Turn Back

[Eilif]

Lucious,

If you don't mind my asking, what guitar(s) and amp(s) did you use to record Turn Back? Also, the sound on that album is strange, like the engineering wasn't up to snuff or somebody lost the master tape. Is there a story behind that?

Thank you for many, many years of musical enjoyment.

 

[Lucious]

Answer for ya

Hey man..I agree. A weak sounding record sonically. There WERE some interesting moments but we had this cat Geoff Workman engineer and co-produce. he did all the Roy Thomas Baker stuff, Queen, Jouney, the Cars, all in the "hey day" but we couldnt relate to how he EQ's stuff. GREAT guy but VERY set in his ways! ALL the 1k was pulled out of everything and way too much room sound, on everything so it gets a bit washy. We were trying to break out of the "slick studio mold" and it was our least successful record. We did OK.. no hits but sold around a million worldwide. Funny thing IS some people dug it the most ? We got pissed and did Toto IV. That worked.
For us, our worlwide following never died. It has a bit in the USA but hey, its a big world out there. Got a new record comin in Jan that is NOT what people expect, of course I dont know what that IS , haha , But WE like. Its our first studio record in many, many years so we want to make it as good as it can be for a bunch of old hacks. hahaha
Thanks for askin anyway. I think i suck most of the time anyway. haha
Oh yeah.. I used Marshalls and old Fenders. The engineer did ALL EFX. Some great, some not so great. hahaha
Dig ya later
Lucious

 

[bovinehost]

Guy who's played guitar on every record ever recorded and some that never were says, " I think i suck most of the time anyway."

Can't beat that, Luscious! But I can teach you how to really suck.

Wait, that doesn't sound quite right.

 

[jongitarz]

But I can teach you how to really suck.

Wait, that doesn't sound quite right.

Jack...Maybe you can stay at a hotel for the open house...Unless you show Lisa.

I didn't really say that...It wasn't me Lisa. Really.

 

[MikeVt]

Guy who's played guitar on every record ever recorded and some that never were says, " I think i suck most of the time anyway."

Can't beat that, Luscious! But I can teach you how to really suck.

Wait, that doesn't sound quite right.

Ok Bov, that's good...but let me go in a different direction here...

Lucious, can you teach me how to suck?

Mike

 

[MikeVt]

For us, our worlwide following never died. It has a bit in the USA but hey, its a big world out there. Got a new record comin in Jan that is NOT what people expect, of course I dont know what that IS , haha , But WE like. Its our first studio record in many, many years so we want to make it as good as it can be for a bunch of old hacks. hahaha

Luke, it looks like I misunderstood some other posts on this forum. For someone who hasn't really been following Toto, I didn't realize that you were still playing with them. Is it just the Toto hits from the 80's you don't care for (like Rosanna, etc.)?

Mike

 

[bovinehost]

Unless you show Lisa.

Eh....that is definitely YOUR job, Juanito!

I don't know shinola about Toto, but I imagine (correct me if I'm wrong, Auntie L) that when you've struck out on your own, doing your own thing and people want you to play what is not your own thing, it could get old.

This is just a guess on my part, because people never want me to play anything at all, no matter what it is.

 

[jongitarz]

Jack....Call me before I pass out, er um..go to sleep

 

[Lucious]

Reply

Hey guys,
Well first off, I have been playin with my brothers in Toto since High School, 1973 on. We have had many permutations but MOST people think we have 5 songs and thats it. The rec co. kept putting out pussy ballads ( some of which I wrote haha) and we got labeled a "soft rock pussy band that sucks" by the US critics at large. IF thats all you have heard than I can dig the critique. BUT.. we have had 17 records out. Yeah 17! We still sell out arenas around the world. We are all but dead here in the USA thats why we hardly ever play here. I LOVE my side projects and they are really where *I* am at but its doesnt suck to get the big paycheck and play with some great players, albiet, maybe not "hip" in some cirlcles but I get to do it all. Fusion, sessions, et all so when it comes to playing Hold the Line in front of 10,000 people I can dig it. I was 19 when I reorded that! I will will 48 Oct 21st. Do the math. hahaha
The new record we got comin out is more prog-fun-music but still has our style and world music vibe we started before there WAS a term called world music but with loud guitars.
Hey, it beats workin for a living. I am proud of what we have done. Some dig it, some dont. thats cool. I am the same as you all. I am blessed to get paid to play the guitar
So there. hahahahaha
have a great weekend. I will be poolside rubbing my MM Luke against my loins. haha
Lucious

 

[Dargin]

Can I apply the suntan lotion. BTW Lucious I am going to be in Van. BC in 3 hours. . Can't wait to see your pimpled ass soon.

Scotty

 

[MikeVt]

Hey guys,
Well first off, I have been playin with my brothers in Toto since High School, 1973 on. We have had many permutations but MOST people think we have 5 songs and thats it. The rec co. kept putting out pussy ballads ( some of which I wrote haha) and we got labeled a "soft rock pussy band that sucks" by the US critics at large. IF thats all you have heard than I can dig the critique. BUT.. we have had 17 records out. Yeah 17! We still sell out arenas around the world. We are all but dead here in the USA thats why we hardly ever play here. I LOVE my side projects and they are really where *I* am at but its doesnt suck to get the big paycheck and play with some great players, albiet, maybe not "hip" in some cirlcles but I get to do it all. Fusion, sessions, et all so when it comes to playing Hold the Line in front of 10,000 people I can dig it. I was 19 when I reorded that! I will will 48 Oct 21st. Do the math. hahaha
The new record we got comin out is more prog-fun-music but still has our style and world music vibe we started before there WAS a term called world music but with loud guitars.
Hey, it beats workin for a living. I am proud of what we have done. Some dig it, some dont. thats cool. I am the same as you all. I am blessed to get paid to play the guitar
So there. hahahahaha
have a great weekend. I will be poolside rubbing my MM Luke against my loins. haha
Lucious

Hey Luke, thanks. Don't get me wrong - my comments were never meant as a critique. I actually liked the ballads, but I just never bought any of them. I had NO idea you guys had 17 albums out! Holy crap.... For me, it must be like REO and some others. Until I saw them live, I had no idea they did harder stuff than what was being played on the radio at the time. Unfortunately, as kids we usually don't have the money to buy all the albums that we want, so our image of a band is usually limited to what we hear on the radio.

My question was purely driven by the fact that some posts here from others seemed to indicate that the whole Toto thing was a part of YOUR life that you wanted to forget. Clearly that's not the case (at least parts of it). I'm intrigued now to check out the new stuff.

And as to being the same as us all, don't kid yourself. Clearly you have a lot more talent than most of us. I would LOVE to be able to make a living playing guitar.

Have a great weekend - looking forward to meeting you in Sept...
Mike

 

[Eilif]

Funny thing IS some people dug it the most ?......Oh yeah.. I used Marshalls and old Fenders.

No Gibsons? I'd swear I hear humbuckers in there.

Turn Back is probably my favorite Toto record. I've got every single Toto album (I'm not ashamed to admit). I also like progressive rock (Better World was fantastic but too short) and so am looking forward to the new record. I enjoyed Through The Looking Glass, but otherwise it's been six years since the last studio album, and eight years since your last solo album (Santamental doesn't count). I'm going through withdrawal over here!

For any of you (especially guitarists) that think Toto died during the 80s or is all about Rosanna, Africa, and soft rock pop tunes, check out "KIngdom of Desire" (1992), which is probably their most rocking album. Luke does all the vocals, and the album is almost all guitar, bass, and drums. Luke's solo on the song Jake to the Bone is sweeeeeeeeeeeet. And it's the last record with Jeff.

Here is a link to Amazon.com for Kingdom of Desire.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000025OG6/ref=pd_art_ftr_1/104-2638762-7439132?v=glance&s=music]http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000025OG6/ref=pd_art_ftr_1/104-2638762-7439132?v=glance&s=music[/ame]

 

[Lucious]

Answer about guitars

On Turn back I used my 1959 Burst, still have it, its worth a fortune, a 59 Gold top ( all with PAF's) and 63 Fender strat with EMG's . I was one of the first to use them. Not THE first but back in 1979 they were new. I still use them on all my Music Mans' I dont dig out the old stuff much anymore. I love owning them and they are classics but to be REALLY honest, and I am NOT just saying this, My LUKE guitars give me more than I need and I love them so much and I can get so many different sounds out of them that I really dont miss the vintage stuff. MM gives it all bro. I wouldnt use them if I didnt REALLY use them. Simply the best and I have NEVER been with a company that is SO on the case! Yes , they are my best friends and family BUT ask any of the artists that use any of the EB-MM stuff. The BEST f*cking team out there. I know, I have been around.
So go out and buy 50-60 LUKES and tell a friend. haha
Poolside Luke ( wish I was in the desert) Biff and I can almost throw rocks at each others pad. His is way nicer but I have a bigger p*nis. hahahaha Well actually I dont really know. haha thats a GOOD thing. hahahahaha

 

[Lucious]

Ps

I am very proud of the Kingdom of Desire record. Probably the way I always thought Toto should sound and . I had a little more control on that one. it was a 4 piece ROCK band. AWESOME Jeff Porcaro drums. he was the best and I mziss him so much! HE was a true genius on all levels. You should see the cartoons he used to draw of all of us.. classic. hahaha I have a few in my office. INSIDE **** but deep. hahaha
Anyway.. back on subject,
I remember working at Record 1 studios with Satch and Andy Johns next door, I believe it was the Extremist record and he came in and I played him 2 songs. Gypsy train and Jake to the Bone and he really dug it. NOTHING like the Toto most of you know. He even said nice **** about me in the next issues of the Guitar mags. He and I are good friends now but it meant alot to get a shout out from someone I respect so much. We gotta get him to use MM.
Anyway my deli food just got here. I feel a massive dump coming. haha
lucious
PS thanks for givin a sh*t

 

[Dcareaga]

Kingdom Of Desire is one of my Favorite Records Ever. To me it is the Best Rock guitar sound I have ever heard. I remember the issue of Guitar World with the Satriani Interview. They had asked him about the Spinal Tap CD on which you produced 3 tracks. He said you were a Genius for cutting all the solos on "Break Like The Wind" without letting the players hear the others parts. Then he went on to say that you had played him some new Toto stuff and that it was "Great" and "Really Rockin'" I remember being SO Jazzed that Satriani was giving you some"Airtime" since to me you are one of the most underrated, under-covered Guitarists.
I remember buying Kingdom Of Desire, it was March of 1993.... I was Broke and almost Homeless......Seriously, I had a Job as a Salesman but I am a Sh*t*y salesman HA HA. I was 20 years old with all the irresponsibility that comes with that age!! HA HA I lived in East LA and Didn't own a Car!!! I used to walk to work in Pasadena!! Anyhow, I walked into a CD shop in Pasadena and there was an Import Copy of KOD(It wasn't available in the US yet)!! It was like 50 bucks... So I thought "I don't really need to eat this week do I?" I had heard a couple of tracks on KLOS when you Guest hosted with Miguel Ferrer and Bill Mumy, great Acoustic Version of "Pussy Whipped" by the way, and I KNEW I had to have it. So I bought it took it home and it became, along with "Candyman" a year or so later, the Best guitar "Teacher" I ever had!! I had only been playing 3 years and learning that CD provided the First big "Break" in my playing. Seriously... THANKS For the amazing Music.


DC

 

[Big Poppa]

LUKE

How is that natural finished neck smelling today?

 

[Eilif]

The BEST f*cking team out there. I know, I have been around.
So go out and buy 50-60 LUKES and tell a friend. haha

Actually, my very first guitar--ever--is/was a Luke.

 

[kbaim]

Let's face it

Top session kat for years, major rock band with best buds out of high school still touring sold out arenas around the world 30 years later, fusion side projects that rip, your own sig model from EB...

Who among us wouldn't have taken THAT if offered?

Folks at the Open House who just know Luke from a few toto hits are really gonna crap there pants.

we'll see if he can resist doing Hendrix and Jeff Beck in favor of original material, or if he throws in a homage or 2 to the guitarists he admires the most.

BTW Did you see that pic of Luke in the guitar mag playing at Les Pauls 90th b-day celebration. he was playing a Les Paul!

That must've been a fun one.

 

[MikeVt]

Folks at the Open House who just know Luke from a few toto hits are really gonna crap there pants.

I guess I'll wear a diaper.

Looking forward to messing my shorts....

Mike

 

[Lucious]

Les Paul

Guys.. I HAD to play a Les Paul at the LES PAUL tribute. It would have shown disrepsect to Les as everyone played one. I wasnt gonna bring my 59 burst as its worth more than I am. hahaha I still have all that stuff and its great stuff BUT I am a proud MM guy and thats where my heart and soul are.
Thanks for the nice vibe from all of you. I cant wait to hang
Lucious