Can You Hear What I'm Saying

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"Can You Hear What I'm Saying"
Canadian cassette cover
Single by Toto
from the album Past to Present 1977-1990
A-side
B-side
ReleasedSeptember 3, 1990 (1990-09-03)
Recorded1990
Studio
GenreFunk rock
Length
  • 5:02 (album version)
  • 4:14 (single version)
  • 4:47 (video version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriters
Producers
Toto singles chronology
"Out of Love"
(1990) 		"Can You Hear What I'm Saying"
(1990) 		"Don't Chain My Heart"
(1992)
Music video
"Can You Hear What I'm Saying" on YouTube

"Can You Hear What I'm Saying" is a song recorded by the American rock band Toto. The song was written by David Paich, Mike Porcaro and Jean-Michel Byron. It was one of the four new tracks on their first compilation album Past to Present 1977–1990 featuring Byron as their lead vocalist. "Can You Hear What I'm Saying" was released as a double A-side of "Africa" in the UK and peaked at No. 80 on the UK Official Singles Chart in 1990. It was released as a standalone single in other countries including Australia, Japan, and the Netherlands.

Reception

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Something Else! Reviews described "Can You Hear What I'm Saying" as "one of the better songs Toto has ever recorded." The review highlighted the work of the rhythm section, saying that "Mike and Jeff Porcaro are so in sync, so in the pocket together, that they sound as one." They said concluded that the track "remains a joy to listen to" and argued that it deserves renewed attention in the band's live performances.[1]

Track listings

[edit]
7-inch single, UK (1990)
No.TitleLength
1."Africa"4:55
2."Can You Hear What I'm Saying"4:14
7-inch single, EU (1990)
No.TitleLength
1."Can You Hear What I'm Saying"5:02
2."Hold the Line"3:56
12-inch, CD and mini single, JP (1990)
No.TitleLength
1."Can You Hear What I'm Saying"5:02
2."Goodbye Elenore"4:52
7-inch single, Australia (1990)
No.TitleLength
1."Can You Hear What I'm Saying"5:02
2."The Seventh One"6:20
7-inch single, Netherlands (1991)
No.TitleLength
1."Can You Hear What I'm Saying"5:02
2."I'll Be Over You"3:51

Personnel

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Toto

[edit]

Additional musicians

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  • Luis Conte – percussion
  • Alexandra Brown – backing vocals
  • Alfie Silas – backing vocals
  • Carmen Twillie – backing vocals
  • Darryl Phinnessee – backing vocals
  • Debbie Hall – backing vocals
  • Gene Morford – backing vocals
  • John Bahler – backing vocals
  • Luthur Waters – backing vocals
  • Lynn Davis – backing vocals
  • Maxine Waters – backing vocals
  • Oren Waters – backing vocals
  • Phillip Ingram – backing vocals
  • Phyllis St. James – backing vocals
  • Susan Boyd – backing vocals
  • Willie Green Jr. – backing vocals

Charts

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Chart (1990) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 80
Chart (1991) Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[3] 44

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Ref.
Europe September 3, 1990
  • 7-inch
 [4]
Japan September 21, 1990
  • CD
  • cassette
  • mini
 [5]
Australia October 8, 1990
  • 7-inch
 [6]
Netherlands March 25, 1991
  • 7-inch
  • CD
  • maxi
  • mini

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Perplexio (November 7, 2017). "Toto – "Can You Hear What I'm Saying?" from Past to Present 1977–1990 (1990)". Something Else! Reviews. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  2. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  3. ^ "Toto – Can You Hear What I'm Saying" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  4. ^ "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 1, 1990. p. 37.
  5. ^ "キャン・ユー・ヒア・ホワット・アイム・セイイング" (Web). ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). Oricon Holdings Inc. 1990-09-21.
  6. ^ "Toto – Can You Hear What I'm Saying". Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved November 9, 2025.