MFSL LP Toto IV 1996 promo pre-release unplayed

$

99

This is a very unusual and extremely rare copy of the 1996 Mobile Fidelity-licensed re-release of Toto IV, an early promotional pre-release sent to a small number of writers. Its “special limited edition” number panel is blank. It would be a terrific addition to any Toto fan’s collection, but particularly for the bona fide audiophile who appreciates the very best.

Originally released in 1982 and produced by the bandmembers themselves, “Toto IV” is widely considered to be their best recording. The album won 1982 Grammys for Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Engineered Recording and reached #2 on Billboard's ‘82 Pop chart. The singles "Africa" and "I Won't Hold You Back" reached #1 on the pop and adult contemporary charts while "Rosanna" (inspired by the relationship between Steve Porcaro and actress Rosanna Arquette) went to #2.

While critical praise was not particularly forthcoming at the time, the record has become somewhat of a classic. And no wonder. In addition to the stellar musicianship of the band, whose studio chops and contributions to other people’s records (Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” among them), were legendary, the list of sidemen is quite impressive, including Tom Scott and Jim Horn on sax, James Newton Howard on strings (and as conductor and orchestral arrangements), percussionist extraordinaire Lenny Castro and many others, including Timothy B. Schmit, later of the Eagles. The band’s first three recordings were often criticized for being long on technical expertise but short on great songs. This record changed that. In addition to pristine musicianship and technically superb engineering, this recording contains some truly wonderful pop songs.

It is also ideally suited to the Mobile Fidelity treatment. If you listen to the 2002 Super Audio release of this recording, you will find that this Mobile Fidelity disc is vastly superior. It is without a doubt the warmest, richest and most completely present recording of these songs:

1. "Rosanna" (Paich) - 5:31

2. "Make Believe" (Kimball/Lukather/Paich) - 3:45

3. "I Won't Hold You Back" (Lukather) - 4:56

4. "Good For You" (Kimball/Lakather/Porcaro) - 3:20

5. "It's A Feeling" (Porcaro) - 4:57

6. "Afraid Of Love" (Lukather/Paich/Porcaro) - 3:05

7. "Lovers In The Night" (Paich) - 3:51

8. "We Made It" (Paich/Porcaro) - 4:25

9. "Waiting For Your Love" (Kimball/Paich) - 3:56

10. "Africa" (Paich/Porcaro) - 4:13

This recording, MFSL 1-250, was part of Mobile Fidelity’s ANADISQ 200 Series, which contained 65 commercially available releases limited to 5000 pressings each. The series featured numbered limited editions, 200 gram super quality virgin vinyl and special heavy-duty jackets with rice paper inner sleeves. All the Anadisq 200 releases were mastered at half-speed to allow every nuance of the master tapes to be accurately transferred to the vinyl.

In addition to the pressings being limited to 5000 copies, each pressing session was limited to 500 pressings per stamper to all but eliminate the effects of stamper wear on the final pressings. Mobile Fidelity’s obsessive and meticulous attention to detail as well as proprietary technological advances (such as its GAIN mastering system) and utter commitment to quality (they owned their own pressing plant) are clear from the moment the stylus nestles in the groove. I love this “disclaimer,” which appears on every release:

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab does not “de-horn” metal parts in the plating process of our lacquers. To do so would cause loss in transients in the musical signal. There may be occasional pops or ticks in initial playing of the discs because of this. But, as the discs are played more, the playback stylus will polish the grooves and actually improve the sonics of your ANADISQ 200.”

This particular Toto Anadisq recording is exceedingly rare. As an early promotional pre-release sent to a small number of writers, it is identical to the numbered recordings, but is blank in the space allotted for the limited edition number. It has never been sealed, and the disc has never been out of the jacket. It is in stunning, perfect and unplayed mint condition, carefully stored in archival mylar for a decade, untouched.

All items in my eBay store and auctions are 100% guaranteed to be exactly as described or your money back. You are responsible for shipping back to me in the original packaging and in the same condition in which you received it. Upon receipt, I will refund the amount you paid, including the original shipping amount.