Pamela (song)

"Pamela"
"Pamela"
Single by Toto
from the album The Seventh One
B-side	"The Seventh One" (US); "You Got Me" (EU/Japan); "Stay Away" (UK);
Released	February 1988 (US); May 1988 (UK)
Genre	Pop rock; arena rock;
Length	5:11 (album); 4:28 (single)
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	David Paich; Joseph Williams;
Producer(s)	Toto
Toto singles chronology

"Pamela" is a song written by David Paich and Joseph Williams and performed by Toto for the 1988 Toto album The Seventh One. It was the first US single from the album, peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their final US hit to date.^[2] It also reached #9 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

In Europe, "Pamela" was the second single, as "Stop Loving You" was selected as the lead single from the album instead.^[3]

Background

The song was written by David Paich and Joseph Williams. Paich had first written the chorus, music and words, including the name, "Pamela". Williams happened to be dating a woman at the time named "Pamela", and had already written a song for her by the same name. The chorus of Williams's song was used in the bridge, and Williams wrote new words and melody for the verses as well.^[4]

Cash Box called it "a beautifully conceived tune, replete with the wonderful production ideas that the band is famous for."^[5]

Track listening

Pamela
The Seventh One

Personnel

Toto

Joseph Williams – lead vocals and backing vocals
Steve Lukather – electric guitar and backing vocals
David Paich – synthesizers, piano and backing vocals
Steve Porcaro – synthesizers
Mike Porcaro – bass
Jeff Porcaro – drums and tambourine

Additional musicians

Tom Kelly – backing vocals
Tom Scott – winds arrangement
Jim Horn – horns
Tom Scott – horns, horn arrangements
Jerry Hey – horns
Chuck Findley – horns
James Pankow – horns
Gary Grant – horns
Gary Herbig – horns

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1988)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[6]	10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[7]	9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[8]	8
US Billboard Hot 100^[9]	22
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[10]	9

Year-end charts

Chart (1988)	Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[11]	94
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[12]	62

References

^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 838. ISBN 9780862415419.
^ Toto USA chart history, Billboard.com. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
^ "Pamela".
^ "Pamela". www.toto99.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2008.
^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 20 February 1988. p. 8. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
^ "Toto – Pamela" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 28, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
^ "Toto – Pamela" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
^ "Toto Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
^ "Toto Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1988". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 1 June 2020.

External links

"Toto Releases: The Seventh One". Retrieved 28 September 2007.

[1] Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 838. ISBN 9780862415419.

[2] Toto USA chart history, Billboard.com. Retrieved February 28, 2012.

[3] "Pamela".

[4] "Pamela". www.toto99.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2008.

[cb-5] "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 20 February 1988. p. 8. Retrieved 21 December 2022.

[sc_Flanders_Toto-6] "Toto – Pamela" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 1, 2020.

[sc_Dutch40_-7] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 28, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 1, 2020.

[sc_Dutch100_Toto-8] "Toto – Pamela" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 1, 2020.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Toto-9] "Toto Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Toto-10] "Toto Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.

[11] "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1988". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 June 2020.

[12] "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 1 June 2020.

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