Now available digitally, with great new booklets accompanying them (with album downloads via iTunes and Amazon), Desire, Prostitute and Ophelia’s Shadow.
The trailer for Live With… Toyah. Airing very soon on Vintage TV.
The complete four-part radio version of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, with Toyah in the title role, airs again on BBC Radio 4 Extra later this month, over four consecutive days – with four airings for each episode. This was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1995.
A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of J. M. Barrie’s tale of childhood adventure starring Toyah Willcox as Peter Pan and Ron Moody as Captain Hook. These audio editions, especially dramatised for BBC Radio, are of timeless stories that have enchanted generations of readers both young and old.
Also starring Roy Hudd as Smee and June Whitfield as Mrs Darling, this sparkling production is directed by award-winning producer Dirk Maggs, with an original music score and stunning sound effects.
JM Barrie – Peter Pan: BBC R4 Extra: Tue 13th Oct: 6am/1pm/8pm | Wed 14th Oct: 1am
Away to Neverland. A strange visitor transforms the Darling household one bedtime. Stars Toyah Willcox, Ron Moody and June Whitfield. Episode 1 of 4.
JM Barrie – Peter Pan: BBC R4 Extra: Wed 14th Oct: 6am/1pm/8pm | Thu 15th Oct: 1am
In The Mermaid’s Lagoon. The mischievous boy and the children arrive in Neverland. Stars Toyah Willcox, Ron Moody, Georgina Cates and Roy Hudd. Episode 2 of 4.
JM Barrie – Peter Pan: BBC R4 Extra: Thu 15th Oct: 6am/1pm/8pm | Fri 16th Oct: 1am
An Awfully Big Adventure. Captain Hook turns the tables, as the battle between the Lost Boys and the pirates begins. Stars Toyah Willcox and Ron Moody. episode 3 of 4.
JM Barrie – Peter Pan: BBC R4 Extra: Fri 16th Oct: 6am/1pm/8pm | Sat 17th Oct: 1am
Spring Cleaning Time Again. Wendy longs for home, but first she and the brothers must be rescued from Captain Hook. Stars Toyah Willcox and Ron Moody. episode 4 of 4.
Toyah, Steve Oram and the, hot off the presses, new Aaaaaaaah! t-shirt at The Electric Cinema, Birmingham last night, for the latest screening/Q&A for the film. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)
In just a few hours Toyah’s trio – but not a trilogy – of late 80s/early 90s albums: Desire, Prostitute and Ophelia’s Shadow are released digitally for the first time. It really is fantastic that these will now be available for future generations to discover and enjoy.
I’ve always thought that these were, and are, three great albums. All completely different, and all showcasing Toyah’s true talent as a musician, songwriter and vocalist. She truly always has been a fascinating artist.
Desire includes some of Toyah’s best lyrics and emotive vocals. Prostitute still fascinates and disturbs listeners as much now as it did in 1988. Ophelia’s Shadow is to Toyah what The Dreaming is to Kate Bush…
So to mark the release(s), here are links to a few bits and pieces from over the years related to the trio:
Visit Dreamscape’s feature on Desire from 2012 – Marking the 25th Anniversary of its release… There’s also a mini-feature on Prostitute.. Read an interview with Toyah from around the time of Ophelia’s Shadow release, plus some related clippings (scanned from Tellurian Newsletter)…
Ophelia’s Shadow: Happy 21st – A short tribute… Prostitute was our first, and only, album of the month in 2012… View the results of a “just for fun” Desire poll from 2013… and some Desire fan art by Dreamscape from a few years ago… There was also, of course, an imaginary advert…
View a selection of Desire-era photos… and Toyah appearing on Neno in 1987… An unimaginary Desire press advert… And finally – The Curious Tale of The Moonlight Chorus :)
Browse further info on all three albums at The Official Toyah Discography. Read details about the digital releases and listen to the “new” Toyah EP Desirable.
The songs set to be played on the forthcoming Live With… Toyah have been revealed as: Dawn Chorus (From The Changeling, 1982), It’s A Mystery (from Anthem, 1981), Sensational (from In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, 2008) and Little Tears Of Love (from Velvet Lined Shell, 2003). Look out for the trailer for Live With… Toyah, which airs on Wednesday 7th October at 10.30pm on Vintage TV, coming to toyahwillcox.com very soon.
Browse related photos and info on Desire, Prostitute and Ophelia’s Shadow at Toyah’s Official Instagram. All three albums are released digitally tomorrow. “This album was an exorcism for me, an exercise in self-worth” Toyah on Prostitute.
Blink: Channel 4: Thursday 15th October: 00.05am
Music on 4. This fun new music-based, pop culture quiz show tests both musical knowledge and the reaction speeds of celebrity contestants. In the third episode, 80s pop legends Cheryl Baker and Toyah Willcox go head to head in a series of high-speed audio and visual music challenges. Episode 3 of 6. (Also airing on Channel 4 HD and Plus 1)
About the Show: Music-based, pop culture quiz show testing both the knowledge and the reaction speeds of celebrity contestants in a series of high-speed audio and visual music challenges.
Long deleted and never available on any digital platforms, toyahwillcox.com is delighted to announce an October digital release of the catalogue albums Desire, Prostitute and Ophelia’s Shadow. Whilst the latter two have been deleted for over a decade, Desire has been unavailable since the early 1990s. The three catalogue titles are released digitally on Friday 2 October 2015.
1987’s Desire was produced by Mike Hedges and engineered by Haydn Bendall at Abbey Road Studios where Bendall (at the time) had recently engineered Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love… 1988’s acclaimed album Prostitute is an uncompromising work which was composed by Toyah and drummer Steve Sidelnyk who would later to play on Madonna’s Ray of Light album… 1991’s Ophelia’s Shadow is the album which Toyah feels most represents her personally. Recorded in 1990 it utilises the same band line-up of the Toyah/Fripp-helmed band Sunday All Over The World…
On iTunes, all three albums come with a meticulously presented digital booklet to expand the experience of listening to the album. Compiling sleevenotes, production credits and full lyrics they also bring together almost all associated imagery created for each album. Prostitute and Ophelia’s Shadow are foregrounded by an introductory note from Toyah; Desire contains a new reflection on the album by Chris Limb.
All three albums will be available digitally to buy or stream from Friday 2 October including iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music. Some digital vendors may follow on from the 2 October date and may appear at different times. The digital booklets will only be available when purchasing the entire album from iTunes. They will however be made available from The Official Toyah Website for all fans to enjoy.
Look out for some other related surprises too, courtesy of toyahwillcox.com!
• Continue reading at The Official Toyah Willcox website.
To mark the digital release of Desire, Prostitute and Ophelia’s Shadow a selection of “Bonus Features” – retro letters, interviews and performances, see the latest Breaking Through newsletter for full details – have been made available by Toyah’s official website. This includes a “new” EP, Desirable, compiling all other previously released Desire-era songs not included on the album.
Four songs from the Desire sessions, from Echo Beach and Moonlight Dancing b-sides, are on this free digital EP, with great new cover art, nicely referencing the original Desire album.
• Download or stream Desirable at The Official Toyah Discography. The full tracklist for the EP is as follows:
1. Echo Beach [Surf Mix] (Gane) | Originates from the 12″ single of Echo Beach
2. Plenty (Willcox) | Originates from the 7″/12″ single of Echo Beach
3. Sun Up (Willcox) | Originates from the 7″/12″ single of Moonlight Dancing
4. Re-Entry Into Dance (Willcox/Geballe) | Originates from the 7″/12″ single of Moonlight Dancing
Aaaaaaaah! is screened in, Toyah’s home town, Birmingham tonight, at The Electric Cinema. Toyah, along with Director Steve Oram, will be in attendance for a Q&A post-screening. Due to demand more tickets have been released for this event. Further details by clicking below.
Don’t forget a limited edition Aaaaaaaah! poster is also currently available from Rook Films.
Dirty Sexy Funny: Olivia Lee: Comedy Central Extra: Tuesday 13th October: 3.25am
Dirty Sexy Funny: Olivia Lee: Comedy Central Extra: Friday 16th October: 3.35am
Olivia Lee stars in this hidden camera sketch show. Deaf Bubba makes a mess of things at the marina, Door Bitch takes a punt and Elaine Caine meets Toyah Willcox.
