Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

A new review for Revelations, published on 31st August, by Liverpool Sound and Vision.

Toyah: Revelations. Box Set Review
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

King’s Heath in Birmingham might not be that well known to anyone outside of the second city, but it has produced an astonishing number of people to whom art and sport have been fortunate to have graced the suburb, to have been influenced by the leafy green former village and the possibility of being part of a new breed of hero for the post-war generation.

Part of that incredible rebellious, heroic stance comes from Toyah Willcox, the chameleon look ever changing, a woman to whom no was just a two letter word that deserved a choice set of words in return, and who was perhaps the most wonderful sense of anarchy that anyone could ever hope to find in a period that produced the most exuberant of punk, this was the crowned Queen for Birmingham’s youth.

Following on from the Cherry Red boxset release from 2025 of Chameleon: The Very Best Of Toyah, the brand have really gone to town and brought to the public’s attention a set of CDs in Revelations detailing a huge swathe of tracks that were lost, unreleased, hidden away, and now lovingly restored to their rightful place in the Toyah pantheon of music.

• Continue reading at Liverpool Sound and Vision. Browse our Revelations news archive.

It’s that time of year again – September – when I start working on the fanzines for Christmas (well they are completed, printed and in the post early December, which is technically Christmas), and these mark 70 issues of the (A5) fanzine. These will focus on “Ultimate Changeling” and there’s also an A4 Special (#5) dedicated to Toyah’s 1980 studio album, The Blue Meaning. That issue is the third of an A4 trilogy of issues, with #3 The Changeling and #4 Anthem. The Holy Safari Trinity!

• As always, these issues are accompanied by a plethora of extras: Postcards, flyers, shaped cards! Click here or below for info and order links.

Congratulations to Toyah and her Revelations box set/vinyl.

The comprehensive release from Cherry Red – following a five-year reissue campaign of studio and live Toyah albums – entered numerous Official Charts rundowns on Friday.

Albums Chart Update #48, Scottish Albums Chart #21, Album Sales Chart #26, Physical Albums Chart #25, Independent Albums Chart #7

Revelations is a collection of B-Sides and studio outtakes from Toyah’s recording history for the Safari Records label. The 2LP Vinyl brings together for the first time ever the band’s complete run of B-Sides and flexi-discs plus three completed outtakes not included on LPs, EPs or singles.

• Browse Toyah’s Official Charts history, dating back to 1980, and also including numerous releases from recent years on a variety of Official Album Charts. Browse our Toyah Official Charts archive…

Dreamscape (Alternate Version) is premiering today, as a standalone video for #ToyahTuesday and the beginning of the countdown to the release of Revelations, after first being shown as part of Toyah At Home (July 2026)…

Toyah’s new B-Sides & Rarities album Revelations is released on 21 August 2026 on 2LP and 5CD Box Set. As we near closer to the album release here is a chance to hear a full preview of an upcoming track from the release. This is a new mix of Dreamscape by Joel Bogen which uses the song’s original arrangement as recorded in the 1983 album sessions at the Marquee Studios.

• Pre-order Revelations at Cherry Red. (Screenshot from a video that is © Cherry Red)

Toyah unboxes the new Revelations 2LP and 5CD box set that collects all of the Safari era B-Sides plus rarities, new mixes and archive live material.

• Watch Toyah unbox Revelations at her official Instagram and Facebook. (Screenshot from a video that is © Toyah)

Confirmed to be titled Future Dreaming, Toyah’s first studio album since 2021’s Posh Pop is completed and should be released soon…

• See an update at toyahwillcox.com.

2026 marks the 50th year of Toyah’s career! Her very first professional job, playing the role of Sue in the BBC’s “Second City First” television play, Glitter, aired in November 1976 – having been filmed in 1975.

Dreamscape has 26+ years of Toyah news in our archives, but this isn’t only a news site – There are also tons of retro, and not so retro, Toyah career features – celebrating albums, eras, releases, significant Toyah “moments” and much more – to browse and read!

• Browse all of Dreamscape’s 2026 Toyah 50 posts. NB. The term “Toyah Eras” is one I’ve used for many years, on this website and in Toyah Fanzine, but lately I’ve been thinking about it more, so watch this space for more on this idea!

2026 marks the 50th year of Toyah’s career! Her very first professional job, playing the role of Sue in the BBC’s “Second City First” television play, Glitter, aired in November 1976 – having been filmed in 1975.

The Blue Meaning is an album, and Toyah era, that continues to intrigue even some 46 years after the release of the album. It could be said it’s captivated even more listeners over the past five years – with the deluxe Cherry Red reissue in 2021 truly celebrating the magnificent 1980 studio album in glorious style (and content).

• In 2020 Dreamscape celebrated 40 years of The Blue Meaning, and it’s ever lasting magnificence via this feature… Browse all of Dreamscape’s 2026 Toyah 50 posts.

Tune in to Toyah At Home on Saturday 4th July 2026 to hear something you’ve not heard before. A preview of a previously unheard track, newly mixed by Joel Bogen, from the Revelations 5CD box set.

• Watch Toyah At Home at 11am (BST) at YouTube. Pre-order Revelations at Cherry Red. (Amazing 1983 Love Is The Law era photo © Cherry Red)

Toyah and Cherry Red Records are pleased to announce the release of Revelations, arriving on 21 August 2026. Revelations is a comprehensive collection of B-Sides and rarities from Toyah’s recording history for the Safari Records label. It is designed to perfectly complement the album catalogue reissue programme.

Revelations is released on two exciting formats.

2LP VINYL EDITION: The 2LP Vinyl brings together for the first time ever the band’s complete run of B-Sides and flexi-discs plus three completed outtakes not included on LPs, EPs or singles. This marks the first time these 22 B-Sides and non-album tracks have appeared together on one single release. From the beloved War Boys and Angels & Demons (both from the top 5 hit EP Four From Toyah) and Voodoo Doll (12” B-Side of the top ten hit single Thunder In The Mountains) to the two-track flexi-disc release featuring Sphinx and For You, and Warrior Rock, a flip-side of 1982’s Brave New World.

Revelations is pressed on Grey Smoke vinyl housed in a full colour outer jacket with spot gloss detailing. Two colour inner bags feature rare, unseen and classic Toyah imagery. Following on from last year’s highly praised Chameleon – The Very Best of Toyah, this collection grants lots of Toyah fans wishes to present the band’s B-Sides on one album, whilst the vast majority of the 22 tracks have also not been pressed on vinyl since the 1980s.

5CD BOX SET EDITION: The 5CD box set is an anthology of 102 tracks in total, of which 50 are previously unreleased. Revelations is housed in a clamshell box with spot gloss detailing and features classic, rare and unseen images. Full colour CD wallets and a 40-page booklet make it an essential release for Toyah fans.

• Pre-Order Revelations on 5CD Box Set and/or 2LP Vinyl Edition at Cherry Red. Read the press release at toyahwillcox.com. Browse the full Box Set tracklist and the Vinyl LP tracklist. Watch Toyah announcing the release last week.

Toyah is back with an announcement of a new release, Revelations, coming out 21 August on Cherry Red Records. Pre-Order now at Cherry Red.

Last week marked the 45th anniversary of the original release of Toyah’s iconic early 80’s hit I Want To Be Free. Originally released on 1st May 1981, the song was written by Toyah Willcox & Joel Bogen and produced by Nick Tauber.

Last Friday, 45 years to the day, I Want To Be Free was made available as a single on digital and steaming platforms with its two original B-Sides and restored artwork.

Leap on over to toyahwillcox.com for some recent news about Toyah’s Safari/Cherry Red studio albums discography.

2026 marks the 50th year of Toyah’s career! Her very first professional job, playing the role of Sue in the BBC’s “Second City First” television play, Glitter, aired in November 1976 – having been filmed in 1975.

This year Toyah is touring the UK with An Evening With Toyah: Songs And Stories, Toyah’s Christmas Party, as well as many other gigs, appearances, releases etc. between these two tours.

Toyah’s first – full length – studio album for well over a decade, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, was released on 15th September 2008, featuring some of Toyah’s finest songs: Legacy, Heal Ourselves, Angel In You, Bad Man. The album has been re-released – with additional songs – a number of times since the original release. In 2023 ITCOTCQ was released with selected songs re-recorded and Toyah saying this was the definitive version of the album.

Revisit that very first release via Dreamscape’s “Crimson Queen” feature…

• Dreamscape also had a dedicated News & Press page for all things In The Court Of The Crimson Queen – this was updated between September 2007 and May 2010 – View that here.

I’m just about to launch the first fanzines for 2026 – Issues 66 – 68 – and these focus on one of the most incredible and memorable Toyah eras… Anthem.

I love the Anthem band… One of the finest bands in music history – Just listen to Nigel Glockler, his mindblowing brilliance perfectly captured during Toyah’s At The Rainbow gig, but all five members of this band are incredible. I’ll always have a soft spot for Joel Bogen, though.

These fanzines also encompass At The Rainbow, the Anthem Tour and Toyah’s career in 1981 in general… in their 45th Anniversary year!

2026 marks the 50th year of Toyah’s career! Her very first professional job, playing the role of Sue in the BBC’s “Second City First” television play, Glitter, aired in November 1976 – having been filmed in 1975.

I’m celebrating this awesome landmark via cherry picked moments from Toyah’s 50 years as an artist: Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Writer, Storyteller… This also means I can simultaneously revisit past work from 26+ years of Dreamscape too.

Desire, Toyah’s sophomore solo album, was released in 1987 on E’G Records and was a real departure for her musically, lyrically, sonically… It’s recently been released on deluxe, expanded, 2CD and vinyl picture disc. It was also an important part of Toyah’s first ever box set, Toyah Solo, released in 2020.

• Please click below to dive in, be rescued, or maybe just have a read of Dreamscape’s Desire feature from January 2012… and stay tuned for more #Toyah50 celebrating.

Here’s a fab Christmas Eve treat, courtesy of my pal, and fellow Toyah fan, Brian.

An AI video for Toyah’s legendary Anthem album track Jungles Of Jupiter. This is a completely non profit project and created as a fan tribute to Toyah’s inspirational imagery and music. Watch below or at Dreamscape’s YouTube channel.

Toyah has been an incredible inspiration to us, for almost our entire lives. So many friendships that wouldn’t have happened, so much joy and happiness, so much music and creative visuals…

Christmas 1983, Toyah was promoting The Vow, the final physical single released on Safari Records; the Love Is The Law album; and travelling the UK on the Rebel Run Tour.

Toyah, Joel and the band, appeared on numerous television shows in the UK and Europe through November and December, being interviewed as well as performing The Vow and Rebel Run.

During this amazing era Toyah’s image was radically different from anything that had come before, which is another reason this time in late 1983 is particularly memorable and magical!

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…

The Vow is such an important, and poignant, part of Toyah’s discography for a number of reasons. It was a goodbye to five years of working with Safari Records; the performances mentioned above are Toyah and Joel Bogen’s final ever appearances together, performing as music collaborators/partners; and the final Safari-era band performances on television…

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.

Toyah shares a look at the recently released Ophelia’s Shadow and Take The Leap! Deluxe 2CD Editions. Out now and available to order here and here. (Screenshot © Toyah)

1.1 million streams on Spotify… A great year for Toyah!

We had a fun, pre-festive, day out in Glasgow last week, beginning with a lovely breakfast at The Crystal Palace and then onto the West End and spending some quality time at – the stunning 575 year old – Glasgow University, a visit to, the equally fantastic, Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, a saunter around beautiful Princes Square and then along to HMV on Argyle Street for some Toyah spotting – Yup that’s the album that changed my life – Anthem – I’m modelling!

• See all our 2025 “tour dates” :) here! (Photos © David Fleming)