Isolation is the fifth studio album by Toto, released on October 18, 1984. This was first album the band made with Fergie Frederiksen as the primary vocalist. Isolation failed to achieve the popularity of its predecessor, Toto IV, although it achieved gold record status and gave the band their highest charting mainstream rock single “Stranger in Town” (No. 7).
Frederiksen, singing lead on seven of the ten tracks, replaced original Toto vocalist Bobby Kimball while the band was in the recording process for the album. Kimball had recorded vocals for some of the album’s tracks prior to his termination; sources differ on how many – Kimball says most of the album, whereas David Paich and Steve Lukather say around 3 or 4 songs. Some of Kimball’s background vocals can be heard on the record, such as in their single “Stranger in Town”, and at least one song, “Lion”, had a demo recording with Kimball on lead vocals before being recorded with Frederiksen.
Tracks
1 Carmen (David Paich, Jeffrey Porcaro) 3:24 2 Lion (Bobby Kimball, David Paich) 4:46 3 Stranger in Town (David Paich, Jeffrey Porcaro) 4:49 4 Angel Don’t Cry (Fergie Frederiksen, Jeffrey Porcaro) 4:23 5 How Does It Feel (Steve Lukather) 3:50 6 Endless (David Paich) 3:43 7 Isolation (Fergie Frederiksen, Steve Lukather, David Paich) 4:05 8 Mr. Friendly (Fergie Frederiksen, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Jeffrey Porcaro, Mike Porcaro) 4:22 9 Change of Heart (Fergie Frederiksen, David Paich) 4:10 10 Holyanna (David Paich, Jeffrey Porcaro) 4:16
Band
Bass - Mike Porcaro Drums - Jeffrey Porcaro Guitar - Steve Lukather Keyboards - David Paich Keyboards - Steve Porcaro Vocals - David Paich Vocals - Steve Lukather Vocals - Fergie Frederiksen
Other Musicians
Synthesizer - Michael Cotten Trumpet - Chuck Findley Trumpet - Jerry Hey Sax - Tom Scott Percussion - Joe Porcaro Percussion - Lenny Castro Background Vocals - Tom Kelly Background Vocals - Richard Page Background Vocals - Gene Morford Background Vocals - Bobby Kimball Orchestra – The London Symphony Orchestra (Tracks 5, 9)
Liner Notes
Producer – Toto Arranged By (Horns) – Jerry Hey, Toto (Track 2) Arranged By (Orchestra) – David Paich, James Newton Howard (Tracks 5, 9) Conductor – Marty Paich, James Newton Howard (Tracks 5, 9) Engineer – Greg Ladanyi, Niko Bolas, Shep Lonsdale, Tom Knox Engineer (Assistant) – Ann Calnan, Bill Jackson, Brian Malouf, David Schober, Duane Seykora, Franz Pusch, Peggy McCreary, Richard Bosworth, Stuart Furusho, Terry Christian, Tom Fletcher Engineer (Strings) – John Kurlander Mixed By – Toto, Greg Ladanyi Orchestra – The London Symphony Orchestra Illustration – Robert Kopecky Art Direction, Design – Bill Murphy Engineered At Abbey Road Studios Recorded At Record One, Los Angeles Recorded At The Villa Recorded At The Manor, Los Angeles Recorded At Sunset Sound Recorded At Bill Schnee Studios Recorded At Can-Am Recorders Mastered At The Mastering Lab Phonographic Copyright CBS Inc Copyright CBS Inc
