Ride Records’ Worldwide launching of its first solo artist

11 years have passed… Steve Lukather is back with his BEST album ever!

After the release of "FALLING IN BETWEEN", the band ‘TOTO’ had its year and a half long tour.  Due to this, there was a huge delay in the mixing of their 30th Anniversary Record "Falling In Between Live".  During the tour, Mike Porcaro left the band due to an injury. In addition to that, Simon Phillips suddenly became sick. It’s truly a chain of unexpected accidents. Yet, there are also some good news coming in like in the Japan tour of TOTO (to be held this end of March), Boz Scaggs who made a great contribution when the band ‘TOTO’ was formed. This is truly a dream come true for the long time fans and the band itself.

Even with all these troubles going on around them, Steve pulls the band up and he’s really excited in what they’re doing. He even made a solo album by making use of the time in between the tours, and there were also news coming in that he will become a father to three kids. Regarding the solo album, you will be able to see the information regarding this album on the official website of TOTO and Steve Lukather’s website. Actually, this solo album was originally planned to have its release at the fall of 2007, but due to the extension of the band tour and some business matters, it was extended to early this year. Some might know it already, but this record is the ‘first’ record coming from the new record company, RIDE RECORDS.

Collaboration with the big producer of the AOR industry, Randy Goodrum!

As an A&R consultant of RIDE RECORDS (L.A.), the known songwriter Randy Goodrum has been invited for the big part. The first releasing of the Steve Lukather’s album became possible also thanks to Randy’s help. Randy has been working with Steve since 1986 with the song “I’ll be Over You” of TOTO. This song became a big hit in the US (11th in the top charts) and since this success, they have been maintaining a good relationship with each other. Steve is especially known for his love ballads and when it comes to love ballads, Randy is definitely a must have partner. Their relationship in terms of songwriting also applies in this solo album of Steve. They met each other in 1985; Randy was living right at the back of Steve’s home. Then Steve’s mother told him to try meeting Randy. The funny thing that time is that they did not know at that time they have already worked on the same record in the end of 70s. Randy also worked on other records of Olivia Newton John, B.J. Thomas, England Dan & John Colley, Michael McDonald, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Chica Kharn, Natalie Cole, Komodo Earth, Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers, Starship, Cansas, and many other major artists. Since Ann Marley sung his song “You Need Me” and it became the top hit in the US, He helped Steve Perry, Diverge, Chicago, Michael Johnson which ranked in the top 20s of the US chart.

Also as a solo act, he made a masterpiece of his own, "FOOLS’S PARADISE" in 1982 which gave way to 5 more albums with heart-warming tracks. He name might not be popular to the public but his skills are really something that any AOR fans can’t deny. Now you really can look forward to Steve’s solo album because Randy’s taking a big part in it.  If you try to compare this album with the previous albums he made, there is a huge difference in the main concept. Let us try to see his discography.

• 1989 LUKATHER
• 1994 CANDYMAN（with the name Ross Robbies in the US）
• 1997 LUKE
• 2003 SANTAMENTAL（Project album）

If you try to describe these 4 records, the first one is a contemporary hard rock, the 2nd is a hard core fusion, the 3rd as a heavy blue rock, and the 4th is a party like album containing Christmas songs played with his friends (Eddy Van Halen, Steve Vai, Slash etc.).

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