Transition (2013)

Lukather, Steve (Mascot Records, M7400)

Transition is a turning point for the album and a turning point for me,” Steve Lukather explains. “As we were writing the songs, I was thinking about everything I’ve seen — all the people I’ve lost in my life, the great and the difficult experiences I’ve had, and how ultimately it was time to get it together and embrace things for what they are, because we’ve only got one life to live and we’ve got to make the most of it.”

Despite the album’s harmonic depth and sonic surprises, Lukather explains that he kept his guitar sound organic. “These days I like it simple and direct,” he says. “I plugged my new Music Man L-3 signature model guitar straight into a Bogner amp and miked it with an SM-57. Any effects were added at the mixing desk. I used a Kemper Profiling Amp for some of the weird sounds, and that was it. Live these days it’s just my guitar and amp and a couple stomp boxes — and I just go for it.” “I’ve been working really hard on my vocals,” Lukather attests.

“For me, these days it’s all about the song and the performance. I’m not interested in being the fastest gun in the West. I want to make beautiful music that means something.” “I equate recordings to paintings,” he explains, “ and I wanted to make Transition a big, beautiful album with lots of fine details and shadings and colors. That’s what I do and what my favorite albums — Sgt. Pepper’s, Dark Side of the Moon, Electric Ladyland, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road — are all about. So if it’s a sin to make massive sounding records with huge production values, then I’m going to Hell.” Seven solo albums later, Lukather reflects: “I’d like to say this is the best album I’ve ever made, but that’s a cliché. But I do think I’ve realized my goal of moving forward, so let me say that Transition is possibly the best reflection of who I am in 2012.”

The making of Transition

Tracklist

  1. Judgement day (Steve Lukather, CJ Vanston)
  2. Creep motel (Steve Lukather, CJ Vanston, Fee Waybill)
  3. Once again (Steve Lukather, CJ Vanston)
  4. Right the wrong (Steve Lukather, CJ Vanston, Trev Lukather)
  5. Transition (Steve Lukather, CJ Vanston, Steve Weingart)
  6. Last man standing (Steve Lukather, Randy Goodrum)
  7. Do I stand alone (Steve Lukather, CJ Vanston)
  8. Rest of the world (Jack Raines, CJ Vanston)
  9. Smile (Charly Chaplin, arr. By Lukather, Weingart, Vanston)

Credits

Steve Lukather - vocals, guitars, production (1-9)
C.J. Vanston - keyboards, production (1-9)
Steve Weingart - keyboards (5, 9)
Renee Jones - bass (3)
Eric Valentine - drums (6, 7, 8)
Lee Sklar - bass (1, 2)
Nathan East - bass (8)
John Pierce - bass (4, 6, 7)
Tal Wilkenfeld - bass (5)
Gregg Bissonette - drums (2, 5)
Chad Smith - drums (4
Tos Panos - drums (1, 3)
Phil Collen - bg vocals (1)
CJ Vanston - bg vocals (1-7)
Jenny Douglas - bg vocals (2, 7)
Richard Page - bg vocals (4, 6)
Kristina Helene - bg vocals (4)
Renee Jones - bg vocals (8)
Jack Raines - bg vocals (8)
Lenny Castro - percussion (2, 3, 6, 8)
Trev Lukather - muted guitar (4)

Steve Lukather Side Image

Tour dates

Visit the official TOTO website for current tour dates.

  1. 01Feb2025
    Glasgow UK
    Glasgow OVO Hydro
    TOTO Europe 2025
  2. 02Feb2025
    Birmingham UK
    BP Pulse LIVE (Formerly RWA)
    TOTO Europe 2025
  3. 04Feb2025
    Manchester UK
    Manchester AO Arena
    TOTO Europe 2025
  4. 05Feb2025
    London UK
    OVO Arena Wembley
    TOTO Europe 2025
  5. 07Feb2025
    Brussels BE
    Forest National
    TOTO Europe 2025

More tour dates »