Happy Release Day to Sheep Farming In Barnet and The Blue Meaning – Two of Toyah’s three 1980 albums are released on gorgeous Picture Discs today. (Image © Toyah Willcox)
Toyah’s bold, defiant and most experimental work, the 1988 solo album “Prostitute” is released for the first time as an expanded CD edition in deluxe 7” sized gatefold packaging on 6 June from Edsel.
This Deluxe 2CD Edition features a previously unreleased live recording of the album from Chichester. In November/December 1988 Toyah formed a new band Fripp Fripp with musician Robert Fripp and embarked on a 22-date tour. On the 7 UK and 15 European gigs Toyah performed the Prostitute album live, accompanied by Paul Beavis on live drums as the tour’s first act
For Toyah fans and collectors, it’s a fascinating document of Toyah performing an impressive volume of vocals, dialogue and lyrics with precision and defiance. The package includes rare imagery, ephemera and a new sleevenote by Toyah archivist Craig Astley.
The album was written and played entirely by Toyah Willcox and Steve Sidelnyk who went on to record and play live with Madonna (Ray of Light, Music), Seal and Richard Ashcroft, amongst many others. A fiercely independent lyrical work, it is sonically also a radical departure from previous albums comprising drums, vocal and guitar meshed with a scrapbook of samples and found sound.
Toyah explains: “I would get up at four in the morning and capture the dawn chorus, record church bells, snippets of conversations and producer Tony Arnold would marry them into the tracks. We worked as if we were compiling a scrapbook with glue and paper, old newspaper cuttings, lost love letters, odd thoughts and tons of fractured emotions.”
• Pre-Order Prostitute on 2CD and/or Picture Disc here. Read more info/the press release at toyahwillcox.com. See also the reissued album’s page. Watch Toyah announcing the release during last weekend’s Toyah At Home.
Released by Edsel on 6 June, Toyah’s 1987 solo album “Desire” receives its first ever standalone CD reissue as a new expanded edition in deluxe 7”-sized gatefold packaging.
This deluxe 2CD edition includes a second disc of 18 rare and ‘desirable’ bonus tracks including the 12” mix of lead single Echo Beach plus outtakes and B-Sides. Excitingly six previously unreleased tracks feature including the long-awaited release of the post-Desire rarity We Play Machines.
Originally issued on the EG label, the album was produced by Mike Hedges (Siouxise & The Banshees) and recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in the autumn of 1986.
This deluxe 2cd edition includes a second disc of 18 rare and ‘desirable’ bonus tracks including the 12” mix of lead single Echo Beach plus outtakes and B-Sides from the album sessions. Excitingly six previously unreleased tracks feature including the long-awaited release of the post-Desire rarity We Play Machines.
Rare live concert recordings of Desire songs have been unearthed especially for this release; Revive The World performed at The Orange Club, Kensington with Kiss Of Reality in 1992, Desire and Moonlight Dancing from 1994 plus Echo Beach from Toyah & Robert Fripp’s summer 2024 Rock Party Tour.
The Desire album recording sessions ran concurrent to Toyah starring in the Strand Theatre revival of celebrated musical Cabaret. Toyah appeared as the lead Sally Bowles, alongside Wayne Sleep in the Gillian Lynne-directed production. Although a cast recording was made of the Strand production it was before Toyah took over the role of Bowles. Ten years later, Toyah revisited Cabaret with a recording of four songs, one of which is a duet with British actor Nigel Planer. This marks the first time these tracks have ever been included on a Toyah release.
The Desire album includes an eclectic set of musicians across the 11 tracks with guest guitar spots from Ronnie Wood, Robert Fripp, and The League of Crafty Guitarists. Engineered by Haydn Bendall (Hounds of Love), the album’s lead single was a sparkling cover of the 1980 Martha & The Muffins’ new wave hit “Echo Beach”. Reissue compiled/project manager; Craig Astley.
• Pre-Order Desire on 2CD and/or Picture Disc here. Read more info/the press release at toyahwillcox.com. See also the reissued album’s page. Watch Toyah announcing the release during last weekend’s Toyah At Home.
On Friday 6 June 2025, Edsel/Demon Records will issue Limited Edition Picture Discs of the solo Toyah albums Minx (1985), Desire (1987) and Prostitute (1988).
All three are housed in special die-cut vinyl outer sleeves containing rare and unseen imagery. Available exclusively from Townsend Music.
Minx is presented as a Deluxe Edition, adding the 2 tracks from the original 1985 cassette/CD formats – never previously available on vinyl. The album’s two B-Sides also feature on the 14-song track list.
A Minx Deluxe 2CD Edition, released summer 2024, containing a second disc of rarities & previously unreleased demos, is also available.
• Pre-Order the Picture Discs here. Read the press release at toyahwillcox.com. Watch Toyah announcing the release during last weekend’s Toyah At Home.
Toyah promised a bonus Toyah At Home last Saturday… and sure enough it is here, with a special announcement – and a cute cameo from Fripp the bunny!
It’s 1st March and so it’s time for a brand new Toyah at Home. Join Toyah in Edinburgh & Dubai with a catch-up on what she’s been up to including a special appearance in the Now That’s What I Call A Musical theatre show. There’s also music to coincide with the imminent release of two new picture disc vinyl Collector’s Editions for Sheep Farming In Barnet and The Blue Meaning.
• Tune it at the same time next Saturday, 8th March, for a bonus Toyah At Home with announcement.
Toyah presents two new limited edition official t-shirts that are available to order now. Featuring illustrations that celebrate Toyah’s Minx and Blue Meaning eras. Watch Toyah “modelling” both t-shirts at Facebook and Instagram.
• Click below to order the t-shirts. (Images from a video that is © Toyah Willcox)
Toyah unboxes two new picture discs. Both are released on 21st March. Watch at Facebook or Instagram.
• Pre-order the new Sheep Farming In Barnet and The Blue Meaning limited edition Picture Disc vinyl LPs at Cherry Red Records. (Image from a video that is © Toyah Willcox)
Two brand new Official Toyah T-shirts are available as part of a new 2025 Limited Edition Collection. Throughout the year toyahwillcox.com will launch four sets of t-shirts – plus a special design for Christmas.
Up first to order is Set One, featuring illustrations that celebrate the Minx and Blue Meaning eras. Available only until 30 April 2025.
• Further info, and pre-order the first two-set of t-shirts, here.
Last weekend’s Saturday Song from Toyah – channelling her inner James Bond – was a really rare (well, I’d never saw it anyway!) 1981 performance of, the Anthem track, Jungles Of Jupiter on Italian music show, Popcorn. Watch by clicking on the screenshot.
This month’s Toyah At Home featured the video for, one of the standout singles of Toyah’s career – the uplifting – Levitate, the debut release from the 2021 studio album Posh Pop.
A perfect time to revisit Toyah’s most recent album by ploughing through Dreamscape’s vast Posh Pop archive.
Toyah loves the album, as do numerous other fans, including myself. Posh Pop still sounds amazing! Indeed, like a fine wine – I know nothing about wine as I don’t drink alcohol – it has matured beautifully, and is a firm favourite with many discerning music fans!
Upon its release, almost four years ago, the album received great reviews from a number of magazines, there were some great articles published focusing on the album, Toyah filmed videos for every song, and toured the album in late 2021/early 2022.
One of the most incredible aspects of Posh Pop is how completely autonomous the album was for Toyah. She wrote and recorded each song almost entirely on her own – with only collaboration and input from Simon Darlow and Bobby Willcox. Toyah also filmed each video and captured all of the associated promo shots/photos with little outside assistance. Amazing!
The 2021 studio album charted at #22 on the Official UK Album Chart. Posh Pop became Toyah’s highest charting studio album since 1982, when The Changeling peaked at #6. Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour, a live double album – which was lovingly reissued last year – peaked at #20 that same year.
The only other Toyah albums to peak higher than Posh Pop were Anthem (1981) #2, The Changeling (1982) #6 and the aforementioned Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour (1982) #20. Posh Pop equalled with, another live album, Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (1980) which hit #22 in early 1981.
Further great stats in 2021 for Posh Pop were that it gave Toyah her highest ever chart position as a solo artist, and the album also hit #1 on the official Independent chart, #6 on the official Physical chart, #6 on the official Sales chart, #9 on the official Vinyl chart, #20 on the official Downloads chart, #22 on the official Record Store chart, and #8 on the official Scottish chart. Add to this that a couple of the songs from the album have topped The Heritage Chart in the last two years too! Phew! Amazing chart stats!
• Browse our comprehensive Posh Pop news archive by clicking on any of the photos in this post. (All photos/images © Toyah Willcox)
It’s the first Toyah At Home of the new year, and Toyah is gearing up for an exciting year ahead.
There’s news of forthcoming Picture Discs of the classic albums Sheep Farming and The Blue Meaning, out on 21 March plus some rare footage.
After four years of a series of charting and well-received album catalogue reissues in expanded and collectible form, Toyah and Cherry Red Records is delighted to announce there are further surprises in store for next year.
On 21 March 2025, Cherry Red Records will release two strictly limited edition picture discs of the 1980 Toyah albums Sheep Faming In Barnet and The Blue Meaning, marking each album’s 45th anniversary.
Both of the album picture discs feature rare and unseen imagery unearthed by Toyah’s archivist, and are pressed with the 2020 album remaster by Nick Watson, overseen by Joel Bogen. The vinyl records come protected in a PVC sleeve which is housed in a special die-cut outer jacket that carries a further unseen images to create a spectacular collector’s item celebrating the album’s original music and imagery.
Both albums can be pre-ordered ahead of their March 2025 release.
• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com. Pre-order both vinyls at Cherry Red Records.
Toyah’s 1980 studio album, The Blue Meaning, will be released on limited edition picture disc on 21st March, marking the album’s 45th anniversary.
• 45th anniversary release of Toyah’s 1980 album ‘The Blue Meaning’.
• Limited-edition picture disc features four stunning colour photographs from the album photography shot at gothic mansion, Wykehurst Place in Sussex.
• In addition to the full colour picture disc, pressed with the 2021 album remaster by Nick Watson, the vinyl come protected in a PVC sleeve and is housed in a special die-cut outer jacket that carries a further rare and unseen images unearthed from the archives.
Produced by Steve James and ‘Toyah’ the band – Joel Bogen, Pete Bush, Toyah Willcox, Steve Bray and Charlie Francis, the album reached number 1 on the UK Independent Album Chart and charted in the main UK Top 40 album chart in June 1980.
The album includes the ultimate fan favourite ‘Ieya’ considered a signature song by the band, which was also released as a single. It also includes ‘Blue Meanings’, ‘Mummies’ and the psychedelic ‘Spaced Walking’ for which Toyah’s vocals were recorded after inhaling helium.
• See further details/tracklist and artwork at toyahwillcox.com. Pre-order the release at Cherry Red Records.
Toyah’s 1979 AP, which evolved into the 1980 album, Sheep Farming In Barnet, will be reissued on limited edition picture disc on 21st March, marking the album’s 45th anniversary.
• 45th anniversary release of Toyah’s 1980 album ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’.
• Limited-edition picture disc featuring four stunning unseen colour photographs from the album photography shot at RAF Fylingdales in West Yorkshire. The photos picture Toyah in front of the iconic white “golf balls” that were part of the early warning system for ballistic missiles to the UK and US governments.
• Pressed with the 2020 album remaster by Nick Watson, the vinyl comes protected in a PVC sleeve and is housed in a special die-cut outer jacket that carries a further two unseen images unearthed from the archives.
• Produced by Steve James and Keith Hale, the album reached number 1 on the UK Independent Albums Chart in February 1980.
The six-track mini-album ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’ contained three tracks per-side on a 33 1/3 playing 7” vinyl. This mini- album was then expanded to a full length 11-track album (originally for the German market only) in early 1980 by adding the ‘Victims’ 7” A-Side/B-Sides and some further tracks also recorded at Chappell Studios, London.
This album contains the fan favourites ‘Race Through Space’ ‘Neon Womb’ and ‘Danced’, all of which went on to become signature songs for the band.
• See further details/tracklist and artwork at toyahwillcox.com. Pre-order the release at Cherry Red Records.
Christmas 2024, and The Official Toyah Willcox website and related social media announced two exciting new releases for March 2025, beautiful picture discs of Toyah’s first two albums: Sheep Farming In Barnet and The Blue Meaning.
Official Toyah also revealed: In 2025, an exciting series of releases will mark Toyah’s over 45 years in music with a celebration of albums, singles and images.
Check out Toyah performing a great live version of, Alice Cooper’s, School’s Out, live last week at G Live in Guildford at The SAS Band’s 30th Anniversary concert. School’s Out was, of course, one of the first cover versions Toyah ever included on an album, the song featured on the tracklist of her debut solo album, Minx, in 1985. See Toyah performing Sweet Child ‘O Mine from the same gig, here.
Christmas 2023, and The Changeling placed fifth Best Reissue Of The Year in RetroPop‘s year end round-up poll.
The Changeling was reissued on deluxe formats, including 2CD+DVD, colour vinyl and an incredible Box Set, in September 2003. See our news archive for related news, reviews, videos, trailers, Toyah specials and much, much more.
RetroPop: If there’s one thing we love more than new material from our favourite artists, it’s diving into the vaults and unearthing forgotten gems from their classic eras – the hallmark of a strong reissue. This year, there have been plenty and in addition to revisiting iconic releases and sharing unreleased cuts, an increasing number of acts have taken to reworking and remixing their best-loved recordings for a new avenue of bonus material that bridges the gap between ‘then’ and ‘now’.
Looking back on highlights from the year, here are Retropop’s Top 10 Reissues Of 2023.
5. Toyah – The Changeling (Cherry Red)
The seminal 1982 album from Toyah was expanded across two audio discs – including 20 previously unreleased tracks – and a further three previously unavailable on any CD, for its latest reissue, which contains outtakes, B-sides, an alternate album sequence of ‘work in progress’ variations, and home demo recordings. Meanwhile, the accompanying DVD features a wealth of classic content, plus up-to-date commentary from the lady herself!
• See the full Top 10, plus more year end Best Of 2023 charts, at Retropop. The Changeling is available to buy from Cherry Red Records – a great Christmas gift for the music fan in your life.
Winter/Christmas 1983 was a very special, and memorable, festive season for Toyah fans…
In every waking hour I miss you, In my dreams I never kiss you, And in the shadows creatures want to hurt you, but in love and war I’ll never desert you…
Christmas 1983, Toyah was promoting The Vow, the final single for Safari Records, the Love Is The Law album, and travelling the UK on the Rebel Run Tour. Toyah, and the band, appeared on numerous TV shows in the UK and Europe through November and December, being interviewed as well as performing The Vow and Rebel Run.
The TV shows included; Pebble Mill, Did You See?, Pop Watch, Saturday Superstore, Breakfast Time, Razzmatazz, The Saturday Show, Harty, Crackerjack and Judgendbund. Other shows included in ‘The Vow’ promotion were; TVAM: Good Morning Britain and 60 Minutes.
Yeeeha!! I just received the prints for Toyah Fanzine‘s bumper celebration of the reissue of Love Is The Law, and I Believe In Father Christmas, as well as Toyah’s Album Discography. As you read this I’ll be festively packaging and postaging (!), while watching MTV Christmas… Ho ho ho!
Coming tomorrow at 11am… The Toyah At Home / Love Is The Law special. The songs. the video, the tour, the recording process, the photos. Some of your questions answered by Toyah plus music and lots of unseen photos. Not to be missed. Toyah At Home airs at Toyah’s YouTube channel and Facebook page simultaneously.
• Love Is The Law is out next Friday, 8th November. Pre-order this exciting release at Cherry Red.
