Released: Oct 1979 / Produced by: Tom Knox, Reggie Fisher, Toto
Schizophrenic follow-up to their debut, sees the band dabbling in purer elements of punk, Boz Scaggs-style R&B, AM ballads, hard rock, and Sci-Fi prog rock. Nonetheless it all works, with dichotomy of trained, experienced studio musicians pulling off punk tunes one of the more adept accomplishments of early band.
The title tack could have been plucked from Kansas' Point Of Know Return, "All Us Boys" from any Cheap Trick period output, and "99" (Billboard #26) from Scaggs' Silk Degrees. Though the material somewhat jarringly jumps genres, the result is a solid album that only misfires on closing track, the misplaced "Secret Love." Other standouts: hard rocking "St. George and the Dragon," funky "Mama," and tear-ass "White Sister" (featuring infernal solos by Lukather). Not for everyone, but highly recommended.
Track Listing
1. Hydra
2. St. George and the Dragon
3. 99
4. Lorraine
5. All Us Boys
6. Mama
7. White Sister
8. Secret Love