"Toccata" by Sky

Song#:  0454
Date:  01/10/1981
Debut:  86
Peak:  83
Weeks:  2
Genre:  Pop, Classical Crossover, Prog Rock



Pop Bits:  Sky came into being after classical guitarist John Williams (not the famous composer/conductor of film scores) started branching out into non-classical music. His first non-classical album, "Changes," used some musicians with whom he became friends. Eventually this led to them becoming a group that would straddle the genres of pop, prog rock and classical. Sky's self-titled debut album came out in 1979 and was a major hit in the UK and Australia. The album featured original songs plus a re-imagining of a classical piece. Their second album was the double-LP "Sky 2," which built on the premise and expanded it greatly. The album reached #1 in the UK and this single even made it to #5. Here in the States the group did not catch on quite as well, but the song did manage to scrape the chart for a couple of weeks. It is their only chart song. The group would release three more albums before John Williams left the group to return full-time to his classical career. Sky continued on for a couple more releases, but eventually they stopped recording after 1987's "Mozart."

ReduxReview:  Hmm. I dunno. When the lines of pop/rock and classical cross, it can be interesting or hideous. I can't say that this one is hideous, but I don't find it good either. Synths in classical had already been done and adding some rock instruments wasn't necessarily inventive either. So the interest would be in the arrangement and there is just not much here that gets my attention. It's kind of like steroidal Muzak. And while I don't think it is unlistenable, I still would not want to be trapped on an elevator with it blaring.

ReduxRating:  3/10

Trivia:  As Sky's first album was hitting, John Williams himself had an odd solo single reach the UK Top 10. His version of "Cavatina," written by Stanley Myers, was used in the 1978 film "The Deer Hunter" and the song ended up being a hit. Williams was already well-known, but this single certainly helped to promote the Sky project.

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