the memory - but I have quite a few percolating presently - Another one with the Henry's as hinted above - a few from fellow MOGGERS - a couple for the rents & the list just goes ON & ON ;)
I think I had the OP version of a Wrangler suit. Ah, the shame. Big plastic comb in the back pocket. It really was the end of my childhood youth (at 12?)and when I shed that childish shell of OP and became reborn as a Heavy Metal Maven it was then Black sleeved concert T-shirts (Metallica - Metal up your ass!), denim jacket ripped jeans, razor blade dangle earring, and a bandanna around the leg.
But Toto? (I think I also bought the 45). Thank God for Laibach that could reinterpret similar songs like "Life is Live" by Opus.
Laibach - Life is life
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Lizzie...these stories of yours create a huge smile on my face and warm thoughts in my head and heart for you. You are too cute.
Two words for you - Freezy Freakies:
@Dach... I had a cervesa especial PJ tshirt I wore to jr high & though all the other kids with beer slogan tshirts had to go home & chance - none of the teachers - cept for my Mum - knew that my tshirt was "contraband" so I got away with wearing it the entire time ;)
@lakposhti... OP & big combs in the back pocket - yup you made a statement !!! & your video with Laibach takes me back to the days I listened to Rammstein... still do sometimes - those zany German industrial bands ;)
@SunnyH... can't tell you how it makes me smile & love you to hear that my little memory posts make you smile & heart me :) XOXOX
@TylerDevil... dang man - those is a good two words ;)
freezie freakies, hypercolor shirts, op shorts, pogoballs....there's only one thing that could make this post any cooler....
must....not....Tesh....myself
TESH makes EVERYTHING BETTER !!!
especially on keytar... with the Zappa bros ;)
hahaha YES...that power stance from Tesh is too much
I'd back away quickly but without any sudden movements ;)
didn't read all your comments here. i just went on a toto-fest.
toto freakin' rules!