The producer of The Seventh One, George Massenburg felt the album was missing a "rocker," which led to the composition and recording of the seven-minute closing track, "Home of the Brave.

His decision to leave was partly influenced by his belief his contributions were not well represented in the band's music and a general feeling of being unappreciated.

[3] Despite his refusal to participate in the band business or publicity, Porcaro continued to contribute to the recording of The Seventh One and was paid as a studio musician.

"Pamela" was the band's last top 30 hit in the United States and Lukather described its quick drop out of the Hot 100 as "the moment that our star dwindled in America and it would take years for us to recover momentum".

[3] Efforts were made to control Williams's drug use; yet Jeff Porcaro ultimately fired him from the band, declaring, "I can't make anything click with a guy who's this way.

"[3] Williams was the third vocalist fired from Toto due to inability to perform vocals, following the previous terminations of Bobby Kimball and Fergie Frederiksen.

Cash Box called the second American single "Straight for the Heart" a "plateful of pop rock, filled with hooks and dynamic production licks that cry out for extensive radio play" and "the strongest Toto yet.