In my ongoing listing of my ten favorite Toto songs, "Goodbye, Elenore" is number nine.
Lyrics - http://www.toto99.com/lyrics/xxlyrics.shtml
This song is from the 1981 release "Turn Back", the third studio album from the group. After "Hydra" (where you can find the single "99"), the band went in a different musical direction. "Turn Back" was an attempt to do more arena rock-ish songs. It was considered a commercial failure, but according to Wikipedia it sold 900K units.
David Paich is credited as writer, with Bobby Kimball handling lead vocal duties. It starts with a drum roll, followed by a heavy guitar riff. First verse has a guy trying to impress a girl he desires, while backing vocals echo her negative response. Steve Lukather throws in a sung line of warning, then Kimball finishes the verse and heads off for the chorus.
Chorus is the admission that she doesn't feel the same way as the guy does. She has broken his heart "for the last time", he declares.
Second verse is constructed similarly, but viewpoint now is our hero trying to convince his buddies of her worth, while the backing vocals' response is one of their collective disagreement.
The original lineup was present for this album, with David Hungate on bass. Hungate's bass work was stylistically different from successor Mike Porcaro, but enjoyable nonetheless. Hungate's rich, round tone fit well with this song.
Great drum fills from Jeff Porcaro, "dive bomber" runs by Lukather on guitar, intricate synths and keyboards by Paich and Steve Porcaro. This song is a real roller-coaster ride of a tune. Always brings a smile to my face whenever I play it.
Next time, number 8 - "Bottom of Your Soul"
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