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Archive for the ‘Albums’ Category

Merchandise: Two Ts From Toyah!

February 20th, 2025

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: SFIB & TBM Picture Discs

February 20th, 2025

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)

Merchandise: New Limited Edition T-Shirts

February 14th, 2025

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.

Saturday Song: Jungles Of Jupiter/Popcorn

February 11th, 2025

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.

Toyah Flashback: Posh Pop – A Brief History Of…

February 6th, 2025

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 ChartPosh 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)

Toyah At Home: January 2025

January 5th, 2025

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.

Official Toyah: SFIB/TBM Picture Discs Announced

January 5th, 2025

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.

Releases: The Blue Meaning – Picture Disc

January 5th, 2025

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.

Releases: Sheep Farming In Barnet – Picture Disc

January 5th, 2025

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: Day 19: #Toyah45

December 19th, 2024

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.

The SAS Band 30th Anniversary Gigs: School’s Out

December 15th, 2024

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.

Categories: Live 2024, Minx Tags: ,

Christmas 2024: Day 12: Retropop & The Changeling

December 12th, 2024

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.

Christmas 2024: Day 2: The Vow/Winter 1983

December 2nd, 2024

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.

rem83vow

Toyah Fanzine: Hey! It’s A Fanzine Christmas…

December 1st, 2024

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!

Toyah At Home: Love Is The Law Special

November 1st, 2024

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.

Toyah Tuesday: The Story Behind Martian Cowboy

October 16th, 2024

It’s Toyah Tuesday and the count down to the official release of the 2024 remastered, expanded edition of Love Is The Law on 8 November. Discover the story behind the recording of the beloved album track Martian Cowboy, a sequel song to Pop Star on Anthem.

Toyah Fanzine: Issue 61 – Love Is The Law

September 20th, 2024

Today saw the release of Toyah’s amazing 1983 single, Rebel Run on 10″ grey vinyl, which includes unreleased tracks, including an extended version of the lead song. It feels like a new era of Love Is The Law. I’m celebrating from a fan perspective with a new issue of Toyah Fanzine, which I’m currently working on, focusing on all things Love Is The Law. This bundle also includes part two of our Toyah Album Discography collection – flyers & postcards for every Toyah album release.

• More info on Issue 61, including previews and order link, here.

Dreamscape Toyah Fanzine: Issue 61 – Love Is The Law

September 14th, 2024

Love Is The Law – Toyah’s final studio album on Safari Records, originally released in 1983 – is reissued in deluxe formats this November, and we are celebrating with a new issue – #61 – of our fanzine. More info will be available tomorrow – which just happens to be my birthday!!

Releases: Love Is The Law – 2CD+DVD / Red Vinyl LP

September 4th, 2024

Toyah’s 1983 studio album Love Is The Law receives new remastered and expanded editions, released by Cherry Red Records on Friday 8 November 2024. This follows the acclaimed and enthusiastically received series of remastered editions of four studio albums and four live albums that chronicle the band’s recording history from 1979-1983.

The album releases can be ordered from www.cherryred.co.uk.

For full track list and more details visit the Album page in the Discography of Toyah’s official website.

Reaching the UK album charts in November 1983, the album saw Toyah, Joel Bogen and Simon Darlow write and record the album whilst Toyah appeared as the lead in the successful theatre production of Trafford Tanzi at the Mermaid Theatre.

Previewed by the single Rebel Run, the album also includes fan favourites Dreamscape, Martian Cowboy and one of Toyah’s long-term personal favourites, I Explode. The title track features a group of fans singing on the song’s chorus after being invited into the Marquee Studios, Soho one evening in August 1983.

Following the acclaimed reissue Toyah series, this release once again features the album remastered from the original mastertapes by Nick Watson, overseen by Joel Bogen.

The LP reissue is pressed on translucent red vinyl and features a new colour inner bag plus a lyric insert. The 2CD+DVD edition features 31 bonus tracks, of which 21 are previously unreleased. Amongst these are B-Sides, alternate mixes, rarities, home demos, instrumentals and studio outtakes.

The DVD features two newly filmed 2024 interviews with Toyah Willcox reflecting on making the LP. These specially edited docu-features include extensive photographs from the Mermaid Theatre fan gatherings and several private studio session photos to bring the “Summer of ’83” story back to life once again.

The LP and 2CD+DVD artwork feature newly scanned archive negatives from the album photo shoot to both refresh the visuals with an alternate front cover and achieve a higher quality print finish, since the exact LP shot negatives are missing.

• Pre-Order Love Is The Law on 2CD+DVD, and semi-transparent red vinyl at Cherry Red (The editions with postcards sold out almost immediately!). Read the news/press release – and listen to a preview of Rebel Run (Extended) – and album page/full tracklist/release gallery at toyahwillcox.com. Watch Toyah announce the release on Toyah At Home.

Toyah & Robert’s Weekend: At Home/UM/Sunday Lunch

September 4th, 2024

Toyah At Home: Love Is The Law Announcement – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat MomentsWatch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Teen SpiritWatch… (Image © Toyah Willcox)

Toyah At Home: Love Is The Law Announcement

August 29th, 2024

Toyah’s next episode of Toyah At Home comes a week early, and to bring you a special announcement. It’s the turn of the final Safari studio album “Love Is The Law” to be remastered and expanded. Tune in 11am, Saturday 31 August for all the details.