The Story Behind the Toto Power Ballad From 1982, Featuring the Eagles’ Timothy B. Schmidt

When Toto released their breakthrough album Toto IV in 1982, they had three big hits, first with “Rosanna,” peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and then with the megahit “Africa,” which became the band’s only No. 1 hit.

A third single, “I Won’t Hold You Back,” also made it into the top 10 (at No. 10) and was marked the band’s first song to top the Adult Contemporary chart, where it remained for three weeks. Often overlooked alongside side “Africa” and “Rosanna,” “I Won’t Hold You Back” was another solid power ballad that filled in the success of Toto IV.

“It was late and I was playing the piano part, and Jeff [Porcaro] was digging the tune and we were recording it,” recalled Steve Lukather in 2021 on how “I Won’t Hold You Back” came together. “Then Dave [Paich] walked in and I said, ‘You should play the piano part on this,’ so he learned my piano part and we made that track, and it turned into a big single.”

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[RELATED: 5 Songs You Didn’t Know Toto’s Steve Lukather Wrote for Other Artists]

“I Won’t Hold You Back”

Written and sung by Steve Lukather, the lyrics are a straightforward glance at a love that’s come to an end and not standing in its way.

If I had another chance tonight
I’d try to tell you that the things we had were right
Time can erase the love we shared
But it gives me time to realize just how much you cared

Now you’re gone, I’m really not the same,
I guess I held myself to blame
Time can erase the things we said
But it gives me time to realize that you’re the one who’s sad

You know I won’t hold you back now,
The love we had just can’t be found
You know I can’t hold you back now

Now that I’m alone it gives me time
To think about the years that you were mine
Time can erase the love we shared
But it gives me time to realize just how much you cared

[RELATED: Top 10 Toto Songs (1978 – 2018)]

Toto and the Eagles

The Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh had been friends with Toto for years—both later joining Ringo Starr‘s All Starr Band—while Lukather and Don Henley had also been friends since the late ’70s with members from both bands collaborating on one another’s albums and tours, throughout the years.

On “I Won’t Hold You Back,” the Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit sings backing vocals and also joined the band on their 1982 European tour. Schmit’s vocals can also be heard on “Africa.”

That same year, Lukather collaborated on “Dirty Laundry,” which appeared on Henley’s solo album I Can’t Stand Still. The track featured Lukather and Walsh on guitar, along with Toto’s Steve and Jeff Porcaro, and session musician and songwriter Danny Kortchmar who later worked with Toto in the early ’90s.

Photo: Toto in Amsterdam, Netherlands, September 27, 1982 (Rob Verhorst/Redferns)