Maestro David Paich, a masterpiece called ” Forgotten Toys”
Oltrerock here!
It feels like Christmas day, today I finally have in my hands the album fans from all over the world were dreaming about for years.. Maestro David Paich first solo album !
“Forgotten Toys” is the name of the EP, holy graal of the music that will be out worldwide 19th august 2022, it contains 7 jems, let me show you the tracklist.
- Forward
- WillIbelongtoyou
- Spirit of the Moonrise
- First Time
- Queen Charade
- All the tears that shine
- Lucy
The Cover’s artwork is an idea of Lorraine, David’s marvellous wife.
Everything you see has a specific meaning, you will find the first chapters of her adorable stories on his husband’s Instagram page ( here you have the link: https://instagram.com/therealdavidpaich?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= ).
The album itself is about old treasures that were hidden (or maybe just resting) in a drawer, while the incredible career of David was getting more intense day by day.
Covid let the world stop, and so did David, who finally had a possibility to stay in his studio to restore, renovate, adding that quid plus to songs that became the toys he wanted to play again with.
Stellar musicians on it, every step of this work was made respecting the stricter covid rules over the last two years.
The first song, Forward is an EPIC strumental intro, written and produced by David Paich.
A beautiful keyboard prelude that tells us all that the Art is running through Paich’s veins’ family from a long time ago.
I personally hear a tribute to his Dad, the great Marty Paich, composer, pianist and arranger, music director, emmy winner: it sound like an orchestral representation of time passing by.
Track number two is WILLIBELONGTOYOU, vocals by Paich and lifelong friend Joseph Williams (who plays synth and keyboards too), guitars by Dean Parks and his almost brother Steve Lukather, the incredible Nathan East on bass and cherry on top, Gregg Bissonette on drums.
It’s a ToToish song, I am totally lost in the fairy, elegant atmosphere, Joseph’s chorus will easily wrap around your thoughts.
No need to say that Maestro Paich’s silky, tasteful voice warms our hearts.
It’s love at first listening, I just can’t deny.
Maestro Paich’s touch on piano is unique, highly recognizable: gentle and delicate, it’s like staring at butterflies flying (and never getting bored of it).
A 45+ years career, the experience, the taste, the soulful sign of this musical hero just cannot be explained in a few words..
I am so curious about the whistle at the end, I hope one day I will have the priviledge to ask him who is it. (and let you know!)
the bear and his hat: Another hint by Lorraine..
Number three: first single out, Spirit of the Moonrise, a catchy incredible tune with Michael McDonalds, Joseph Williams and his daughters Hannah and Ray and Pat Knox on backing vocals, Mister David Hungate on bass, Lenny Castro on percussion, Dean Parks on acoustic & electric guitar, electric guitar solo by the one and only Steve Lukather, Warren Ham on saxophone, and our hero Maestro Paich on lead vocals, piano, organ and bass.
Whoa! Enough to imagine it’s an incredible song and that’s it: powerful, impressive, impossible to stop listening in loop for days! (and days).
Written by Paich and Williams, it’s about a David’s recurring dream, it has a beautiful video and a jawbreaking guitar solo (it reminds me of the early Lukatherian solos in the 80′, to name one, Lionel Richie’s “running with the night” ) played by the alien himself, mister Steve Lukather.
I think it has the ToTo “Isolation” sound somehow, mixed with the latest sound of the band.
On www.oltrerock.it you will also find the italian version of the the song.
Let’s go on (even if it’s difficult, I know, these songs are all incredible) and listen to number four, First Time.
Paich on lead vocals, synth and piano, Nathan East on electric bass, Robin di Maggio on drums and Dean Parks on electric+acoustic guitar, Lenny Castro and Robin di Maggio on world percussion, Warren Ham on flute and Fredrik Halland on soundscape electric guitar.
This is a sweet, touching, emotive and beautiful dedication to his daughter, Elizabeth who is also the enchanting feminine mermaid voice on this pure treat.
Queen Charade is number five, it’s the second outstanding single ,music and lyrics by David Paich (lead vocals, piano, organ and bass), the one and only Steve Lukather on electric guitar, Don Felder on slide guitar, Steve Jordan on drums and Warren Ham on saxophone and harmonica, backround vocals by Monet Owens and Pat Knox.
What a song! More than one musical genre magnificently mixed together in one track, effortless, naturally: the Maestro does never disappoint.
David shared the incredible story behind this beauty.
All the tears that shine : you all ToTo lovers will remember this tune in the album TOTO XIV.
You are right, it was! And it was sang by David Paich, this time The Maestro wanted us to hear the closest version of the demo of the song, written by himself and Michael Sherwood (lead vocal).
Lenny Castro and Robin di Maggio on percussion, David Paich on piano and synth and drums by Robin di Maggio, Intro Beacon by BRIAN ENO himself, guitar by David Johnstone, electric bass by Fredrick Holland and Mike Valerio on upright bass.
A poem, the lyrics are so intense and heartfelt that will move you. (Don’t deny it! I must confess I cried my eyes out a couple of times, Art has this side effect sometimes)
This was the ToTo version.
And this is the forgotten toy that David restored:
Don’t look me that way …but Lucy is the seventh and sadly the last song.
The second instrumental song of the EP, David let piano, organ and synth sing in his place.
Guitar by Ray Parker Jr (yes, he’s so much more than “Ghostbusters”..) Gregg Bissonette on drums, Lenny Castro on percussion, Jon Diversa on drums, acoustic piano solo by Michael Lang and Backround vocals and scatting by James Tormé (son of art, his dad was Mel Tormé).
Imagine soft lights, a chic club…great musicians producing fine, immortal art.. this sophisticated jazzy track will blow your mind.
When music marries poetry.. an incredible EP is born.
Link to Mascot Records to buy this masterpiece :https://www.mascotlabelgroup.com/collections/vendors?q=David%20Paich
I am beyond grateful for listening to this true pearl, David Paich is the Maestro himself, a living, inspiring musical legend.
Can’t wait for more, dear Maestro Paich, God Bless you!
Pump up the Volume!
Marica_OltreRock
Thank you for this outstanding review! My copy of the album is on the way and should be arriving soon. Very much looking forward to it! After this album and looking ahead, many fans hope David will write and record another Toto album with Steve Lukather, Joseph Williams, and this amazing new Toto lineup. That will make it TOTO XV with what happens to be the 15th incarnation of the band! Perfect and very fitting in every way.