The Gospel According to Luke

By: Steve Lukather, Paul Rees

Narrated by: Steve Lukather

Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

No one explodes one of the longest-held misconceptions of music history better than Steve Lukather and his band Toto. The dominant pop-culture sound of the late 1970s and '80s was not in fact the smash and sneer of punk but a slick, polished amalgam of rock and R&B that was first staked out on Boz Scaggs' Silk Degrees. That album was shaped in large part by the founding members of Toto, who were emerging as the most in-demand elite session muso-crew in LA, and further developed on the band's self-titled three-million-selling debut smash of 1978. A string of hits followed for the band going into the '80s and beyond. Running parallel to this, as stellar session players, Lukather and bandmates David Paich, Jeff Porcaro and Steve Porcaro were also the creative linchpins on some of the most successful, influential and enduring records of the era.   

In The Gospel According to Luke, Lukather tells the Toto story: how a group of high school friends formed the band in 1977 and went on to sell more than 40 million records worldwide. He also lifts the lid on what really went on behind the closed studio doors and shows the unique creative processes of some of the most legendary names in music: from Quincy Jones, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks and Elton John to Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Don Henley, Roger Waters and Aretha Franklin. And yet, Lukather's extraordinary tale encompasses the dark side of the American dream. 

Engaging, incisive and often hilarious, The Gospel According to Luke is no ordinary rock memoir. It is the real thing....

©2018 Steve Lukather and Paul Rees (P)2018 Hachette Audio UK

Embracing the Gospel as an Atheist

True, I am an all time absolute Toto fan. But I always kept a distance in fear of reality belittling my idols.
I bought the book out of curiosity and left if there for some time, finishing up other stuff. After my latest Toto VIP experience in Lucca I decided it was about time I started the book. Started? I devoured it. Couldn’t just stop listening to it. It is fresh, direct, totally honest and frank, touching, full of love and all other primary emotions; and at the same time it is incredibly informative about not only Tito but the LA and world music scene in general as it evolved over the decades. And it includes the unveiling of sacred secrets (like tuning the guitar to the Stones’ setting). I really hope Luke will write another one. One warning: if you, like me, are (i) Italian and (ii) a lawyer, be prepared to take some ++++.

My Hero

I had just taken a more serious role as lead guitarist in a local band. I looked towards Luke for my direction. Thanks so much for letting us in🙏🙏🙏❤️ Absolutely love your book🙏❤️

I loved this book!!

If you love Steve Lukather and Toto this book IS the book for you. I loved it from the beginning till the very end!!

awesome!

Luke is a great story-teller and gosh do he have storys.
if you are a musician there is nothing to think over, BUY.
If you are not, still do because it's great!

Great

Great book,interesting stores about a great musician. A book I would recommend for music lovers

Studio Great’s Story

Steve Lukather writes an honest and straightforward book of his life in the L.A. studio musician scene if the late 70’s and 1980’s - the last of an era still surviving in today’s computerised music scene. Musicianship has been put on the back burner and is totally under appreciated these days but Luke’s story is nevertheless captivating and riveting! The language is rusty but that is refreshing in today’s PC environment. It can also be touching; reminiscing over friends and family lost over the years especially the Porcaro Brothers, Jeff and Mike! The music from this era is varied and eclectic but Luke’s involvement with several Monster hits from the time is very interesting reading/listening! Highly recommended for any musician or budding musician and for lovers if the thousands of recordings, literally, that Luke has played on - go look up his discography - so enjoy his very entertaining and very funny book and Audible!!!!

Steve Lukather - Another Hit!

As a kid in the 70s and 80s I used music as an escape vehicle from a troubled childhood. I spent hours reading L.P. liner notes to learn who played what, where it was recorded, who mixed it etc. Eventually 83 comes round and Rosanna took over the UK airwaves. Suddenly it all came together and that massive interconnected map of music had a hub: Toto. And right in the eye of the storm was Luke. To hear Luke tell you the real facts behind that far reaching map of musical talents that were, to me, mythical beings from another world, was utterly fascinating and life afirming. Any one looking for a kiss and tell debauched swagger through L.A.session history will be disappointed. Any one looking to hear a brilliant, sarcastic, poignant, ironic, coincident, honest and humbling story of a gifted yet self deprecating man walk you through both staggeringly famous session stories as well as staggeringly painful tales of love and loss , combined with effortless wit, effortless cursing and moments of laugh out loud humour is in good company. They say to know Steve Lukather is to love him. Amen to that. His narration is pitch perfect, his tone is spot on, his timing is hilariously on point. His is a tale worth telling and a tale only he can tell. Ultimately it's a tale of love, of family, friends and of course, music.

Enthralled from start to finish

A must listen for any Steve Lukather/Toto fan! loved every moment of it, and would highly recommend to any music fan!

Great listen

Fantastic book by one of my favourite musicians, funny stories, tragic losses,all read by the man himself. This is an encyclopaedic look at the musicians around and made so many albums fall into place for me. Get it !

The best recollection of the past 30 years in rock ‘n’roll

As a lifelong fan of ToTo, this opens up the ups and downs of an intense passionate and hilarious west coast rock star, but what’s the surprise is the rags to riches story of the most wanted session man in the world who juggled being a co-leader in a defining rock band of the 70s/80s whose rebirth in the 90s to this modern day is a miracle. And If you love Steve as I did as a wonderful influence, it’s as if I spent the whole weekend with him, he makes it so personal, binge listened to every minute and made me laugh and cry. Every moment he talks, it was precious narratives after narrative. I took a glimpse into a legends life, and he had me wanting more. The consummate musician and in possession of the warmest of hearts. I urge you to buy and listen.

Amazing!

I loved it! A must read for any Lukather fan. Everyone should buy this so Steve will write another!

Great stories

Hearing Luke tell the many tales and listing just some of the work he has done was an amazing listen, although sometimes the words sounded a bit mumbled.

Great content

Outstanding! Any music fan will admire his humble rise to greatness. Truly a class act.

Simply brilliant!

I’d never even heard of Steve Lukather but I’d read some reviews on his book and it sounded good so I gave it a try and boy am I glad I did. I could listen to him talk all day. Such fantastic story’s and I love the detail in which he breaks down the musical stuff. His delivery is awesome and true and I pray he does another book. A must for any music fans. It gives you an inside look at what really makes the music business work with many artists not given the recognition they deserve when it’s those artist/session musicians that are the beating heart of some of our favourite music past and present.
Simply a sensational listen.

brilliant

some great & inside stories.
some good,some sad,& some amazing.
honest & forthcoming a man is luke.

Fantastic loved it

I totally enjoyed this book from the offset. Interesting, amusing and gripping. Have a listen to this you won’t be disappointed.