WCSX Classic Cuts : Hold the Line

WCSX Classic Cuts

Toto: "Hold the Line"

The Hook: A Sly-inspired groove.

Album: Toto

Year: 1978

Writer: David Paich

Stats: Peaked at number-5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Background: Toto guitarist Steve Lukather didn't take part in writing the band's classic cut, "Hold the Line," but he can recall exactly where he was when he first heard it played.

Toto guitarist Steve Lukather on hearing “Hold the Line” for the first time. OC:…catchy tune. :19

“First time I heard that song was at David Paich’s apartment in Westwood. He said, ‘What do you think of this thing?’ and he started playing the riff. And I said, ‘That’s killer, man.’ He said he got the idea from ‘Hot Fun in the Summertime.’ That’s Sly Stone. He goes, ‘I want it to groove like this, but I want to put some heavy guitars on it.’ So we went in and cut it the next week. He had already written the lyrics and everything. I thought it was a really catchy tune.”