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.
The reissue of Minx is reviewed in Classic Pop magazine.
• The latest issue of Classic Pop is available to buy instore and online. (Thanks to Minna of The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive for the scans – Click below to visit Minna’s website)
In anticipation of the upcoming deluxe reissue of, Toyah’s 1985 debut solo album, Minx – a couple of previously unseen variations of Toyah photos from the Terence Donovan Minx-era shoots have been made available… Pre-order Minx here.
Toyah’s first solo album ”Minx” was released in July 1985 on CBS’s label Portrait Records (home at the time to Cyndi Lauper), presenting a sophisticated sound and image for Toyah Willcox who to date had enjoyed eight top 75 singles and five studio albums with the band “Toyah”.
Originally recorded in 1984, this very special 40th Anniversary set expands the album into a deluxe 2CD edition for the first time. Pre-order now
CD1 features the original album with two bonus tracks originally available on the 1985 cassette & CD formats only plus two non-album B-Sides, two extended 12” versions, and a 12” remix.
CD2 contains 16 rarities of which 14 are previously unreleased, including:
• The unheard album session demo “The Fight” and previously unreleased 7” Remix of third single “World In Action”.
• Two previously unreleased home demos of Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” and Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out”, recorded by Toyah and Joel Bogen in the spring 1984.
• Two previously unreleased instrumental demos of “All In A Rage” and “Snow Covers The Kiss” recorded by Joel Bogen.
• Eight previously unreleased Backing Tracks of “Minx” songs, retaining their distinctive backing vocals by Toyah.
• The two CDs are presented in brand new seven-inch deluxe gatefold packaging. An 8-page booklet features rare photos by Terence Donovan and Curator’s Notes by Toyah archivist Craig Astley detailing the origins of the bonus tracks and rarities.
”Minx” was produced by Christopher Neil, with a musician line-up featuring Peter Van Hooke, Ian Wherry and Adrian Lee who made up the majority of Mike Rutherford’s Mike + The Mechanics. The rhythm section of Killing Joke guested on a cover of “School’s Out”. Toyah collaborator Simon Darlow played keyboards and co-wrote several tracks including lead single “Don’t Fall In Love (I Said)”. The album also features unique readings of Latin Quarter’s “America For Beginners” and Rare Bird’s “Sympathy”, the latter being the first time Toyah would be heard accompanied by an orchestra.
• Visit toyahwillcox.com for the full release info, images and tracklist. Pre-order Minx from your favourite online music store now. The 2020 translucent red vinyl reissue of Minx is also available from Amazon. See Toyah announce the release on Toyah At Home.
Toyah gave viewers of yesterday’s, bonus “Minx Announcement”, Toyah At Home a brief teaser that the Love Is The Law remastered deluxe editions will be announced later this year, and revealed “There’s so many things going on with this release, it’s fantastic!” Watch the episode by clicking below. (Image © Toyah Willcox)
Surprise! Toyah is back with a bonus Toyah At Home announcing a new release especially for you. Tune in at 11am for all of the details on a new 2CD Deluxe Edition. (Image © Toyah Willcox)
Two Expanded Toyah Platters Shine A Fresh Light On Her Past
Last years have seen a long-overdue reappraisal of Toyah‘s career: unjustifiably perceived by too many a listener as a quintessential ’80s artiste, Ms. Willcox proved again and again that she still is a queen of intelligent quirk-rock – and not only by cavorting with her husband in the acclaimed YouTube series but also by curating a series of her classic albums’ reissues, which are to be prolonged soon by two more titles. Appearing on May 17th is an expanded version of “Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour” from 1982, and on July 26th a deluxe version of “Minx” from 1985.
• Continue reading at Let It Rock.
• Toyah At Home – America For Beginners: This week is a special behind the scenes insight to America For Beginners, and a special archive performance of the song – Watch here…
• Toyah & Robert’s Objects Of Desire: Toyah and Robert take a look at some of the objects that surround them in middle England, direct from social medias most famous kitchen! – Watch here…
• Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Zombie: Another helping of Sunday Lunch from the Frippcox household, and this weekend is awesome – Watch here… (Images © Toyah Willcox)
This past weekend Toyah revisited her 1985 album, Minx, by exploring the second single released from it, Soul Passing Through Soul, in Toyah At Home. Here’s a bit of SPTS fan art I put together a few years ago… (While on the subject of Minx – Space Between The Sounds is still one of my favourite Toyah songs. Yup, it’s over-the-top but bloody brilliant!!)
• Toyah At Home – Soul Passing Through Soul: This week Toyah goes behind the scenes of the iconic Soul Passing Through Soul, we hear the story of the video and how the song came together – Watch here…
• Toyah & Robert’s Objects Of Desire: Toyah and Robert take a look at some of the objects that surround them in middle England, direct from social medias most famous kitchen! – Watch here…
• Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Living Colour – revisited!: Airing at Midday today!! We take another look at this belter of a song, and a special look at Barefoot On Mars straight after :-) – Watch here… (Images © Toyah Willcox)
Song of the week on last Saturday’s episode of Toyah At Home was Lesser God (which includes one of my favourite Toyah lyrics: “I won’t fake for the sake of peace…“), from the album, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen.
Click below to watch/rewatch the episode, which ended with an archive performance of All In A Rage (a song which also features lyrics which resonate in 2020), from the album Minx.
Episode 16 of Toyah At Home airs this Saturday at 11am at You Tube and Facebook.
Song of the week, on Episode 12 of Toyah At Home, was Latex Messiah (Viva La Rebel In You), from the album, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen.
Click below to watch/rewatch the episode, which ended with a new recording/version/performance of America For Beginners, from the album Minx.
Re-uploaded to this website’s You Tube channel recently, Sky Trax – The 1985 Toyah Special; a great Minx-era interview; and BBC Breakfast Time, a much shorter but still interesting Desire-era interview. These uploads have both been edited to remove all music from them, which was the reason they were originally made unavailable by You Tube.
Lots of other quirky clips and footage have also been added to our channel: Toyah, Superhits, Monster Munch 80s adverts, and more! Click below to visit and/or subscribe!
Short, but great, interview with Toyah from STV in 1985. This is Scotland Today when it went all soft furnishings and sofas in the mid-80s! Toyah talks Minx, the Soul Passing Through Soul video, America For Beginners, School’s Out and more, with Paul Coia and Haig Gordon.
Just a couple of days until Minx, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Take The Leap! and Velvet Lined Shell are released on colour/clear vinyl, and HMV have a great “Toyah LP Bundle” deal available at their website. Add all five of the albums to your basket and pay £79.99. A saving of over £20 compared to other online stores! Click below for HMV.
This Friday sees the release of five Toyah solo studio albums on amazing colour/clear vinyl, including two – Take The Leap! (1994), in clear vinyl; Velvet Lined Shell (2003), in purple vinyl – which have never been available on any sort of vinyl previously.
The former is a double album and the latter Toyah’s first ever 10″ release.
Also coming on Friday are Minx (1985), in translucent red vinyl; Prostitute (1988), in translucent yellow vinyl, and Ophelia’s Shadow (1991), in translucent aqua vinyl.
In the lead up to their release, Toyah has been showcasing the gorgeous new vinyls via photos and video clips at Instagram, with just Velvet Lined Shell still to be previewed this week…
• Click on each or any of the photos below for further info or to pre-order the new colour/clear Toyah albums. (Photos © Toyah Willcox)
It’s Toyah Solo Day!! Toyah’s first ever box set is released today!
TOYAH ALBUMS SET FOR COLOURED VINYL RELEASE ON 13 MARCH
Demon Records will issue five Toyah albums on brand new coloured vinyl releases on 13 March 2020. Complimenting the 1985-2003 spanning CD box set Toyah: Solo, the releases include Minx, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow and the first ever vinyl releases of Take The Leap! and Velvet Lined Shell.
Minx: First time on vinyl since 1985, Minx is Toyah’s first true solo album and was produced by Christopher Neil. The 10-track album features co-writes with Simon Darlow (Slave To The Rhythm) and the UK singles Don’t Fall In Love (I Said) (#22) and Soul Passing Through Soul (#57) alongside unique covers of Rare Bird’s Sympathy and Alice Cooper’s School’s Out. Pressed on 180g translucent red vinyl.
• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com. Full links to pre-order the Toyah coloured vinyls here.
Toyah is releasing coloured vinyl versions of five of her solo studio albums: Minx, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Take The Leap! and Velvet Lined Shell. They are released on Friday 13th March and can be pre-ordered at Amazon. Minx is on translucent red vinyl, and this release is the first time the album has been available on vinyl since 1985.
Issued on vinyl for the first time since 1985, the album is pressed on 180 gram translucent Red vinyl. In 1985, after five studio albums and two live albums with her band, Toyah decided to go solo, and signed to Sony’s portrait label. Produced by Christopher Neil, “Minx” Is Toyah’s first true solo album and includes writing collaborations with her band members as well as with Simon Darlow (“Slave To The Rhythm”), and two UK hit singles in “Don’t Fall in Love (I Said)” and “Soul Passing Through Soul”, as well as covers of Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” And Rare Bird’s “Sympathy”.
The Official Toyah 40th Music Anniversary feature on social media continues with entries for Love Is The Law, Toyah Toyah Toyah – All The Hits, Mayhem, Minx, The Lady Or The Tiger, Desire, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Kneeling At The Shrine… with more still to come. See our first post about the countdown here. Click below to visit the Official Toyah Instagram.
