99 (song)

1979 song by the band Toto

For the Fightstar song, see 99 (Fightstar song).

"99"

One of US reissues

Single by Toto
from the album  Hydra
B-side| "Hydra"
Released| December 3, 1979
Recorded| Summer 1979
Genre| Blue-eyed soul, adult contemporary
Length| 3:28 (Single Version)
5:16 (Album Version)
4:03 (Video Version)
Label| Columbia
Songwriter(s)| David Paich
Producer(s)| Toto, Tom Knox, Reggie Fisher
Toto singles chronology
| "Rockmaker"
(1979)  | "99"
(1979)  | "St. George and the Dragon"
(1980)

|
|

Music video
"99" on YouTube

"99" is a song by the American rock band Toto. The song appeared on the Hydra album in 1979.[1] As a single, it reached number 26 on the Billboard charts.[2] In Canada, the song peaked at number 17 on the RPM singles chart. The full album version of the song includes a gentle piano-driven ride out, while the single edit fades the song out before that part.

## Development

[edit]

The song was written as a tribute to George Lucas's film THX 1138, and the music video resembles a scene in the movie.[3][1][4]

In the video, as in the movie scene where the main character (named "THX 1138" and nicknamed "Thex") is imprisoned, the room is completely white and all wear white jumpsuits.[5] Toto Legend, the former official International Toto Fan Club newsletter, reviewed the video:

> '99' was predominantly a performance video, though the set design was rather conceptual. Following David Paich's intention regarding the lyrics, about a sterile society in which names are forgotten and love forbidden, the set was sterile white, with various sized sculptured 99's hanging and standing about, and the band was clad in futuristic white jumpsuits. There were some notable shots in this one – keyboard close-ups and an artistic view of Jeff through a transparent drum head, a technique that several popular videos have copied since.[5]

## Reception

[edit]

Record World praised Lukather's vocal and said that "Slick production wraps the keyboard-laden love song in a perfect AOR-pop package."[6]

## Personnel

[edit]

### Toto

[edit]

* Bobby Kimball – backing vocals
* Steve Lukather – guitars, lead and backing vocals
* Steve Porcaro – keyboards
* David Paich – keyboards, piano, backing vocals
* David Hungate – bass
* Jeff Porcaro – drums, percussion

## Release history

[edit]

Region  | Date  | Ref.

|
|

United States  | December 3, 1979  | [7]
United Kingdom  | February 29, 1980  | [8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Ryan, Tim (7 May 2004). "TOTO flies high on tour". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
2. ^ Hyrdra singles in the Billboard charts Charts, AllMusicGuide.
3. ^ Elias, Jason. "Song Review: 99 – Toto". Allmusic. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
4. ^ Saldaña, Edmundo García (19 October 2001). "De 'Africa' al Foro". Reforma (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 March 2010.
5. ^ a b "99". Toto Encyclopedia. The Official Toto Website. 28 April 2007. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
6. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 29 December 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
7. ^ "99 discography".
8. ^ "UK promo disc". Discogs.

* v
* t
* e

Toto

* Steve Lukather
* Joseph Williams
* David Paich
* Greg Phillinganes

* Steve Porcaro
* David Hungate
* Bobby Kimball
* Jeff Porcaro
* Mike Porcaro
* Fergie Frederiksen
* Jean-Michel Byron
* Simon Phillips
* Keith Carlock

Studio albums|

* Toto
* Hydra
* Turn Back
* Toto IV
* Isolation
* Fahrenheit
* The Seventh One
* Kingdom of Desire
* Tambu
* Mindfields
* Through the Looking Glass
* Falling in Between
* Toto XIV
* Old Is New

Live albums|

* Absolutely Live
* Livefields
* Live in Amsterdam
* Falling in Between Live

Compilation albums|

* Past to Present 1977–1990
* Best Ballads
* Toto XX
* The Essential Toto
* 40 Trips Around the Sun

Soundtracks|

* Dune

Notable songs|

* "Hold the Line"
* "I'll Supply the Love"
* "Georgy Porgy"
* "99"
* "Live for Today"
* "Rosanna"
* "Make Believe"
* "Africa"
* "I Won't Hold You Back"
* "Waiting for Your Love"
* "Stranger in Town"
* "I'll Be Over You"
* "Stop Loving You"
* "Pamela"
* "I Will Remember"
* "Bottom of Your Soul"
* "Holy War"

Related people|

* Lenny Castro
* Warren Ham
* Nathan East
* Boz Scaggs
* Tony Spinner
* Leland Sklar
* Shannon Forrest

Related articles|

* Discography
* Members

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

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